Tennessee Titans Sign Jeffery Simmons To $94 Million Extension
The Tennessee Titans are not expected to contend in 2023, but they have locked down a player who they hope will be a cornerstone of future contending teams in signing defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to a four-year extension.
Simmons’ extension is worth $94 million and includes $66 million in guarantees, including a $24 million signing bonus, according to Turron Davenport of ESPN.
The 2019 first-round pick is now signed through the 2027 season, with his new deal with the Titans meaning he now has an average annual salary of $23.5 million that is second only to Aaron Donald among defensive tackles, per Spotrac.
That is illustrious company Simmons deserves to be keeping after a second successive season that saw him named to the Pro Bowl and earn second-team All-Pro honors.
Over the last two seasons, Simmons has 16 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and 30 quarterback hits, illustrating his status as one of the NFL’s premier interior disruptors.
Per Pro Football Focus (h/t The Titans Wire), Simmons ended 2022 with 53 total pressures, putting him in the top 10 in that category at his position.
His success last campaign came despite him battling an ankle injury during the second half of the season.
But his ability to create a consistent pass rush while being hindered by injury further underlines how much of a force he can be.
With an average annual salary above those of Chris Jones, DeForest Buckner, Daron Payne and Javon Hargrave, the Titans clearly believe he can establish himself as the best defensive tackle in the NFL not named Aaron Donald.
His emphatic reaction on Twitter indicated that Simmons obviously plans on reaching such heights, though his declaration that “we have a lot of work to do” is likely to also be a reference to the Titans as a roster.
The Titans, led in the personnel department by new general manager Ran Carthon, are in a difficult spot in the AFC South.
Indeed, Tennessee does not have a long-term answer at quarterback, with Ryan Tannehill ageing and coming off a season in which he missed six games owing to injuries and last year’s third-round pick Malik Willis struggling to such an extent that he was benched for Joshua Dobbs for what was essentially a play-in game with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Titans have a distinct lack of dynamic weapons at offensive skill positions and holes along the offensive line, while their defense finished 19th in the Football Outsiders DVOA last season.
In short, this is not a team that looks to be set up well for the immediate future or the long term. Simmons, though, is a player they can build around, and it is up to Carthon and the front office to ensure a contract that will span his prime years is one he spends helping the Titans contend for titles.
