Tennessee Titans Sign Jeffery Simmons to a $94 Million Extension
The Tennessee Titans are not expected to contend in 2023, but they have signed defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to a four-year contract extension.
According to Turron Davenport of ESPN, Simmons’ extension is worth $94 million and includes $66 million in guaranteed money, including a $24 million signing bonus.
The 2019 first-round pick is now signed through the 2027 season, and his new contract with the Titans gives him an average annual salary of $23.5 million, second only to Aaron Donald among defensive tackles, according to Spotrac.
Simmons deserves to be in such illustrious company after being named to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season and earning second-team All-Pro honours.
Over the last two seasons, Simmons has 16 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and 30 quarterback hits, demonstrating his status as one of the NFL’s top interior disruptors.
According to Pro Football Focus (h/t The Titans Wire), Simmons finished 2022 with 53 total pressures, ranking him in the top ten at his position.
Despite suffering an ankle injury in the second half of the season, he had a successful season last year.
However, his ability to generate a consistent pass rush despite being limited by injury demonstrates how powerful he can be.
With an average annual salary higher than Chris Jones, DeForest Buckner, Daron Payne, and Javon Hargrave, the Titans are confident he can establish himself as the best defensive tackle in the NFL who isn’t named Aaron Donald.
Simmons’ emphatic reaction on Twitter indicated that he clearly intends to reach such heights, though his statement that “we have a lot of work to do” is most likely a reference to the Titans’ roster.
The Titans, led in personnel by new general manager Ran Carthon, are in a difficult position in the AFC South.
Indeed, Tennessee lacks a long-term quarterback answer, with Ryan Tannehill ageing and coming off a season in which he missed six games due to injuries, and last year’s third-round pick Malik Willis struggling to the point where he was benched for Joshua Dobbs in what was essentially a play-in game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Titans lack dynamic weapons at offensive skill positions and holes along the offensive line, and their defence finished 19th in Football Outsiders DVOA last season.
In short, this team does not appear to be well-positioned for the immediate or long term. Simmons, on the other hand, is a player they can build around, and it is up to Carthon and the front office to ensure that a contract that will last his prime years is one in which he helps the Titans win championships.
