Grade for Jeffery Simmons’ contract extension with Titans

The Tennessee Titans made a massive move on Friday afternoon after it was reported by ESPN’s Turron Davenport that the team and superstar defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons mutually agreed to terms.

This deal is for four years and $94 million, with $66 million in guaranteed dollars and a $24 million signing bonus. In total, the Titans’ defensive tackle will earn an average salary of $23.5 million per season.

Needless to say, this deal is a home run for both parties.

Based on annual average, Simmons becomes the second-highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL behind only Aaron Donald, while the Titans secure the rights to their superstar defender for at least another four years.

This money is more than well earned for the Mississippi State product. Simmons has been a Pro Bowl defender each of his last two seasons.

In fact, you could make a strong argument that Simmons was on the verge of putting together a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber campaign in 2022 before suffering a nagging ankle injury.

It’s such a shame that Jeffery Simmons & Denico Autry got hurt in the middle of the season.
Those two were legitimately dominating together before injuries slowed them down.

The two of them combined for 66 pressures & 12.5 sacks over their first 8 games of the season.#Titans pic.twitter.com/0UAalMpDpz

— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) March 30, 2023

Simmons will continue to anchor a front four that is set to see Harold Landry, Denico Autry and Arden Key alongside him. Barring some type of injury, there is a pretty good chance we’ll see the best version of No. 98 in 2023.

It should go without saying, but this move easily receives a stamp of approval from me.

Grade: A+