Titans’ Jeffery Simmons gets rave reviews from unnamed NFL execs

We’re not normally a big fan of the whole “an unnamed NFL executive said this” stuff, but we’ll make an exception after reading what these mythical creatures had to say about Tennessee Titans defensive lineman, Jeffery Simmons.

In an ESPN list ranking the top interior defensive linemen going into the 2021 season based on the opinions of unnamed NFL executives, Simmons landed at No. 6 on the list.

More interestingly, multiple execs raved about the former first-round pick, with one going as far as to say that Simmons is the closest thing to Los Angeles Rams superstar, Aaron Donald, who was No. 1 on the list.

Another said Simmons gets enough respect from opposing offenses in terms of how they block him and has enough talent that he’s “probably top-three.”

Here’s a look at the entire write-up from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that includes those quotes and more.

Simmons might be the least accomplished on this list, but he is also one of the scariest.

“No one is Aaron Donald, but he might be the closest,” said an NFL general manager.

Added an NFC exec: “He’s the one everyone knows is coming. Talent-wise, he’s probably top-three. He’s respected as such, at least how we block him.”

Opponents double-teamed Simmons on 190 pass-rush snaps, higher than every interior rusher aside from Donald and Grady Jarrett. Simmons led all players in the top 10 in interior line run-stop win rate, at 39.8%.

The pass-rush production isn’t there yet — he had just three sacks in 2020, along with a 6.7% pass-rush win rate — but it will be as he stacks healthy seasons. A torn ACL limited his rookie campaign in 2019.

“Highest upside — he just does different stuff, and was basically playing on one leg and was pretty good early on,” an AFC scout said.

Simmons took a great step forward in his second season, but was limited a bit because of the extra attention he faced without much help around him. Things figure to be different in 2021, though.

Not only is Simmons enjoying his first full offseason, but he’s also set to have some more help after the additions of defensive lineman Denico Autry and outside linebacker Bud Dupree.

Adding to all that, the Mississippi State product says he’s in the best shape of his career — both mentally and physically — ahead of Year 3, partly because he changed his diet.