NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans made Jeffery Simmons the highest-paid interior defensive lineman in NFL history this offseason, signing the defensive tackle to a three-year, $105.8 million extension that pays $35.27 million annually. Simmons arrives at training camp coming off a career-high 11 sacks and his first All-Pro honor, underscoring his importance to the organization.
New head coach Robert Saleh plans to deploy an attacking scheme that relies on a front-four rotation designed to keep linemen fresher and better able to give full effort on each rep. Saleh noted he is aware Simmons’ snap counts have hovered around 81% since 2020 and said, “The whole point of the rotation is to make sure that Jeffrey Simmons is ready for that one-on-one when we need it. Third down, two minute, make sure he’s fresh, ready to roll and ready to exert every last fiber in his body and winning that one-on-one.” As of minicamp, Saleh said he had not yet had a snap-count conversation with Simmons and added he does not see a role in which Simmons is above the rotation: “If he’s able to go to 50 plays out of 60, he’s not doing it right.”
Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi worked with Saleh to add depth to the defensive front. Tennessee traded defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets for defensive end Jermaine Johnson II, signed veterans John Franklin-Myers, Solomon Thomas, Jordan Elliott and Jacob Martin in free agency, and used the No. 31 pick on Keldric Faulk to complete the makeover.
Simmons said he maintained the meal plan that helped him cut body fat and add muscle and explosiveness, and he is pushing to be in “the best shape of my life” to show he can handle a higher-volume workload. “I want to have that mindset of, ‘Nah, coach, I could go for more,’ or whatever it may be,” Simmons said at minicamp. He underwent a cleanup procedure on his right elbow in February, can now straighten the arm and has been able to do individual work on a hitting sled with assistant director of sports performance Brian Bell while participating in conditioning on a side field.
Coaches and younger teammates said Simmons’ impact extends beyond his on-field play. Rookie Keldric Faulk credited Simmons with technical advice, and defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton said, “He sets the tone for the defense. He’s a leader on and off the field. His work ethic and the way he approaches it are infectious.” The staff expects Simmons to have more opportunities to make plays in the backfield under the new scheme rather than spending significant time two-gapping at the line of scrimmage.
