Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons is coming off a career year in 2021 that cemented him among the league’s elite interior defenders.
As a result, Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema recently listed Simmons as one of the best players under the age of 25 in the NFL, placing him at No. 8 on the list. Here’s what Sikkema had to say:
The former first-round pick made his third NFL season his best yet. Simmons racked up 8.5 sacks and ranked second on the Titans with 62 pressures in 2021. He has always had high ceiling potential, and this year he was able to show that more consistently than ever before. At his best, he’s a top-five interior defensive lineman in the NFL.
We should note that the list is compiled based on players who will be under 25 when the season begins. Simmons will turn 25 in July so he doesn’t technically count, but we’ll take it nonetheless.
Simmons, who had his fifth-year option picked up recently, tallied career-highs in every major statistical category last season, including tackles (54), tackles for loss (12), and sacks (8.5)
He followed up his impressive season with a stellar showing in the playoffs, tallying three sacks against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.
While the Titans will get Simmons on the cheap for one more year in 2023, the time to extend him is rapidly approaching.
Spotrac projects Simmons will land a four-year deal worth $84 million ($21 million per), but with the Mississippi State product quickly becoming among the best at his position, it could be higher than that.