Robert Saleh<\/strong> has brought in a number of former Jets defensive linemen in his first offseason as Titans HC, however the second-chance leader will count on holdover Jeffery Simmons<\/strong> as his D-line anchor. Simmons now has the contract to reflect that status.<\/p>\n <\/a>The Titans and Simmons agreed on a three-year extension Friday, NFL.com\u2019s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report<\/a>. Simmons\u2019 third NFL contract is price $105.8MM and can bring $100MM guaranteed. At $35.27MM per 12 months, Simmons smashes the previous D-tackle AAV record. The Titans have since announced the extension.<\/p>\n Chris Jones<\/strong> previously stood because the NFL\u2019s highest-paid interior D-lineman, agreeing to a five-year Chiefs deal (price $158.75MM) just before the 2024 free agency period. Jones\u2019 AAV ($31.75MM) eclipsed Aaron Donald<\/strong>\u2018s number, and after the legendary Ram\u2019s retirement, no other DT was tied to a deal north of $29MM per 12 months. Simmons\u2019 pact modified that, and the thaw on this market will probably be felt outside of Nashville within the near future as well.<\/p>\n Kansas City gave Jones $95MM in total guarantees; no other D-tackle entered Friday north of $76MM. Simmons, 28, becomes the primary interior D-lineman to receive $100MM guaranteed. He’s the seventh defender to sign for nine figures guaranteed, joining edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson<\/strong>, Micah Parsons<\/strong>, Will Anderson Jr.<\/strong>, Myles Garrett<\/strong>, Nick Bosa<\/strong> and T.J. Watt<\/strong>. Simmons\u2019 guarantee number checks in seventh amongst that crop, however it breaks a key barrier on the defensive tackle market.<\/p>\n Two seasons remained on Simmons\u2019 previous Titans deal. Tennessee had given the All-Pro DT a four-year, $94MM extension in April 2023. That offseason established a second tier between Donald and the sphere at D-tackle, with Simmons joining Dexter Lawrence<\/strong>, Daron Payne<\/strong> and Quinnen Williams<\/strong> in signing an extension that landed between $22-$24MM every year that offseason. Nnamdi Madubuike<\/strong>, Milton Williams<\/strong> and Zach Allen<\/strong> landed deals between Donald and the Lawrence-Payne-Simmons-Quinnen Williams tier. (Christian Wilkins<\/strong> did as well, however the Raiders cut him barely a 12 months after authorizing the contract.)<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Simmons has rewarded the Titans for his or her 2019 first-round investment. The Jon Robinson<\/strong> GM era featured considerable success but some first-round misses. Simmons was Robinson\u2019s top first-round hit, and he has now signed contracts with three GMs. Ran Carthon<\/strong> prolonged Simmons months after Robinson\u2019s ouster, and Mike Borgonzi<\/strong> signed off on the Friday payday. Borgonzi and Saleh inherited Simmons, and a D-line stuffed with ex-Saleh cogs will still revolve around Simmons\u2019 talents.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.profootballrumors.com\/files\/2026\/06\/USATSI_29216283-200x300.jpg\")
<\/a>The Titans kept Simmons out of trade talks on the 2024 deadline, and as teams called to see if the team could be willing to maneuver on after firing HC Brian Callahan<\/strong>, the AFC South club held onto its top defensive asset. Borgonzi referred to Simmons as a core player after refusing to trade him last November, and the second-year GM will stand on that assessment months later.<\/p>\n