Titans Extend Jeffery Simmons, Early Look at 2024 DT Class, and Other NFL Bullets
Bad news for teams like the Chicago Bears, who were hoping that Jeffery Simmons would hit the open market next year. The Tennessee Titans locked up one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL on Friday afternoon.
- On Friday afternoon, Simmons and the Titans agreed to a four-year, $94 million contract extension. Simmons is a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro. The 25-year-old tallied 7.5 sacks last season with seven passes defended.
- Since being taken in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Simmons has tallied 21 sacks, 19 passes defended, and two forced fumbles in the 56 games with the Titans. He’s undoubtedly the best player on Tennessee’s roster right now and one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL.
- Simmons joined Amani Hooker as the only players from the 2019 Titans draft class to sign a second deal with the team. Other notable players from the excellent 2019 class that have departed Tennessee include A.J. Brown, Nate Davis, and David Long Jr.
- So, there’s one massive potential defensive line option for the Bears next offseason off of the board. However, some pretty big names are still set to become free agents next year at that position. Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones headlines that list. Cincinnati’s D.J. Reader and the Jets’ Quinnen Williams are among the other notable big name available on the interior next offseason.
- This brings me to my next point: the Bears have two drafts and another free agency period to address the trenches before the 2024 season starts. So while we would love to see the Bears flip the script in 2023, 2024 is the first actual expected competitive year under this regime. This is something that I tried to stress on Friday in the Bears pick in the BN Mock Draft:
- If you didn’t catch it, I had the Bears taking Devon Witherspoon from Illinois. Here’s the thing, none of the offensive linemen move the needle enough for me to want the Bears to take them at No. 9. So, if Poles and the Bears pick at No. 9, they should be taking a swing at a potential impact player, not settling out of need. There’s time and resources to address the line on both sides of the ball beyond the ninth pick. However, if Ryan Poles isn’t in love with someone at No. 9, he might be better served to trade back again.
- We have finally found something that Travis Kelce isn’t good at!
- The Chiefs added former Giants and 49ers wide receiver Richie James to their roster on Friday. Kansas City has lost JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman from their receiver’s room in free agency. James will join Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, and Skyy Moore.
- Baseball can be WILD!
