Titans Secure Jeff Simmons With $105M Extension, Sparking Reactions

WHO:

ESPN - Jeffery Simmons, defensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans

ESPN - Mike Borgonzi, Titans general manager

ESPN - Todd France and AJ Stevens, agents for Jeffery Simmons

ESPN - Vin Marino, Leland Taylor, and Dave Gardi, involved in negotiations

ESPN - Amy Adams Strunk, owner of the Titans

WHAT:

NBC Sports - The contract includes a 2027 option bonus of $5.5 million and a 2027 base salary of $21.45 million, both fully guaranteed.

NBC Sports - The contract also features a 2028 base salary of $27.05 million, guaranteed for injury at signing, and a 2029 base salary of $22.251 million, with $4.5 million guaranteed for injury at signing.

NBC Sports - The contract carries $60.2 million fully guaranteed at signing, with a practical guarantee of $90 million.

NBC Sports - The new-money average of the contract is $35.276 million, and factoring in previous compensation, it averages $30 million over five years.

NBC Sports - The contract includes a signing bonus of $20 million and a 2026 base salary of $13 million, fully guaranteed.

NBC Sports - The contract has a new-money average of $35.276 million and a practical guarantee of $90 million.

NBC Sports - Simmons becomes the first defensive tackle to have $100 million in total guarantees at signing.

NBC Sports - The contract is structured as a firm three-year, $90 million commitment, with an additional $10 million guaranteed into the fourth season.

ESPN - Simmons was named first-team All Pro and is a five-time captain for the Titans.

ESPN - Simmons led all NFL interior defensive linemen in solo tackles (39), tackles for loss (17), sacks (11), sack yards (79.0), quarterback pressures (60), pressure rate (14.5), and tied for forced fumbles (3) last season.

ESPN - Simmons expressed gratitude, stating, "Tennessee has become a second home for me... I'm focused on helping this team get back to competing for championships."

ESPN - Jeffery Simmons signed a three-year contract extension worth $105.8 million with the Tennessee Titans.

ESPN - The contract includes $100 million guaranteed.

ESPN - Simmons recorded a career-high 11 sacks last season, breaking the franchise record for most sacks in a season by a Titans defensive tackle.

ESPN - Simmons has accumulated 383 tackles, 42.5 sacks, 27 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries over his career.

WHERE:

ESPN - Nashville, Tennessee, home of the Tennessee Titans

WHEN:

ESPN - Simmons was the 19th overall selection by the Titans in the 2019 draft.

ESPN - Simmons has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times in his seven-year career.

WHY:

ESPN - Mike Borgonzi stated that Simmons is a "pillar for our franchise" and embodies what it means to be a Titan, indicating the team's desire to retain their best players.

HOW:

NBC Sports - The contract does not include any per-game active roster bonuses, which are commonly included in veteran contracts.

ESPN - The contract extension was negotiated by Simmons' agents and Titans management, with contributions from various team officials.

A new contract has been signed that guarantees a total of $60.2 million at signing, with a practical guarantee of $90 million. The deal includes a base salary of $21.45 million for 2027, a base salary of $27.05 million for 2028, and a base salary of $22.251 million for 2029, with various injury guarantees in place. Notably, this contract does not feature any per-game active roster bonuses, which are often standard in veteran agreements.