Tennessee Titans: Jeffery Simmons can have a huge impact in 2019
The Tennessee Titans selected defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons after he tore his ACL, knowing he may not play in 2019. That plan has changed.
The Tennessee Titans selected Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft knowing there was a good possibility if not probability he would not play this season at all.
Simmons tore his ACL in the pre-draft process (February 12) and here we sit just eight months later in October, and he’s about to be activated off of injured reserve.
One of the most disruptive forces in college football in 2018, Simmons looked like a sure-fire top five draft pick, at least top 10, prior to his injury. Because of the timing of his ACL tear, no one was able to see what he could do as an athletic freak at the Scouting Combine or at Mississippi State’s pro day.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport had the initial report on this huge development for the Titans.
This is pretty amazing: The #Titans are activating first-round pick DL Jeffery Simmons, who tore his ACL during pre-draft training, sources say. They’ll be cautious, but clearly practice went well. He was on NFI.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 19, 2019
Although the Titans had three weeks to decide if Simmons was ready to return to the active roster, they apparently felt practice went well enough — as Rap Sheet alludes to — to put him on the roster now.
And it couldn’t come at a more important time.
The Titans are preparing for a very important matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Both teams are coming off of losses but in a weak AFC, a win puts one team at 3-4 and in position to at least make some kind of run at a playoff spot, Wild Card or otherwise.
So how can Simmons help the Titans right now? What does he bring to the table?
Jeffery Simmons scouting report
Height: 6-4
Weight: 301 pounds
Arm length: 34.5 inches
Hands: 10 1/4 inches
College: Mississippi State
2018 stats: 63 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks
Strengths
Simmons is an unbelievable athlete at 6-foot-4, 301 pounds. He reminded me a lot of Ndamukong Suh with his ability to win with quickness off the ball, but also to chase down quarterbacks and running backs in pursuit.
Not only does he play with intensity, but Simmons’ physical gifts are off the charts, and his overall athleticism and length make him nearly impossible to defend for interior offensive linemen.
He draws double teams with his ability to just bull rush guys, but he can also win with a variety of moves as a rusher, including beautiful work with his hands.
He’s got excellent footwork and plays under control with a great understanding of what offenses are trying to throw at him.
Weaknesses
Although Simmons plays with great body control, he can be slow instinctually at times which is part of the reason I feel he only had two sacks as a junior at Mississippi State.
If this guy’s play recognition improves, he’s going to be unstoppable on the interior.
He also has a tendency at times to think he’s the only guy who’s going to make a play. That’s not always a bad thing, but Simmons has to do a better job of playing his role within the defense rather than just being a big, hulking, dominating athlete out there, and with Jurrell Casey playing next to him, I don’t think that will be a problem.
The bottom line for the Titans with this move is that as Simmons slowly gets acclimated to the speed of the NFL, he could prove to be one of the biggest difference makers in the 2019 class in short order.
Next. 2020 NFL Draft: Latest top 32 big board. dark
Because of the NFL’s rules for the Non-football injury list, he is eligible to play right away.