The Tennessee Titans selected Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
With the move, the Titans add depth within the defensive line and gain a player who provides explosive pass rush ability and can get down the line quickly.
Aside from some off-the-field concerns, the only other thing in question is Simmons’ ability to bounce back from tearing his ACL in February. If it weren’t for the injury, it’s likely Simmons would have heard his name called much earlier in the first round.
One team even went as far as to call him “the best player in this draft.”
The Titans will have no issue finding a spot for Simmons with his level of versatility. Simmons switched up from nose tackle to five-technique on a few occasions in college, and looked to have no issue with the transition.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder’s sheer level of strength and athleticism sets him apart from other defensive linemen in the draft, and is evident looking at his film. Simmons is good with his hands both when facing blocks and trying to escape them.
At Mississippi State, Simmons recorded 55 tackles, 102 assists, seven sacks and four forced fumbles over three seasons.
While Simmons does have some small technique issues to fine-tune as he makes his transition into the NFL, he should make an impact quickly for the Titans in 2019.
