With 2023 Offseason Here, Titans Must Prioritize Re-signing Defensive Tackle Jeffery Simmons

Now that Super Bowl 57 has come and gone, we are officially full swing into the NFL offseason. While the Tennessee Titans have a few key free agents they should look into bringing back, one of their main priorities should be to bring back one of the defense's best players in All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.

Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today Sports

NASHVILLE -- The NFL offseason is quickly upon us, which means teams around the league, who have likely started already looking at available players, will soon begin addressing their biggest needs on each side of the ball based on the organizations available cap space and draft capital for the highly-anticiapted NFL Draft. One of the biggest names that Titans fans will likely be monitoring very closely is All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.

Simmons remains under contract through the 2023 season, but that doesn't necessarily mean the team can't/won't prioritize re-signing him to a long-term deal sometime this off-season. In fact, during the NFL's Pro Bowl games, Simmons had high praise for GM Ran Carthon while also briefly speaking on the conversation he and the team's new GM had.

"We had a great talk, and him saying I am one of his priorities, that meant a lot," Simmons said at the Pro Bowl games. "I feel like he is the person for this job. There's not much I can say especially with talk of the contract – my (agent) is handling that. But whenever we get to that point – I feel very confident that I'll be here in Tennessee, and I want to be in Tennessee. So, we'll see how that goes."

#Titans DL @GrindSimmons94 at the Pro Bowl.

Among the topics: New GM Ran Carthon (he’s a big fan).

🎥 pic.twitter.com/nk2zkLgOWB

— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) February 4, 2023

Simmons has quickly ascended into one of the NFL's top players at his respective position and has become a superstar for Tennessee's defense. The former first-round pick out of Mississippi State has recorded a total of 16 sacks, 108 combined tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 30 quarterback hits over the last two seasons.

Additionally, Simmons was named Second-Team All-Pro for a second consecutive season while also earning another Pro Bowl selection for a second straight season, too.

Given Simmons' level of production and quick rise to stardom in the NFL, the Titans would be wise in making sure one of their best defensive players gets locked up long-term. Based on Simmon's recent comments, it appears that both parties involved have a strong interest in getting a long-term deal done, maybe even before the start of the 2023 season. 

Simply, letting a player of Simmons' caliber hit the open market next offseason wouldn't be a wise move for Tennessee, and they must prioritize re-signing him in the near future.