Titans’ Offseason Positional Preview: Interior Defensive Line

The Tennessee Titans’ interior defensive line is one of the least discussed position groups on the roster, but the 2023 offseason has two core pieces in an uncertain situation.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans interior defensive line has not been a point of concern for a couple of seasons now. With star Jeffery Simmons, underrated vet Denico Autry and a cast of relative no names playing better than expected, the spot hasn’t been much of a need. Now, Jeffery Simmons is in a heated contract negotiation and some of the Titans’ top players from the interior defensive line are set to be free agents. Let’s look at the situation the Titans are in.

Under Contract

Jeffery Simmons - $10.7 Million Cap Hit

Jeffery Simmons is entering his fifth year with the Titans and has turned into one of the best defensive players in the entire NFL. Simmons is set to play the 2023 on his fifth-year option amount of $10.7 million and surely isn’t happy about it. Simmons should and does want to lock down a long-term contract before stepping on the field again. Simmons already dealt with an ankle injury in 2022 that caused him to take pain-killing shots before each game the last half of the season. He can’t risk his health and future any more for such a discount.

Simmons is looking at a pay day around $25 million per season and the Titans would be smart to give it to him. Simmons is the type of player you build an entire defense around. There has been some whispers about a potential trade of Simmons, but if that doesn’t materialize, the Titans need to give Simmons his money as soon as they possibly can to avoid any distractions and avoid having one of the worst interior defensive line situations in the NFL.

Denico Autry - $9.1 Million Cap Hit

Autry is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. When healthy, Autry is a nightmare for opposing offenses. He can line up outside and beat tackles in pass rush with force or slide inside and win with quickness on the interior. Autry capitalizes on 1v1 situations like no one else on the team. Autry could use a potential extension or contract restructure to lower his cap hit, but even if nothing is done, Autry is worth the $9 million.

Tyler Shelvin - $870k Cap Hit

Curtis Brooks - $750k Cap Hit

Jayden Peevy - $750k Cap Hit

All three of these names were brought in on futures contracts, which is essentially a training camp invite with no financial risk. Shelvin has some pedigree and may compete for a roster spot if Teair Tart isn’t brought back. Peevy spent some time with the Titans last season, but never did enough to get a consistent roster spot. All three are long shots to make the roster come September.

Pending Free Agents

Teair Tart – Restricted

Tart came into his own last season. After coming to the Titans as an undrafted free agent from the 2020 class, Tart elevated himself to being one of the best nose tackles in the NFL. The Titans had one of the best run defenses in the NFL despite playing mostly in nickel personnel with five defensive backs on the field. They were able to do this because Tart had full control over the interior gaps at all times.

Tart’s fantastic play also helped Titans’ linebackers out a ton. Tart controlling multiple linemen and disrupting double team timing gave the linebackers opportunities to roam free and make plays. Tart even improved as a pass rush threat racking up a career high 1.5 sacks. That doesn’t seem all that impressive on paper, but a nose tackle with Tart’s background making that kind of impact is huge. Tart had no sacks in his career coming into the season.

Tart is a restricted free agent, so the Titans will have the choice of how to handle Tart’s path forward. The Titans could choose to tender Tart with a first or second round option. Meaning if Tart is signed away, the signing team would have to give up a pick corresponding with the tender, but the downside is the Titans have to pay more for Tart the higher the round tender they place.

What to pay Tart is a conundrum. Yes, he is a very important player to the defense when he plays his best, but he is an undrafted nose tackle. It is not a position with a ton of value and the Titans aren’t in the best spot cap space-wise either. Even if the Titans aren’t able to get Tart back, they should still use a second-round tender on him to ensure they get a draft pick back if he is signed elsewhere.

Demarcus Walker

Walker had a fantastic season for the Titans in 2022. Walker put up a career high in tackles(32), tackles for loss(10) and sacks(7) by a wide margin. Walker thrived playing next to Simmons and Autry, finally being complimented and put in a proper position to succeed. Walker would be a great piece to bring back to the Titans’ front, especially after releasing Bud Dupree.

Walker could cash in on his career year with a bigger contract than the Titans could offer, but his estimate according to Spotrac.com is $3.5 million per season and if that holds, it is incredibly possible for the Titans to pay that. Walker would be wise to pursue a return to the Titans as well. It was the best season of his career so acknowledging the Titans’ system and pieces around him helped cause that success would be smart.

Da’Shawn Hand

The Titans added Hand to the organization late in the 2021 season. He was set to contribute to the team in 2022 as well, but was placed on injured reserve in September. Hand may be able to carve out a role on the team if given the chance, but at this time Hand is a longshot to ever truly make an impact. The Titans may bring Hand back into the fold, but it would not on a deal of any consequence financially.

Naquan Jones

Jones was an undrafted free agent from 2021 and after the 2021 season it was a possibility that Jones would overtake Tart as the team’s primary nose tackle, but 2022 was not a great season for Jones. Jones put up 2.5 sacks and four tackles for loss in 13 games in 2021, but only put up one sack and two tackles for loss in 11 games in 2022. He saw his defensive snaps decrease from 328 in 2021 to only 157 in 2022. Jones would be a good option to bring back on the cheap, but his time in Nashville may be over.

Simmons Scrubs Titans: The Tennessee Titans’ superstar defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons may be following a common path and using social media as a tool in his pursuit for a new contract. CLICK HERE

Henry on Trade Block: The Tennessee Titans could be willing to part ways with star running back Derrick Henry according to a report coming out of the 2023 NFL Combine. CLICK HERE

Four Titans Free Agents: The Tennessee Titans had four players appear on the The Ringer’s Top 100 list of pending free agents. CLICK HERE