The current expectation is that the Tennessee Titans will spend the next few offseasons continuing to build around franchise quarterback Cam Ward. That could mean selecting a wide receiver or offensive lineman in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
A recent way-too-early mock draft has the Titans going in a different direction altogether.
The Titans are deep at the defensive tackle position. Veteran Jeffery Simmons and sophomore T'Vondre Sweat are expected to form a haunting duo up the middle this season. Together, they represent the strongest area of a rebuilding Titans roster.
The Pro Football Network recently released their latest 2026 mock draft. They have the Titans selecting Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods at No. 4 overall.
2026 NFL Mock Draft indicates Titans could replace Jeffery Simmons
"The Tennessee Titans have Jeffery Simmons under contract through 2027, and pairing him with Clemson’s Peter Woods would give them one of the NFL‘s scariest defensive fronts," Max Dorsey wrote.
Dorsey seems to be forgetting Sweat here. If the Titans are drafting a defensive tackle with a top-five selection, it could spell bad news for Simmons. Adding Woods to the Simmons-Sweat dynamic would see a lot of capital invested at one position.
With Sweat on an affordable rookie contract for the foreseeable future, Simmons would likely be the odd man out if such a scenario were to come to fruition. There have been rumblings about Simmons' future in Tennessee. He made the decision earlier this offseason to stay away from voluntary OTAs, which he later described as a "personal decision."
Simmons is signed through 2027 via a previously inked four-year, $94 million extension. He's currently the eighth-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL, earning $23.5 million per year on average. The highest-paid DT in the league now earns $31.7 million annually, so Simmons could demand a sizable raise when his current contract is up for renegotiation.
Simmons will turn 28 during this year's training camp and the Titans probably won't be too interested in keeping him beyond 2026. General manager Mike Borgonzi isn't against trading aging assets for picks.
If there's any scenario where the Titans consider drafting a defensive tackle top-five, speculation over Simmons' standing in Nashville should run rampant.