It was Brian Callahan’s debut season as an NFL head coach, and a less-than-memorable one for the former Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive coordinator, and the Tennessee Titans. They closed out the year with six consecutive losses, and finished tied for the worst record in the league at 3-14.
The club owns the top spot in the 2025 NFL Draft. That’s something the franchise hadn’t “earned” since 2016. That year, the Titans wound up trading the pick to the Rams, who used the selection on quarterback Jared Goff. The Titans received a slew of picks in return, one of which they used on running back Derrick Henry.
Back to quarterback, where Callahan’s team could certainly use some help behind center. However, the club’s best defensive player has another idea.
Titans’ pass rush could use more oomph
The last team to use the first overall pick on a defensive player was the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. The choice was University of Georgia star Travon Walker. The former Bulldog has started every game for the team these past two seasons, and come up with double-digit sacks each year. Though they did pass on Aidan Hutchinson, who went No. 2 overall, and has enjoyed a better career than Walker has to date.
Hence, Titans’ defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons would like to see the team invest in a performer who can get to the other team’s quarterback.
Simmons is endorsing the Titans to choose Abdul Carter at No. 1 overall, the Penn State pass rusher.
Jeffery Simmons on the #Titans having the No.1 pick and what the team needs:
— SharmSports (@SharmSports_NFL) February 14, 2025
“I’m gonna start on the defensive side of the ball. We need another edge rusher. That guy from Penn State Abdul Carter, he’s a DAWG.”
👀 👀 👀#TitanUp (H/T @BleacherReport) pic.twitter.com/eR4Bjm7Bpn
A look at the statistics shows that only the Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles allowed fewer total yards and fewer passing yards in the league than Titans’ defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s unit. However, this team wound up finishing 26th in the league against the run, and the Titans allowed 48 offensive touchdowns, and gave up the third-most points in the league (460).
Back to the pass rush. Tennessee totaled only 32 sacks (8 during their six-game season-ending losing streak). That season total was tied for the third-fewest in the league with the Carolina Panthers.
Harold Landry III (9.0), Arden Key (6.5), and Simmons (5.0) accounted for more than half (20.5) for more than half of those QB traps. Adding Penn State’s Abdul Carter (12.5 sacks in 2024), the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, could elevate this defense to some much-needed heights.
Carter would immediately transform Tennessee's defense.