The Tennessee Titans wrapped up offseason workouts with two minicamp practices. Following OTAs, those 12 sessions represented the final opportunities to assess the team before training camp in July. Head coach Robert Saleh continued showing wrinkles of his defense.
Shortly after minicamp, the Titans signed superstar defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to a three-year extension worth $105.8 million. That deal makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history at his position. Listening to Simmons at the podium offered the biggest hint to date about how different Saleh's defense is going to be from Tennessee's 2025 unit.
Simmons is coming off a career-best campaign and his fourth Pro Bowl appearance. Saleh's defense is going to be an attacking-minded unit that promises to further unlock his elite talents. How Simmons talks about being unleashed in Saleh's defense highlights their biggest wrinkle yet.
Wrinkle in Robert Saleh's defense will unleash Jeffery Simmons
“It’s my first year playing in like this attack defense,” Simmons said during minicamp. “A lot of the last couple of years I’ve been playing 2-technique, playing on the line of scrimmage, holding on to a double team. We’re attacking up the field. That’s my game. Everything is get-off, the first two steps are the main key of the defense. I love this philosophy; I think it will help me make a lot more plays in the backfield. It will help this team for sure.”
Simmons had a career-high 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in 2025. It's difficult to envision him being more productive in 2026, but Saleh's attack-style defense is going to prioritize making game-changing plays in the backfield. Simmons looked and sounded motivated to take advantage of a scheme that plans to put him in advantageous positions.
One potential roadblock to Simmons improving his 2026 production is Saleh's plan to heavily rotate defensive lineman. He's previously said lineman should be limited to four snaps in a row before catching a breather due to the physical demands of the scheme. Simmons played a hefty 764 snaps in 2025 despite missing two games with injury.
Simmons is a game-wrecker for the Titans. He signed a shiny new contract extension to go along with a stellar defensive plan that aims to maximize his production and elite traits. Another Pro Bowl season appears on the horizon for Simmons in Saleh's attack-minded defense.
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