Kevin Patra from NFL.com picked Titans defensive leader Jeffery Simmons as a potential MVP candidate, and honestly, the hype coming into this season feels absolutely deserved. We’re talking about a guy who was already one of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in the league, basically Aaron Donald-level before all these new changes even hit Nashville. Now, with major upgrades to the unit’s depth and talent, analysts are expecting Simmons to be even more dominant in 2026.
Saleh’s Scheme Unleashes the Beast
This isn’t just a bold prediction out of nowhere. The Titans are rolling out a whole new defense under Head Coach Robert Saleh, and that’s the real game-changer here. In 2025, Simmons put up crazy numbers, logging 60 QB pressures, a 13.9% pressure rate, 26 quick pressures, a 6% quick QB pressure rate, and a whopping 11 sacks. Every single one of those was a league-high for a defensive tackle. The wild part? That was in a scheme that didn’t even ask him to attack upfield much.
Why This Is A “Match Made In Heaven”
Now, Saleh’s defense is built to unleash Simmons’ game-wrecking ability. Instead of just eating up double-teams, he’ll be called on to knife into the backfield and become a disruptor, plain and simple. Coming off a career season, Simmons was already one of the most dominant defensive players anywhere. Implementing this aggressive, attacking front under Saleh? It’s a match made in heaven, and it means Simmons could be even more disruptive. If he takes that step forward, it’s not just the defense that gets better, the whole organization gets a boost. Get ready to watch this dude cause chaos.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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