Inside the new Jeffery Simmons deal

The Titans’ new five-year deal with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons raises the bar for the market at his position. Initial reports pegged the arrangement as a three-year, $105.8 million extension, but the full contract covers five years with $60.2 million fully guaranteed at signing and a practical guarantee of $90 million, since the third year becomes guaranteed after the first season. Key components include a $20 million signing bonus; a 2026 base salary of $13 million guaranteed; a 2027 base of $21.45 million plus a $5.5 million option bonus; and a 2028 base of $27.05 million, all structured with injury guarantees as noted in the terms. The package also features a 2029 base of $22.251 million and a 2030 base of $30.75 million, with various roster and workout bonuses. Overall, the deal carries about $60.2 million fully guaranteed at signing and a practical guarantee near $90 million, making Simmons the first defensive tackle with $100 million in total guarantees at signing. The five-year, $90 million commitment (with $10 million potentially guaranteed later) signals a high-end shift in interior rush market dynamics, and there are no per-game active roster bonuses in the agreement.