Titans Excited About Selection of Mississippi State D-Lineman Jeffery Simmons With 19th Pick of NFL Draft

Apr 25, 2019 at 09:24 PM

Jim Wyatt

Senior Writer/Editor

NASHVILLE – The Titans selected Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons with the 19th overall pick of the NFL Draft.

While the team may have to wait a little bit to see his full impact, in the long run the Titans think he'll be a big difference-maker for years to come.

"He's a guy we did extensive research on, and he is going to come in here and get to work and help this football team," Titans General Manager Jon Robinson said of Simmons. "I'm just really excited about the ability that he has. He has really good quickness, can really run for a big man. He is explosive, changes direction well. He finishes plays, and he is an aggressive player.

"We're super-stoked to have him on the football team."

Simmons said he's excited about being a Titan.

"I have so much passion," Simmons said on a conference call. "When I step on the field, it's going to show. When you have that energy, everyone's going to come up with you. ... They can trust me. They can depend on me. I won't let them down."

Simmons, who racked up 157 tackles, seven sacks, four forced fumbles and six passes defensed in three seasons at Mississippi State, began the offseason as a potential top-10 pick.

But Simmons (6-3, 301) suffered a torn ACL doing a routine drill during a workout in February and had surgery. The injury, paired with an off-field incident Simmons was involved in back in high school, led the Titans and other NFL teams to do extra homework on the big defensive lineman.

The Titans said they did extensive research on Simmons, and after spending time with him, they felt confident in picking him. Simmons told Robinson after being informed he'd be the pick, "I will not let you down."

"I am extremely confident in Jeffery Simmons as a man," Robinson said. "I know that he is going to be productive in the community, and he is going to be productive on this football team. … We felt like whenever he's able to get back out there, he'll be a really impactful player for our defense."

Titans coach Mike Vrabel said he's looking forward to having a player the caliber of Simmons on the team.

"To get these types of players that can make an impact along the defensive front, they're disruptive," Vrabel said. "And I think when you try and draw up blocking schemes and figure out, 'How am I going to block this guy each and every week?' We feel like we have that in Jurrell (Casey), and we feel like when Jeffery is ready, he'll be another one of those players that can help us.

"I am very confident, as is Jon, that he will make everyone here proud. To get this type of player, this type of person, when we got him, we are excited."

Leading up to the draft, a pair of draft analysts thought the Titans would have to consider picking Simmons in the first round of the NFL Draft. When he was available, the Titans jumped to get him.

"I think there's a good chance he's there at 19," NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said of Simmons leading up to the draft. "And I think if you can be patient, history would look pretty kindly upon that pick because he is a top five talent."

In his last mock draft, which was posted Thursday morning, NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis had the Titans taking Simmons.

"Simmons makes sense to me for just about anyone, because I think he is that good," Davis said. "But the questions: How long will you have to wait? When will he be ready? Can you afford to do so? Each team will have to decide."

NFL Network's Bucky Brooks had Simmons listed at No.5 on his list of top defensive tackles in the draft.

"The ACL tear Simmons suffered in February clearly diminishes his draft stock," Brooks wrote. "But astute coaches will keep his disruptive game in mind and focus on how he could impact a unit when he returns from his injury."

Jeremiah said he's heard some relatively positive injury news about Simmons, and his future.

Simmons said on a conference call Thursday night his ACL rehab is going "great." He said in 2 or 3 weeks, he'll be able to run again. He expects to be able to play in 2019.

"From everything I've been told on the medical stuff, it sounds like if you pick him, you might be able to get him for six or seven games (in 2019)," Jeremiah said. "So it might not be a total wash. If your doctors are comfortable with it, and you thought you were going to get six, seven games with him in 2019 and have him rocking and rolling in the future, again, I think history would look pretty kindly upon that pick because he's that talented."

The Titans are scheduled to make five more picks in rounds 2-7 over the next two days, including picks in the second (51) and third round (82) on Friday night.

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Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (94) rests during warm-up drills before their NCAA college football game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle)

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Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons strips the ball from Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) as he tries to throw a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Butch Dill/Associated Press

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Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons (94) strips the ball from Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) as he tries to throw a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Butch Dill/Associated Press

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Butch Dill/Associated Press

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LSU running back Leonard Fournette (7) dives to recover his own fumble in front of Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons (98) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. LSU win 23-20. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Gerald Herbert

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Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight (8) is pressured by Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons (98) as he sets up to pass in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Rogelio V. Solis

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Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) is grabbed from behind by Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons (94) after a short gain during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. Alabama won 31-24. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Rogelio V. Solis

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Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) runs past Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons (94) for a short gain during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. Alabama won 31-24. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Rogelio V. Solis

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Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (94) pushes through a double team of Stephen F. Austin offensive linemen on a play during the first half of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen is sacked by Mississippi State defender Jeffery Simmons during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

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Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons (94) prepares to tackle Kentucky running back Benny Snell Jr. (26) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. The play was called back for a penalty. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle)

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Louisville running back Dae Williams (25) stretches to avoid a touchback tackle by Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons (94) during the second half of the TaxSlayer Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. Mississippi State beat Louisville 31-27. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)

Stephen B. Morton

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FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2018, file photo, Mississippi wide receiver A.J. Brown (1) hauls in a 38-yard touchdown pass reception as Southern Illinois safety Michael Elbert (37) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss. Brown and Mississippi State's Jeffery Simmons are the top two candidates for the Conerly Trophy, which is given to the state's top college football player on Tuesday night, Nov. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

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Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons speaks with reporters about being a veteran player on the young football team, during Mississippi State Media Day, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) looks for an open receiver while Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (94) pressures him during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 6 2018. Mississippi State won 23-9. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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FILE- In this Sept. 1, 2018, file photo, Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (94) pushes through a double team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Stephen F. Austin in Starkville, Miss. Simmons is a possible pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

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FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat (9) forces Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) to fumble as he attempts to pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Starkville, Miss. A main reason Mississippi State is allowing fewer than 13 points per game is a defensive front anchored by end Montez Sweat and tackle Jeffery Simmons. Sweat has 18 sacks in 19 career games. Mississippi State plays at LSU on Saturday, Oct. 20. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Former Mississippi State defensive players Jeffery Simmons, left, and Montez Sweat, joke around during Pro Day at the university, as other players were being tested by NFL football scouts and coaches, Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Starkville, Miss. Sweat ran some agility drills, while Simmons stayed on the sidelines as he recovers from a leg injury. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (94) signs toward the Florida bench during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. Florida won 13-6. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Former Mississippi State defensive player Jeffery Simmons, watches as other players were being tested by NFL scouts and coaches, Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Starkville, Miss. Simmons stayed on the sidelines as he recovers from a leg injury. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Mississippi State cornerback Cameron Dantzler (3) reacts with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (94) after intercepting the ball during an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)

Tyler Kaufman/Tyler Kaufman

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Former Mississippi State defensive player Jeffery Simmons walks around the Palmero Center while a number of former teammates were being tested by NFL scouts and coaches, Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Starkville, Miss. Simmons stayed on the sidelines as he recovers from a leg injury. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (94) waits for the next drill during warm-ups before their NCAA college football game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle)

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Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (94), left, and defensive end Montez Sweat (9), right, share a laugh during warm-up drills before their NCAA college football game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle)