Stubborn Titans keeping team from necessary full rebuild

The Tennessee Titans could be botching their rebuild.

On Saturday, separate reports surfaced noting that the franchise has no intention of trading standout three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, arguably the team's most valuable trade asset.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport wrote that following former head coach Brian Callahan's firing earlier this week, "Seemingly everyone called the Titans to see if star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was available ahead of the league's Nov. 4 trade deadline. 

"Those interested were told clearly that Simmons is not available," Rapoport added.

The Athletic NFL insider Dianna Russini echoed that sentiment, writing, "The Titans are open for business on every player but QB Cam Ward and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons."

Retaining Jeffery Simmons holds Titans back from full-on rebuild

Simmons would be much more valuable on a contending team than spending the rest of his prime on the Titans, who won't be sniffing the playoffs for the foreseeable future. It's much more likely that the draft picks Tennessee would get from trading the talented defender could be part of the franchise's next playoff core than Simmons, who is signed through 2027.

Through six games in 2025, Simmons has 4.5 sacks. Per Stathead, he leads defensive tackles in quarterback hits (11) and tackles for loss (eight).

Under contract for two more seasons after this year, Simmons, 28, would likely command a significant haul on the trade market. For a team like Tennessee that is in full rebuild mode, that should outweigh keeping him on the roster.

The Titans need draft capital for players who better fit rookie quarterback Cam Ward's timeline, and they could squander an opportunity to collect premier picks by holding onto Simmons.

It's usually bad business for teams to trade away their best players, yet Tennessee isn't in position to benefit from Simmons' production. It's more sensible for the Titans to send the seven-year veteran somewhere he can make a difference and for them to commit to the future. But with a little over two weeks until the Nov. 4 trade deadline, Tennessee could be poised to make a critical mistake.