As the Tennessee Titans creep toward the start of training camp and are finishing up offseason activities, there are plenty of storylines. One of those that caused a stir last week was the absence of interior defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. While head coach Brian Callahan and the staff appeared to have little concern about Simmons missing a voluntary workout, the media and some in the fan base decided to pounce.

On some level, this criticism is unfair. Simmons is the team’s most dynamic defensive lineman and consistently shows up to play every week. Those outside the organization, however, have no idea why he was not present. Plus, his absence gives young players extra reps at a position that lacks depth. Something that can pay dividends closer to the regular season when the team is finalizing its 53-man roster.

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With all of the background noise this has caused, it is easy to overlook the fact that the Titans have one of the top interior defensive line tandems in the NFL, and that the defensive line may be one of the most solid units on the team heading into the season. Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus (PFF) agrees with that and has two Titans ranked inside his Top 32 interior defender rankings: Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat.

9. JEFFERY SIMMONS, TENNESSEE TITANS

Simmons’ 80.0 PFF overall grade in 2024 ranked ninth among interior defenders. His 81.6 PFF pass-rush grade was a career high, and he tallied 45 quarterback pressures — including five sacks — to power it.

Fans and analysts often hold the lack of sacks against him, but they fail to take into account the pressures and how those impact the game. Sure, sacks are great, but consistent pressure can be more disruptive for offenses to deal with, and Simmons excels at that. With offensive coordinators having to account for Simmons, it also opens the door for others to make plays.

26. T’VONDRE SWEAT, TENNESSEE TITANS

Sweat had an impactful rookie campaign and is poised to continue that good play in his second season. The 365-pounder earned a 75.0 PFF run-defense grade, ranking 10th among interior defenders. His lowest categorical grade was 64.1 in pass rush.

Sweat arguably had the most significant impact of any of the Titans’ rookies in 2024 and should only improve moving forward. His ability to engulf offensive linemen and anchor against the run should be a cornerstone of the defense for seasons to come. Surprisingly, he also flashed some pass-rush skills and may have a higher ceiling than projected when he entered the league.

The Titans’ defensive line should be set heading into the season with Simmons, Sweat, and Sebastian Joseph-Day penciled in as the starters. While they could use some rotational depth to keep these three fresh, the unit is clearly the most defined and arguably the strength of the defense.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Where does Titans’ Jeffery Simmons rank among NFL’s top iDLs?