Jeffery Simmons Trade Reportedly Not Eyed by Titans at Deadline amid NFL Rumors

The Tennessee Titans aren't yet prepared to pivot to a complete rebuild amid a 1-5 start to the 2025 NFL season.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Tuesday on 104.5 The Zone's Ramon and Will that "the Titans don't want to trade Jeffery Simmons."

"I would be very surprised if they moved on from him," Fowler said. "Three guys I'm monitoring: Arden Key, Roger McCreary and Chig Okonkwo."

The Titans front office did at least see fit to fire head coach Brian Callahan, who had a 4-19 record in the role.

Nobody has any misconceptions about the present state of the franchise. The Athletic's Michael Silver spoke to a coach from the Las Vegas Raiders who said the 2025 Titans "might be the worst team I've seen in the last 25 years." Tennessee will in all likelihood finish with one of the league's worst records.

By trading Simmons, general manager Mike Borgonzi would be signaling he doesn't envision a turnaround happening soon, either.

Simmons has 28 tackles, and his 4.5 sacks already put him on pace to surpass his career high (8.5 in 2021). He might also earn a fourth Pro Bowl nod in five years.

One of the biggest reasons the Titans would trade the 28-year-old is that they don't see a path to contention in 2026 or 2027, the two remaining seasons he's under contract.

That kind of message wouldn't be received well by the fanbase or within the locker room.

And even if Simmons' contributions aren't translating into wins for Tennessee, the leadership he's providing behind the scenes can help guide the team through a difficult period. During Thursday's practice, Silver reported he brought the session to a halt "to point out what he considered a poor showing by second-year right tackle JC Latham."

That level of accountability is needed in order for the Titans to improve their overall culture.

Simmons undoubtedly has a lot of trade value and would yield a good pick or two in a swap for Tennessee. That wouldn't make up for everything he currently brings to the table, even in a lost season.