Lions Urged to Trade for $94M Titans Star Jeffery Simmons

Pairing Simmons with Aidan Hutchinson could create a dominant pass-rushing duo in Detroit.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:40pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the overlapping movements and actions of two football players, conceptually representing the potential impact of pairing defensive stars Jeffery Simmons and Aidan Hutchinson on the Detroit Lions' defensive line.A cubist interpretation of the potential defensive line pairing of Jeffery Simmons and Aidan Hutchinson, which could create a formidable pass-rushing duo for the Detroit Lions.Today in Detroit

The Detroit Lions are being urged to consider trading for Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who is entering the final two years of his $94 million contract extension. Acquiring Simmons would give the Lions a formidable pass-rushing duo alongside star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, but it would come at a steep price in terms of both salary cap impact and draft capital.

Why it matters

The Lions are looking to return to the playoffs after a slight dip in performance in 2025. Adding an elite defensive tackle like Simmons could help shore up their defensive line and boost their pass rush, which was already one of the league's best last season. However, the high cost of acquiring Simmons could limit the team's ability to address other needs on the roster.

The details

The proposed trade would send the Lions' 2026 first-round pick (17th overall) and a 2027 second-round selection to the Titans in exchange for Simmons. Simmons is set to have a $25.6 million cap hit in 2026 and a $28.5 million cap hit in 2027, which would eat up a significant portion of the Lions' salary cap. But pairing him with Aidan Hutchinson, who had 14.5 sacks last season, could create one of the NFL's most dominant pass-rushing duos.

  • Simmons signed a 4-year, $94 million contract extension with the Titans in 2023.
  • The Lions finished the 2025 season with a 9-8 record, a steep decline from their 12- and 15-win campaigns in 2023 and 2024.

The players

Jeffery Simmons

A defensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans who earned a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2025 after recording 67 combined tackles and 11 sacks.

Aidan Hutchinson

A defensive end for the Detroit Lions who had 14.5 sacks in 2025, ranking 6th overall on PFSN's NFL Edge Impact metrics.

Robert Saleh

The new head coach of the Tennessee Titans, who is credited with turning the 49ers' defense into a vital component of their surprising playoff berth.

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What they’re saying

“The Titans didn't trade Simmons at the deadline last year, and it's difficult to envision new coach Robert Saleh wanting to part with his best player now. However, the contract is set to expire after next season, and it's uncertain whether the Titans will be competitive by then.”

— Ralph Vacchiano, Fox Sports

What’s next

The Lions will need to weigh the potential benefits of adding Simmons to their defensive line against the significant cost in terms of both salary cap and draft capital. The team's decision will likely depend on their assessment of their roster needs and their confidence in their ability to remain competitive in the coming years.

The takeaway

Acquiring Jeffery Simmons would be a high-risk, high-reward move for the Detroit Lions, as it could create a dominant pass-rushing duo with Aidan Hutchinson but would also require the team to invest heavily in their defensive line at the expense of addressing other roster needs.