The Tennessee Titans experienced a defensive revival in 2021, mostly thanks to a vaunted front four that was among the best in the NFL at getting after opposing quarterbacks.
The group was led by Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry and Harold Landry, all of whom combined for 29.5 sacks. Bud Dupree also chipped-in three sacks, but it was clear he wasn’t himself until late in the season after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 2020.
Going into 2022, Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey ranks Tennessee’s defensive line at No. 10 in the NFL. Here’s Linsey’s take on Tennessee’s group.
Jeffery Simmons is beginning to establish himself as one of the best, young interior defensive linemen in the NFL, as his 62 quarterback pressures in 2021 ranked fifth at the position. He’s joined by a couple of nice pieces up front in Denico Autry, Bud Dupree and Harold Landry III. PFF is a little bit lower on both Landry and Dupree than Tennessee is given the size of their recently signed contracts, but both are still productive players who can capitalize on the interior push from Simmons and Autry.
With the Titans returning all but one starter on defense in 2022, they figure to be at least as good as last season, and the potential is there for the pass-rush unit to be even better if Dupree can return to form for a full season.
