This month, ESPN has been unveiling the best players in the league by position via its ESPN+ service. The media organization polled front-office executives, coaches, and scouts for this endeavor. They started the fiesta with the running backs in early July and recently ended with the cornerback position. Who are the Tennessee Titans that earned high marks from the groups mentioned above by the Worldwide Leader in Sports? Several players were lauded by the network of coaches, scouts, and executives in the leaguewide survey.
Several Titans Lauded by ESPN’s Leaguewide Rankings
Top Tens
Defensive Tackle Jeffery Simmons (4)
Simmons has been Tennessee’s best defensive player for several seasons, and his prestige around the league is gaining traction. The pollsters ranked him as the fourth-best defensive tackle, with a high score of second place and his low being unranked. PFF ranked him as the 36th-best interior defensive lineman with an overall score of 68.4.
A scout’s take on Simmons:
“When he’s focused and sets out to make a lot of plays, he’s pretty much unblockable,” a head scout with an NFL team said. “I think he’ll have a big year, similar to [Justin] Madubuike in that same Baltimore scheme last year.”
Front office take on Big Jeff:
“His power is probably the best in the league. I don’t think he’s played his best recently, though.”
Tennessee still needs to upgrade the depth around him even after gaining an entire season of the Landry and Key partnership outside and drafting T’Vondre Sweat. He should be even more fearsome to opposing offensive linemen if they can find a good depth piece to help him.
Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (4)
Sneed has been a top-level cornerback since entering the league in 2020. He played an expansive role in the dynastic Chiefs’ defense, being the shutdown number one corner. However, injuries have been concerning during the past two seasons, and Kansas City didn’t have the finances to meet his demands. When he’s healthy, he has the potential to be a top-three candidate for his position. The 2024 playoff run to a Super Bowl proved that he can hang with any receiver. He was traded to the Titans during the most recent offseason cycle. The voters’ rankings had him anywhere from CB1 to CB10. PFF graded him as the 30th-best cornerback with an overall score of 72.5.
A NFC coach gave him high praise:
“He’s such a pain in the ass,” an NFC offensive coach said. “You’re in for a long day when you play him.”
An AFC coach said this of him:
“He can struggle with the quick, shiftier players, but with the bigger body receivers, he can dominate as a physical press corner because of his physicality, and he’s always up for the challenge,”
Tennessee added Sneed to vastly improve its cornerback room, alongside the signing of Chidobe Awuzie and the draft of Jarvis Brownlee, Jr. Incumbent Roger McCreary has already proven to be a reliable nickel option.
Honorable Mention
Center Lloyd Cushenberry III
Cushenberry signed with the Titans this past offseason after posting a solid overall score of 73.2, according to PFF metrics. He will replace Aaron Brewer, who was inconsistent last season and signed with the Dolphins. Tennessee made Cushenberry a wealthy man by signing him to a four-year deal worth $50 million with $26 million guaranteed.
One coordinator had this to say about Cushenberry:
“Athletic, versatile, can do a lot with. He’ll give Tennessee flexibility up front,”
Also Receiving Votes
A trio of Titans were in the “also receiving votes” category, including a pair of franchise-changing receivers and a promising lineman.
WR DeAndre Hopkins
WR Calvin Ridley
OG Peter Skoronski
Hopkins was often Tennessee’s sole reliable receiver last season, and his consistency on the field was evident. The Titans signed star Calvin Ridley to an eye-raising four-year, $92 million contract with a little less than $47 million guaranteed. They also upgraded the room’s depth by signing Tyler Boyd. Having two WR1 types on the roster can only help Will Levis’s development as he tries to solidify the future in Nashville.
Skoronski was a first-round selection who performed well last season despite battling an unfortunate issue of appendicitis that affected his preseason and an ill-begotten left tackle issue. Much will be expected from the young man in his second season.
Main Image: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
