2019 NFL Draft: Grades for every first-round pick

19. Tennessee Titans: Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi State

Grade: A-

Jeffery Simmons is one of the most interesting prospects in the entire 2019 NFL Draft class. He is an impressive interior rusher who is one of the most physically gifted players in the entire class. Simmons was a big-time playmaker at Mississippi State and was a potential top-five selection earlier in the process. However, he tore his ACL while preparing for the draft and that obviously had an impact on his draft stock.

At No. 19, the Tennessee Titans took a chance on Simmons in a pick that could pay major dividends down the line.

Simmons is extremely quick off of the ball, shows good power at the point of attack and impressive bend for an interior prospect. He is a fantastic one-gap penetrator who can make splash plays in the pass rush and as a run defender. His combination of power and athleticism is nearly unrivaled in this class and he undoubtedly would have been considered among the best at a loaded interior defensive line position if it were not for the injury.

It is unlikely that Simmons plays as a rookie, but it is not completely impossible. I like this pick for Tennessee because they land a player who simply would not have been available under normal circumstances. That being said, it is not an “A” because they could really use some immediate help if they are going to compete in the AFC South in 2019.