The Minnesota Vikings could be one of the NFL’s biggest surprise playoff contenders this season, largely thanks to a career resurgence from quarterback Sam Darnold. With a 6-2 record and sitting second in the NFC North, the Vikings are in a strong position and may look to strengthen their roster ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline.
Recently, they made a trade for offensive tackle Cam Robinson from the Jacksonville Jaguars, sending a conditional seventh-round pick in exchange to fill the void left by Christian Darrisaw, who will miss the rest of the season due to an ACL and MCL injury. Now, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin has proposed that the Vikings target Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to boost their pass rush.
“Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has already made two moves, bringing in Cam Akers and trading for Cam Robinson as an emergency replacement for Darrisaw,” Benjamin noted.
“Neither deal cost much, yet Minnesota remains firmly in the NFC North race. Adding Simmons would be a game-changing upgrade for Brian Flores’ aggressive defensive front, and it wouldn’t hurt their long-term plans either.”
Simmons, 27, still has three years remaining on his four-year, $94 million contract. His cap hits over the next few seasons are manageable at $22.8M, $25.4M, and $28.3M, making him a potential anchor for the Vikings’ defensive line moving forward
This season, Simmons is tied for the Titans’ lead in pressures (19), leads the team in hurries (15), and ranks third in sacks (three). His presence would immediately improve Minnesota’s defensive line, particularly when paired with top tackles Harrison Phillips and Jalen Redmond, and further enhance a pass rush already ranked sixth in the league in sacks.
However, Simmons would not come cheap. As a former first-round pick and a young, impactful player, he is likely to command a hefty price, and if the rebuilding Titans are willing to trade him – a big “if” – they would likely seek at least a first-round pick and additional assets in return.
