The New England Patriots are already seeing the benefits of hiring Mike Vrabel as their new head coach, and one prominent player appears to be open to joining the team this offseason. All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who played under Vrabel in Tennessee, was recently spotted on social media showing interest in a potential trade to the Patriots. While Simmons still has three years remaining on his $94 million contract extension with the Titans, with the team currently in the midst of a long rebuild, a trade could become a possibility.
Acquiring Simmons would provide Vrabel with a key asset on the defensive line, which would not only help solidify New England’s defense but also aid in accelerating their rebuilding process. This could, in turn, allow the Patriots to focus on bolstering their offense in the draft, particularly to support emerging quarterback Drake Maye.
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The idea of a trade involving Simmons gained traction when a fan posted on X (formerly Twitter) suggesting the Patriots should start the Vrabel era by acquiring the standout defensive tackle. Simmons “liked” the post, which many interpreted as an indication that he is open to the move. After a successful stint with Vrabel early in his career, Simmons has since found himself on a struggling Titans team, without much to show for his efforts. Despite these challenges, Simmons has continued to perform at a high level, ranking as the 10th-best interior defensive lineman out of 219 qualified players on Pro Football Focus. At just 27 years old, Simmons is still in the prime of his career and would be a significant addition to the Patriots’ defense.
However, Simmons is still under contract with the Titans, meaning that a trade would be the only option for the Patriots to acquire him. The Titans hold all the leverage in the situation, and unless New England can present a compelling offer, Simmons may not be easily attainable. A second-round pick could potentially be enough to make the trade happen, but Simmons would likely need to push for the move to take place.
Originally selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Simmons has developed into one of the most dominant interior defenders in the league. Despite the Titans’ struggles, he had a career-high 76 tackles, along with five sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Given that the Patriots defense ranked just 19th in opponent yards per play in the 2024 season, adding someone of Simmons’ caliber could help reshape the unit dramatically.
With Vrabel already leading the charge in New England, it seems likely that more moves will follow as the team works to build a competitive roster for the future.
