John Franklin-Myers was supposed to flourish alongside an All-Pro who drew double teams. Now the Titans need him to overcome injuries and produce without Jeffery Simmons.

By PAUL KUHARSKY

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Four hands on Jeffery Simmons every snap meant big things were coming for John Franklin-Myers. 

The Titans' big free-agent acquisition would be a handful on the interior defensive line next to Simmons, the Titans told us. In Robert Saleh’s new attacking front, Simmons would build on a First Team All-Pro season and JFM, who had 14.5 sacks and 33 quarterback hits in the previous two seasons with the Broncos, would be in an ideal situation to make a big impact.

John Franklin-Myers
John Franklin-Myers/ Angie Flatt

Except alongside Simmons for seven games, JFM had a sack and a half and three hits. 

And the Titans traded Simmons away on Wednesday morning to the Bears for a package including two first-round picks in 2027 and 2028.

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Paul Kuharsky has covered the Tennessee Titans since 1996, first for The Tennessean, then ESPN.com and now independently at PaulKuharsky.com. He served on the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee for 11 years and is the longest-tenured Titans beat reporter in the franchise's history.