NFL Contract Details: Simmons, Beckham, Watson, Jennings

Jeffery Simmons cashed in on a 2025 first-team All-Pro nod with a three-year, $105.8MM extension with the Titans. The $35.27MM-per-year deal shattered the defensive tackle market, which was previously topped by Chris Jones‘ $31.75MM AAV.

Simmons had two years left on his last extension, a four-year, $94MM pact. His new deal represents a raise of almost $12MM per year, a well-earned reward after his career year. His 11.0 sacks and 17 tackles for loss (both career-highs) led all defensive tackles, as did his 91.4 pass rush grade and 19.4% pass rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

The soon-to-be 29-year-old’s new deal includes $100MM in guaranteed money, of which $60.2MM is fully guaranteed, per terms obtained by Mike Florio of Pro Football Rumors. Simmons will see $33MM of that money in the first year via a $20MM signing bonus and $13MM in base salary. His 2027 compensation – a $21.45MM salary, a $250k workout bonus, and a $5.5MM option bonus – are also fully guaranteed.

In 2028, Simmons’ salary jumps significantly with a $27.05MM salary, a $2.5MM roster bonus, and $250k workout bonus. Those payments are all guaranteed for injury at signing and will become fully guaranteed in March 2027. Simmons will be owed $22.251MM in salary in 2029. of which $4.5MM is guaranteed for injury with a full guarantee vesting in March 2028. A $5.5MM 2029 roster bonus has the same guarantee conditions attached. In 2030, Simmons’ will be owed $30.75MM in base salary with a $1MM roster bonus. The last two years also have $250k workout bonuses.

Realistically, the Titans are not going to release Simmons before his 2028 guarantees vest, so he should see at least $90MM of this deal over the next three years. But accounting for the two years that were already on his contract, he will earn just under $150MM over the next five seasons, roughly $30MM per year.

Here are some details on a few other offseason contracts around the NFL:

• Jauan Jennings signed a one-year, $8MM deal to become the Vikings‘ WR3 in May. He can earn another $5MM via incentives based on playing time, receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, per Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Each category offers up to $1.25MM with $1.75MM considered Likely To Be Earned based on his 2025 numbers. That will count against the 2026 salary cap; any other incentives that he reaches will be charged in 2027.
• Odell Beckham Jr.‘s contract with the Giants includes three separate injury waivers for his left knee, ankle, and bilateral pelvis, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. One injury waiver is an uncommon inclusion in an NFL contract; three is indicative of extreme risk-aversion on the team’s part. The waiver allows the player to pass a physical that they otherwise would not due to a pre-existing condition, Duggan adds. Were Beckham to injure any of the body parts included in the waivers, the Giants would not owe him his remaining salary.
• Christian Watson can...