After the Tennessee Titans inked defensive lineman Denico Autry to a three-year, $21.5 million deal, the veteran is looking to show that the team made the right move.
Autry was one of many moves the Titans made to overhaul their defense. He’s expected to bolster the team upfront, especially in the pass-rush, where the Titans finished with the third-fewest sacks in the NFL last season.
Autry appreciates that the Titans went after him earlier this offseason and now he’s focused on proving general manager Jon Robinson right, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
“If you come after me, I’m going to give you all I’ve got,” Autry said after practice on Tuesday. “I appreciate those guys for that, and I want to prove them right.”
Not only will Autry bolster the team’s pass-rush and run defense upfront, he’ll also help take pressure off of budding star lineman and fellow Mississippi State product, Jeffery Simmons, who saw plenty of extra attention in 2020.
Autry talked about Simmons and his having that “Bulldog mentality.”
“With Jeff, that Bulldog mentality goes a long way,” Autry said. “Rugged, tough, hard-nosed, going to get after you every play, relentless. (It’s) just a way of life.”
The addition of Autry was also a subtraction from a division rival, with the Titans plucking him from the Indianapolis Colts in free agency after they didn’t match Tennessee’s offer.
The Mississippi State product took notice of what the Titans were building while in Indy, and that was something he wanted to be part of.
“I like everything about it here,” Autry said. “(When I was in Indy), I saw where (the Titans) had good parts and pieces, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Having Autry on the roster will add even more intrigue to the Titans’ games versus the Colts this year. Back in March, the 31-year-old made it quite clear that he has a chip on his shoulder because of Indy’s failure to bring him back.
New @Titans d-lineman Denico Autry: The @Colts knew what they had in me. Said games against them next season will be real personal.
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) March 18, 2021
The Colts and Titans will meet in Week 3 in Nashville, and then in Week 8 in Indianapolis.
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