Kent SwansonJun 25, 2026
Kent ranked their top 10 NFL defensive tackles heading into the 2026 season in tiers, topped by Jeffrey Simmons with Byron Murphy second, and predicted Simmons remains the best defensive tackle in football in 2026.
Said on air, transcribed by us · KC Sports Network (podcast)Hear the original
What Kent Swanson said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromJeffrey Simmons is the best defensive tackle in football.
- Where it was said
- KC Sports Network (podcast)
- The episode
- KC Laboratory 6/24: Is Chris Jones Still the Best DT In The NFL? (2026 DT Rankings)
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Top Player Lists“Kobi Turner... give me him with the number 10... number nine, Leonard Williams... Quentin Williams is sitting at eight... it's Jalen Carter... Zach Allen is the stand alone tier for me... Old but still elite... Cameron Hayward... Dexter Lawrence... Chris Jones (I had him at three)... My number two player... is Byron Murphy... Jeffrey Simmons is the best defensive tackle in football.”
- 2Jeffery Simmons to finish top 1 at his position, by sacks“He is the best defensive and tackle in football right now... I think that is the case for 2026 as well.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Kobi Turner... give me him with the number 10... number nine,…”1 | Top Player Lists | — | — | — | — | |
| Jeffery Simmons to finish top 1 at his position, by sacks2 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| 2 calls · 2 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
2 checkable claims — 1 positional finish and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
“Kobi Turner... give me him with the number 10... number nine, Leonard Williams... Quentin Williams is sitting at eight... it's Jalen Carter... Zach Allen is the stand alone tier for me... Old but still elite... Cameron Hayward... Dexter Lawrence... Chris Jones (I had him at three)... My number two player... is Byron Murphy... Jeffrey Simmons is the best defensive tackle in football.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Positional FinishesJeffery SimmonsTennessee Titans
Jeffery Simmons to finish top 1 at his position, by sacks
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Lane Mills · Game Outcome Picks · Tennessee Titans · Miss 0
Mills predicts the Titans finish 2026 at 6-11 (2-4 in the AFC South), missing the playoffs, with specific wins over the Jets, Giants, Browns, Jaguars, Raiders and Colts, and names Wan'Dale Robinson team MVP with another 1,000-yard, seven-touchdown season as Cam Ward's top receiver.Nathan Jahnke · Roster Spot Calls · K.J. Osborn · Hit 100
An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.Gennaro Filice · Score Predictions · Tennessee Titans · Hit 88
The lone NFL.com pick for Tennessee, projecting a low-scoring 14-13 Titans upset built on their defensive front containing Jonathan Taylor.Dan Graziano · Game Outcome Picks · Tennessee Titans · Hit 100
The lone ESPN pick for Tennessee, taking the Titans to beat the Colts.Tyler Sullivan · Game Outcome Picks · Tennessee Titans · Hit 100
Sullivan says it would not surprise them if the Titans beat the Colts for their first win of the season, arguing the line is too big in the divisional matchup.
More positional finishes
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Nick Wright · Positional Finishes · Puka Nacua · Close 75
Nick Wright picked the Ravens to beat Houston this weekend even with Lamar Jackson possibly out (leaning on Derrick Henry and Cooper Rush), the Chiefs to win in Jacksonville, and the Rams to beat the 49ers on Thursday night. They also laid out an AFC playoff field of Bills, Steelers, Chiefs, Chargers and Colts, projected the Chiefs' receiver pecking order once Rashee Rice returns, and called Justin Jefferson the best receiver in football with Puka Nacua a top-five receiver.Rich Hribar · Positional Finishes · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Hribar published their 2023 fantasy football quarterback tiers, ordering 41 quarterbacks into eight tiers that reflect how they prioritize drafting the position, with Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes in the top tier as the trio most likely to finish as the overall QB1.Chris Brockman · Positional Finishes · Jaxon Smith-Njigba · Hit 100
Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called their shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season.Ryan Tracy · Positional Finishes · Bryan Cook · Miss 0
Tracy argues the Chiefs should address edge rusher and defensive tackle via the draft and use free agency on running back and wide receiver; they name Brian Robinson as their target, expects Kenneth Walker III to re-sign with Seattle, thinks Nick Bolton-style veterans like Jerry Tillery, Derek Nnadi and Mike Pennel shouldn't return, believes Bryan Cook is a top-10 safety the Chiefs can't afford, and predicts a quarterback (Trinidad Chambliss) will rocket up boards so more than one QB goes in the top 10.Pat Gustavson · Positional Finishes · Bijan Robinson · Close 75
Gustafson picks the Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Bears in the divisional round with a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl, predicts Mike Tomlin and Matt LaFleur stay, Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, and lays out their own coaching landing spots.