When it comes to naming the most under-appreciated and underpaid players in the league, you could make a strong argument that Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Denico Autry is right at the top of the list.
The Mississippi State product consistently performs at a high level at several different positions despite only making a little more than $7 million annually.
Autry’s consistency is what really stands out every single season. The veteran defender has recorded seven or more sacks in four of the last five years, and the only thing that is felt more than Autry’s impact is his absence whenever he’s not on the field.
After suffering a knee injury in Week 11, the Titans defender missed a handful of games over the back half of the season.
Prior to that, Autry recorded 44 pressures and seven sacks over Tennessee’s first 10 games, but it was clear the injury hampered him after producing 10 pressures and one sack the rest of the way.
Despite the injury, Autry still finished with the highest Pro Football Focus grade of his career (82.8), which speaks volumes to just how good he was performing before getting hurt.
These are just some of the reasons why Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports chose Autry as the Titans’ most under-appreciated player on the team.
Here is what Benjamin had to say about Autry’s selection:
His fellow D-lineman Jeffery Simmons just got paid the big bucks, but let’s give Autry some love for his own longevity in the trenches. He’s totaled 37 sacks, 44 tackles for loss, 69 QB hits and 15 pass deflections over his last five seasons with the Colts and Titans, moving between 4-3 and 3-4 systems. Even at 33, he does everything well for a defensive-oriented team.
Tennessee’s talented defensive lineman may never get the type of national recognition he probably deserves, but Titans fans everywhere definitely appreciate just how good Autry can be whenever he’s on the field.
