As we outlined in a separate article, the Tennessee Titans have 28 notable players who are in a contract year, but there are seven players in particular who could have a huge 2020 campaign en route to getting a big payday in 2021.
While some of these players are likely to be moving on after 2020, others could see a contract extension offer from the Titans prior to the start of the season, or at the latest, next offseason.
Regardless of what the Titans decide to do with each individual player, let’s see which players on Tennessee’s roster could land themselves a big payday with a huge season in 2020.
TE Jonnu Smith
After Delanie Walker was cut earlier this offseason, Smith will be the official No. 1 tight end in Tennessee in 2020 — and it comes at the perfect time for him.
Smith is in the final year of his rookie deal, and while it’s possible the Titans could ink him to an extension before the upcoming season, chances are he’ll play out the year and hit free agency next offseason.
The former third-round pick had his best season as a pro in 2019, finishing with career-highs in receiving yards (439) and touchdowns (three), and he also had a clutch, one-handed touchdown grab in the playoffs.
While the coronavirus has restricted much of everything this offseason, it hasn’t stopped Smith from working on his chemistry with quarterback Ryan Tannehill, as the pair has been getting together multiple times per week.
That should help Smith garner more trust and more targets, and ultimately, more production in his fourth season, which could lead to a nice payday in 2021.
WR Corey Davis
After the Titans decided not to pick up the fifth-year option of Corey Davis this offseason, the former No. 5 overall pick will be in a contract year in 2020.
Davis took a step back in terms of production in 2019 after totaling nearly 300 yards and two scores less than he did in 2018. It wasn’t for a lack of being open, though, as Tannehill missed Davis on several occasions.
Tannehill acknowledged that working on chemistry with Davis this offseason is important, so any improvement there could lead to more targets and yards for the 25-year-old.
Another thing that should help Davis produce more in 2020 is the fact that opposing defenses will have extra attention on A.J. Brown, who had a standout rookie campaign in 2019.
If that happens, Davis should have more room to work with and more opportunities overall.
DaQuan Jones
Once the Titans moved on from Jurrell Casey by trading him to the Denver Broncos this offseason, fellow defensive lineman DaQuan Jones has to be wondering about his future in Nashville.
The 28-year-old will be in a contract year in 2020 and is coming off arguably his best season as a pro since the Titans drafted him in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
If Jones hopes to secure a salary from either the Titans or another team close to the $8.3 million he’ll be making this season, he needs to re-create the success he had in 2019.
ILB Jayon Brown
The Titans got an absolute steal in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft in inside linebacker Jayon Brown, who has emerged as one of the elite coverage linebackers in the league.
We saw just how important Brown was to the Titans last season when he was dealing with a groin injury, as the defense just wasn’t the same in coverage without him.
Brown has finished No. 2 and No. 3 in tackles the past two seasons, and his finishing with the third-most tackles in 2019 is made even more impressive when you consider he missed two games.
The Titans would be wise to try and ink Brown to a long-term extension prior to the 2020 season, otherwise they could find themselves in a bidding war to retain the 25-year-old in 2021.
RB Derrick Henry
Star running back Derrick Henry isn’t technically on a contract year in 2020, but his situation is similar.
The Titans franchise tagged the Alabama product earlier this offseason, which technically means he’ll be a free agent once again in 2021 if no long-term deal is reached by July 15.
However, the Titans will also have the option of franchise tagging him in 2021, giving the team some future control.
It’s going to be hard for Henry to top what he did last season after leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns and carrying the Titans through the playoffs, but it is possible.
The one avenue that Henry hasn’t excelled is as a pass-catcher, which has limited his value and chances of being the highest-paid player at his position in the NFL.
Should Henry become a bigger factor in the passing game and check the final box in his repertoire that he has yet to fill, he might find it easier to get the lucrative, long-term deal he is seeking.
CB Adoree’ Jackson
Unlike the five aforementioned players, cornerback Adoree’ Jackson is guaranteed to be with the team through next season, as he recently had his fifth-year option for 2021 picked up by the Titans.
However, if the Titans are smart, they’ll try to lock him up to a long-term deal sooner rather than later. The longer they wait, the more expensive Jackson will become.
That’s because his career trajectory continues to trend upward. Jackson is coming off his best season in coverage in 2019 after finishing with a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 82.5, the sixth-best in the NFL.
During his four-game absence at the end of last season, the former No. 18 overall pick’s importance to this team was made clear, and his impact upon returning for the playoffs was vital and undeniable.
Jackson has No. 1 corner written all over him, and at 24 years old he is at the perfect age for the Titans to feel comfortable about making a long-term commitment.
OLB Vic Beasley
The Titans inked Beasley to a one-year deal worth $9.5 million this offseason, which is very much a “prove-it” contract for the 27-year-old.
The former first-round pick has shown promise during his career after leading the league in sacks with 15.5 in 2016, but has been woefully inconsistent since.
Beasley totaled 10 sacks combined in the two years that followed, but had a rebound campaign in 2019 with eight. In 2020, Beasley will have more help around him with the presence on Harold Landry, so defenses won’t be able to simply key-in on him.
If Beasley can re-create anything close to the success he had in his sophomore campaign, he could see some big bucks during the 2021 offseason.
