Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson stated on Tuesday that his goal is to retain as many of the team’s free agents as possible, but we all know how difficult — or really, impossible — that will be.
Pro Football Focus’ Anthony Treash tried to predict where some of the Titans’ biggest free agents will land, and he has wide receiver Corey Davis going to the Baltimore Ravens and tight end Jonnu Smith landing with the Arizona Cardinals.
Treash believes Davis with sign a four-year, $65 million deal ($16.25 million per) with Baltimore, while Smith inks a four-year pact worth $38 million (9.5 million per) with Arizona.
If Davis receives an offer that high (we don’t think he will), he won’t be returning to Nashville. Smith’s projected offer is much more realistic, however it still might be too rich for the Titans’ blood.
The two free agents Treash does have the Titans keeping is defensive back Desmond King on a three-year, $17.5 million deal ($5.8 million per), and EDGE Jadeveon Clowney on a one-year pact worth $13 million (fully guaranteed).
While the number for King sounds about right and would be feasible for Tennessee if the team chooses to bring him back at all, there’s no way Clowney is getting that much in free agency, especially from the cash-strapped Titans.
We’ve projected Clowney to maybe receive half that, and maybe even less if incentives are involved. The luster is off the former No. 1 overall pick after going sack-less in 2020 and seeing his season end early, and paying him that much would amount to overpaying in every sense of the word.
Granted, we’re fine with Clowney coming back for another season in Nashville, but it has to come at far less than what Treash has listed here.
