The Tennessee Titans have reportedly agreed to another significant signing in free agency, with the team set to ink former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback, Chidobe Awuzie.
The news comes from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Awuzie is expected to sign a three-year deal worth $36 million, with $23 million guaranteed, which is a solid deal.
This is another good get for the Titans. Awuzie was one of the better corners on the open market and is a solid player to have at the top of the depth chart, or a really good No. 2, at worst.
Awuzie, who is already familiar with Titans head coach Brian Callahan from their days together in Cincy, gave up a completion rate of 63.2% and a passer rating of 113.5 in coverage on 57 targets in 2023.
Pro Football Focus gave the 28-year-old an overall grade of 62.6, a run defense grade of 68.0 and a coverage mark of 62.3.
It’s important to note that Awuzie was in his first year back from a torn ACL suffered in 2022 and has proven he’s capable of better in years past.
He’s given up a 60% completion rate or lower in his previous five seasons, and has surrendered a passer rating of 96.4 or lower in four of those campaigns.
In the eight games prior to his ACL tear, Awuzie posted career-bests in completion rate allowed (38%) and passer rating surrendered (53.4) and looked very much the part of a No. 1 cornerback.
With Kristian Fulton almost certainly gone and Sean Murphy-Bunting expected to leave for the Arizona Cardinals, Awuzie becomes an even bigger addition to the secondary.
