The Titans are elevating their standard for the wide receiver position
According to reports, the Tennessee Titans will not tender a contract to unrestricted free agent WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
According to a report from Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com, the Tennessee Titans will not place a tender on restricted free agent Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Westbrook-Ikhine is a former undrafted free agent who joined the Titans in 2020 and fought his way up the ladder to earn meaningful playing time in the offense. Because of NWI's undrafted status, his original three-year contract concluded at the end of the 2022 season, making him a restricted free agent this offseason.
Restricted free agents are players with three years of NFL experience that hit "free agency" before they have enough service time to be an unrestricted free agent. Teams have the right to place a tender on a restricted free agent, which gives them the ability to match any offer sheet between the player and another team.
The right of first refusal tender offer for 2023 is $2.62 million. That's the number that the Titans will opt to not offer Westbrook-Ikhine, therefore parting ways with him and making him an unrestricted free agent for the new league year.
That decision says a lot about what's next for the Titans at wide receiver.
NWI has never been the most gifted wide receiver on an NFL field, and he definitely has his limitations as a pass catcher, but he is at least serviceable as a depth option. He's a fundamental, cerebral receiver that is a plus blocker in the second level and has been regularly available. You could certainly do worse for just $2.62 million.
Tennessee moving on from Westbrook-Ikhine for that price just goes to show what the Titans will be looking for in their wide receivers moving forward. It's no longer good enough to just be a willing blocker who knows where to be.
The standard is elevated and the Titans are out for playmakers.
Speed, violence, and toughness are three physical traits that head coach Mike Vrabel listed as priorities for his football team. Even for people like myself who have appreciated NWI's under-the-radar contributions, this is undoubtedly a baby step towards getting where Vrabel wants to be.
Treylon Burks, Kyle Philips, Racey McMath, Mason Kinsey, and Reggie Roberson Jr. are now the only receivers that remain under contract with the Titans. We should absolutely anticipate that to change after free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft.
Image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
