ESPN labels Tennessee Titans free agent as overrated
The Tennessee Titans' biggest decision this offseason (not counting the drama surrounding Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers) is whether or not to bring back edge rusher Harold Landry in 2022. Tennessee seemingly wants Landry back in Nashville next season. Landry is coming off a career year with 12 sacks and 75 total tackles (including […]
The Tennessee Titans' biggest decision this offseason (not counting the drama surrounding Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers) is whether or not to bring back edge rusher Harold Landry in 2022.
Tennessee seemingly wants Landry back in Nashville next season.
Landry is coming off a career year with 12 sacks and 75 total tackles (including 14 tackles for loss). He's not going to be cheap in free agency, which is where the dilemma is for the Titans.
Tennessee could use the franchise tag on Landry (and they might do that by 4 PM ET on Tuesday) to buy some time to work out a long-term deal. But that move also comes with some risk. If the Titans don't work out a deal, Landry would earn either $17.8 million or $18.7 million, which would count entirely against the salary cap in 2022 (depending on if he's tagged as a defensive end or linebacker, with linebacker being more expensive).
Interestingly, ESPN doesn't necessarily view Landry as a top-tier edge rusher.
In fact, they listed him as one of their "overrated" free agents this week.
From ESPN:
Landry racked up cleanup and unblocked pressures in 2021, leading to a projected contract of $60 million across four years this offseason. Despite his high pressure and sack totals, Landry earned a 56.8 pass-rush grade last season. He actually generated negative PFF WAR for the year. This screams, "Buyer beware."
ESPN is basically suggesting that Landry is only good when he's unblocked or another defender has done most of the work.
Is there a chance that the Titans privately think the same? If they don't tag him or work out a deal on Tuesday, then we might have our answer to that question.
It's certainly possible that Tennessee wants Landry back, but they just don't want him back at $60 million over four years. Or $17-18 million on the franchise tag when his cap hit can't be manipulated.
If the Titans agree with ESPN, there's a very real scenario where Landry plays elsewhere in 2022.
Featured image via Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
