How the Titans can replace and upgrade from Anthony Firkser
After such a disappointing finish to the 2021 NFL season for the Tennessee Titans, the time has come to analyze and evaluate the performances of players on expiring contracts. General Manager Jon Robinson will have plenty of difficult decisions to make when deciding which current Titans might have played their last snap in a two-toned […]
After such a disappointing finish to the 2021 NFL season for the Tennessee Titans, the time has come to analyze and evaluate the performances of players on expiring contracts. General Manager Jon Robinson will have plenty of difficult decisions to make when deciding which current Titans might have played their last snap in a two-toned blue uniform.
Tight end Anthony Firkser enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent coming off his fourth season in the NFL – all with the Titans. After three surprisingly productive seasons playing second fiddle behind Jonnu Smith, Firkser fell short of expectations in 2021.
Firkser finished the year with 34 catches for 291 yards and two touchdowns. For comparison’s sake, he recorded 39 receptions for 387 yards and one touchdown in 2020, all while playing alongside the Titans’ preferred option of Smith.
Firkser’s drop-off might have been due to the departure of Smith, who signed a four-year contract worth $50 million with the New England Patriots. The TE1 role might have been too much for the former Harvard star. Or, it could have stemmed from his first year in offensive coordinator Todd Downing’s offense, which has faced criticisms from analysts and fans alike for being too predictable. Perhaps the decline had something to do with not only filling in as the team’s No. 1 pass-catching tight end, but also being molded into a tight end who was expected to do much more blocking in 2021, which is not a strong suit for the 6’2” 245lb tight end.
Unfortunately for Firkser, there are many moving parts heading into his contract year. The production out of tight ends Geoff Swaim and MyCole Pruitt appeared to have also hindered Firkser’s progress.
After catching just nine passes in 2020, Swaim – used predominantly as a blocking tight end – burst onto the scene with 31 receptions for 210 yards and three touchdowns in 2021. Pruitt chipped in with 14 catches for 145 yards and three scores before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in the Titans’ Week 17 win over the Dolphins.
All three tight ends are set to hit the market this offseason, leaving the Titans front office in a tricky position. Robinson could elect to bring back the best blocking option of the three in Swaim, while using a draft pick on a more athletic pass catcher fairly early in the NFL Draft.
As for Firkser, he would most likely command the most value of the trio in free agency. In a year where the Titans are expected to be backed up against a wall with the salary cap, the Titans would be wise to cut costs at the tight end position.
The tight end crop is not as top heavy as last year’s class, which featured Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, but there is plenty of depth at the position. Firkser’s production is far from irreplaceable and, without being a trusted blocking option in a run-first offense, Firkser appears to be expendable.
Featured image courtesy of Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports
