Titans’ plan is clear after signing Harold Landry
The Tennessee Titans don’t have a great quarterback. For them to win in the AFC, they need to sack all the other ones come January. This is where Harold Landry comes in.
If you can’t dominate with a quarterback, you better dominate the one across from you.
For the Tennessee Titans, this is clearly the formula for general manager Jon Robinson. This was further evidenced on Tuesday afternoon, when the Titans signed edge rusher Harold Landry to a five-year deal worth $87.5 million, with $52.5 million guaranteed.
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Landry, 25, was coming off his rookie deal which he finished with 31 sacks, including a career-high 12 in 2021. For Tennessee, Landry was crucial in winning the AFC South for a second consecutive season. He formed part of a fearsome foursome up front including defensive tackles Denico Autry and Jeffrey Simmons. As well as that, fellow edge rusher Bud Dupree joined from Pittsburgh. Dupree came over on a five-year deal in free agency following the 2020 season, despite a torn ACL sustained in November.
A first-time Pro Bowler in 2021, Landry appears to have his best ball ahead of him. The Titans need to hope so, giving him one of the richer pacts in the NFL. While we still need to see structure, the guaranteed money would indicate the first three years are guaranteed with a little bit of a dead money hit in the fourth should the team want to move on for either injuries or lack of production.
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For Robinson, it’s a large sum to dole out but necessary. The AFC is loaded with elite quarterbacks, including the newly-acquired Russell Wilson for the Denver Broncos. Wilson now joins Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals). Tennessee has Ryan Tannehill, who while capable is flawed, as shown by his three interceptions in a 19-16 loss to the Bengals this January in the AFC Divisional round.
Moving forward, the Titans are the prohibitive favorites to win the AFC South for a third consecutive season. The Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars continue their rebuilds. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts appear poised to move off Carson Wentz without a clear exit strategy.
If Tennessee is going to take further steps next winter, the story will largely be its pass rush, and not the man passing the ball for it.
