The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with cornerback Tye Smith, which will keep him with the team for another season.
Of course, this isn’t any kind of earth-shattering move, but it is an important one nonetheless in terms of adding depth to the secondary.
After the departure of LeShaun Sims to the Cincinnati Bengals, and with Logan Ryan looking unlikely to return in 2020, the Titans were looking quite thin at the cornerback position ahead of the NFL Draft.
Smith’s return helps bolster the team’s depth there, and on top of that he is a key contributor on special teams, as he’s played 387 special teams snaps in his two years with the team (2017 and 2019).
When pressed into starting duty last season following the injuries to Adoree’ Jackson and Malcolm Butler, Smith was serviceable, which is what you’d hope for out of a backup. In nine games (three starts), he finished with 26 combined tackles and two forced fumbles.
He came up with a huge play against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13 when he recovered a blocked field goal and returned it for a touchdown, helping to break a 17-17 tie. The Titans would later go on to win that game, 31-17.
There’s definitely still more work to be done in the Titans’ secondary this offseason, but re-signing Smith was a step in the right direction in filling out the unit’s depth for 2020.
Grade: A
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