The Tennessee Titans have reportedly signed a pass-rusher in free agency.
According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, Tennessee and former Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Vic Beasley have agreed to a deal.
Former Falcons’ pass rusher Vic Beasley will sign with the Titans, per his agency. The 27 year old led the league in sacks in 2016 when he was in Atlanta.
— Dianna (@diannaESPN) March 17, 2020
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the deal is said to be for one year and $9.5 million guaranteed, with a chance for it to go as high as $12 million.
Vic Beasley gets a 1-year deal worth $9.5M guaranteed, source said, with a max of $12M. A chance to prove it in Tennessee. https://t.co/IrEo53XljG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2020
This is very much a “prove it” kind of deal for Beasley, who was originally the No. 8 overall pick of the Falcons in 2015.
After emerging as a top-notch pass-rusher, First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2016 with 15.5 sacks, Beasley saw his production tail-off considerably over the next two seasons.
Beasley went on to total just 10 sacks combined in 2017 and 2018, but was able to re-emerge somewhat in 2019 when he finished with eight sacks.
One of the biggest needs the Titans had to address this offseason was adding a pass-rusher, which makes Beasley a step in the right direction; although it was hoped that the team would make a bigger splash than this.
After this deal, the Titans will have a little under $20 million in cap space, so making that big splash we were all hoping for in the EDGE market just doesn’t seem likely.