The Tennessee Titans have reportedly come to an agreement on a contract with Dennis Kelly.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the deal is for three years and is worth $21 million, with $8.75 million guaranteed.
The Titans are re-signing OT Dennis Kelly to a three-year, $21M deal with $8.75M guaranteed, per source. A chance for Kelly to take over Jack Conklin’s starring role.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 16, 2020
Kelly will likely assume the starting role at right tackle left open by the departure of Jack Conklin, who agreed to a three-year deal with the Cleveland Browns.
Tennessee will also address the position in the 2020 NFL Draft, but it would take a lot for an incoming rookie offensive lineman to beat out a more proven veteran like Kelly for the starting job.
The 30-year-old obviously came a lot cheaper than Conklin, as the 25-year-old garnered $42 million over the course of his three-year deal, with $30 million guaranteed.
And, Conklin is getting $20 million of that deal in the first year, so re-signing Kelly instead of Conklin enables the Titans to have more flexibility in free agency this offseason.
Kelly has already proven his worth as a starter in the NFL after he filled in for an injured Conklin in 2018 and finished as Pro Football Focus’ No. 18 tackle.
There was some thought that Kelly could unseat Conklin as the starter at right tackle in 2019, but that never had a chance to happen after Kelly was forced to play on the left side upon Taylor Lewan’s suspension.