Tag: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Titans re-signed Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for half the price of RFA tender

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine’s contract details have been revealed and the Titans were able to get him back at less than half the price of the restricted free agent tender.

Going into the 2023 offseason, the Tennessee Titans had the option of either placing a $2.66 million tender on restricted free agent wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, or letting him test the free-agent market.

Tennessee chose to do the latter and it paid off. According to Over the Cap, Westbrook-Ikhine’s one-year deal with the Titans will cost $1.26 million, which is less than half the price of the aforementioned tender, and the contract includes just $400,000 in guaranteed money.

When news broke that NWI was being re-signed, some Titans fans and media assumed he would return to his role from 2022, which was clearly more than he could handle.

However, the fact that the Titans didn’t offer him the tender with the idea they could get him back for cheaper — and half price, at that — and with a lack of guaranteed money doesn’t exactly scream that this team is planning a big role for him.

As I’ve said all along, NWI is a fine back-end-of-the-depth-chart receiver, as he’s a somewhat serviceable pass-catcher and good blocker and special teams contributor.

But his struggling in a bigger role in recent years is neither his fault nor the Titans’ fault, as he’s been pushed into said role because of injuries. I don’t think the Titans ever planned on him being as involved as he’s been.

While I expect Tennessee to return him to the bottom half of the depth chart, that will ultimately depend on the health of the guys in front of him, a group that will likely include at least Treylon Burks, a veteran signed or traded for, and a rookie selected in the 2023 NFL draft.

If NWI does somehow end up in a bigger role, it won’t be by choice.

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Polls: Give your grades for Titans’ free-agent signings so far

Vote in our polls within the article to give your grade for the Titans’ free-agent signings thus far.

The Tennessee Titans have inked a total of eight free agents so far this offseason, with five of those players being from outside the organization.

The free agents Tennessee has re-signed were long snapper Morgan Cox, wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and defensive lineman Naquan Jones, with the NWI deal causing quite the stir.

As far as outside free agents go, the Titans have inked two offensive linemen in Andre Dillard and Daniel Brunskill, a pair of linebackers in Azeez Al-Shaair and Luke Gifford, and an edge rusher in Arden Key.

As each signing was reported, our Shaun Calderon slapped a grade on them, but now we want to hear what you think. Scroll down to vote in our polls and share the grade you think the Titans should get for each of their signings.

To keep it simple, grades go from A-F only, with no “+” or “-“. Also, we’ve included any articles we’ve written about the signings if you need more information on the players.

Grading Titans’ re-signing of WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

How Shaun Calderon graded the Titans’ decision to re-sign Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.

The Tennessee Titans made a rather polarizing decision on Thursday after they chose to re-sign wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to a one-year deal.

This comes just one day after the team did not place a tender on the Indiana product. The Titans did make Westbrook-Ikhine an offer, but he chose to check out what the free-agent market had to offer first.

Well, it would appear that the open market wasn’t exactly blowing the former undrafted free agent away.

Rather than waiting and potentially risking his spot being filled, Westbrook-Ikhine ultimately decided to take the Titans’ offer and stay in Tennessee for another year.

There is no denying that the fourth-year veteran is a relatively solid receiver that has some real value on special teams. However, as of late, NWI has often been tasked with stepping into primary positions that he’s clearly not ready for.

The former Hoosier is best suited for a depth role on an offense as the fourth or fifth pass-catcher on the depth chart. If that is the role that Tennessee has planned for him, then this move is fine by me.

The exact amount for the recent agreement with NWI figures to be lower than the tender number that would have paid him around $2.6 million in 2023.

Coming in at a smaller number than that amount largely indicates that he should be destined for a smaller role, but we’ll have to wait and see how the rest of the offseason plays out to truly know if that will be the case.

It goes without saying at this point that it would be severely underwhelming if Tennessee’s idea of signing a starting-caliber wide receiver in free agency is just keeping Westbrook-Ikhine.

And that’s especially true when you consider the fact that the Titans claimed they wanted to get faster as a team, something that definitely isn’t a strength of the big-bodied wideout.

We’ll have to be a little more patient to get a definitive answer on that, so for now I can’t give this move anything more than an average grade.

Grade: C

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Fans, media react to Titans re-signing Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

A look at how Titans fans and media reacted to the team re-signing Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.

The Tennessee Titans are bringing back one of their wide receivers from the abysmal 2022 group, with the team agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but we can assume he’s coming back on a deal that will pay him less than the $2.6 million tender Tennessee declined to place on him on Wednesday.

While Tennessee did decline to tender NWI, the team reportedly made him an offer. The Indiana product declined, however, and decided to try and test the market. It would appear that test wasn’t fruitful for the 25-year-old.

You won’t find any issue from me with this move, assuming the goal is to use Westbrook-Ikhine as a No. 4 or 5 receiver who mostly blocks and contributes on special teams. As we saw in 2022, he isn’t equipped for more than that.

Here’s how Titans fans and media react to the news.

Titans re-signing Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Naquan Jones signs tender

The Titans have re-upped with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine one day after declining the place a tender on him.

One day after the Tennessee Titans decided not to place a tender on then-restricted free agent wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, the two sides have struck an agreement.

The team announced on Thursday that Westbrook-Ikhine has agreed to a one-year deal. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed, but one can assume it won’t be north of the $2.6 million the tender would’ve cost.

In addition to re-signing NWI, defensive lineman Naquan Jones signed his exclusive rights free agent tender, which means he’ll be back in 2023.

While the Titans did not tender Westbrook-Ikhine, they did reportedly make him a contract offer. However, the 25-year-old declined the offer in order to test the waters of free agency.

I’ve been fine with keeping NWI, but only as a No. 4 or 5 receiver. He’s a good blocker and special teams contributor, but as we saw in 2022 he isn’t really suited for a bigger role than that.

After looking like he might emerge as a starter after 2021, Jones fell out of favor in 2022. He is no lock to make the 53-man roster out of training camp.

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Report: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine turned down Titans’ offer in order to test free agency

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who was not tendered, reportedly turned down an offer from the Titans to test the free-agent market.

Earlier in the day it was reported that the Tennessee Titans would not place the $2.6 million tender on restricted free agent Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but apparently they are still trying to keep him.

According to Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky, the Titans did make an offer to NWI instead of choosing to tender him, but the 2020 UDFA declined and will test the open market.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who’s been a rotational piece in the Titans’ receiver mix for the last three seasons, stepped away from contract negotiations with the team to test the market.

It isn’t clear what Tennessee offered him, but it was likely below the aforementioned tender price. Kuharsky notes that it’s still possible for the Indiana product to circle back and stay in Tennessee.

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Titans won’t place tender on WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

The Titans will reportedly decline to place a tender on WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.

The Tennessee Titans are reportedly set to allow one of their restricted free-agent wide receivers to hit the open market when the new league year begins Wednesday.

According to Terry McCormick of Titan Insider, Tennessee will not place a tender on wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. This means NWI will be free to sign with any team at 4 p.m. ET on the 15th.

Had the Titans placed the $2.6 million tender on the 2020 UDFA, it would have given them the opportunity to match any offer sheet Westbrook-Ikhine signed with another team, thus giving them some semblance of control.

However, if no offer sheet was signed, the Titans would’ve been on the hook for the $2.6 million, which is too rich for a player like NWI. It’s possible Tennessee will still bring him back at a cheaper price, though.

With Westbrook-Ikhine possibly heading for the exit, the Titans have two of their starting receivers to replace from last season in he and Robert Woods, who now resides with the Houston Texans.

With injuries and a lack of depth, NWI was forced into a bigger role than he should’ve had in 2022, but despite playing in one more game and over 100 more snaps than the year prior, the Indiana product actually saw a drop in production and was very much part of Tennessee’s issues at wide receiver.

Going into this offseason, the Titans needed a major overhaul of their wide receiver corps. after a dismal 2022 campaign. Cutting loose NWI and Woods is not surprising in the least, although it wouldn’t be surprising to see the former brought back for a much lesser role than what he had last year.

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Titans’ top-5 touchdowns from the 2022 season

The Titans recently revealed their list of the top-five touchdowns from the 2022 season.

The Tennessee Titans recently revealed their top-five list for the best touchdowns the team scored during the 2022 campaign.

Running back Derrick Henry actually makes three appearances on the list, with one of them having to do with the flea flicker touchdown pass that quarterback Ryan Tannehill hit wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine with.

Just like Henry, Tannehill and NWI actually make multiple appearances on this list, and tight end Austin Hooper also gets involved thanks to his touchdown catch off a pass from Henry.

Tennessee’s lone defensive touchdown of the 2022 season also makes the cut. That came in Week 7, when safety Andrew Adams took a pick to the house.

Of the players to make the cut, only Henry and Tannehill are under contract for 2023, but the latter’s situation remains murky. Adams, Hooper and NWI (restricted) are all free agents this offseason, with Hooper being the biggest priority for the Titans of the three.

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Eagles’ PFF grades: Best and worst performers from 35-10 win over Titans

Here are the Best and worst PFF grades from the Philadelphia Eagles’ 35-10 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 13

The Eagles moved to 11-1 on the season after dominating the usually dominant Tennessee Titans on Sunday, 35-10 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Jalen Hurts threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns, while A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both amassed over 100 yards and scores on the day.

Philadelphia’s defense sacked Tennessee quarterback Ryan Tannehill six times while holding running back Derrick Henry to under 40 yards and no touchdowns.

With the team preparing for a matchup against the Giants in Week 14, here are the best and worst performers from Sunday per PFF.

Studs and duds from Eagles 35-10 win over the Titans in Week 13

Studs and duds from the Philadelphia Eagle 35-10 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 13

The Eagles are 11-1 and primed for a Sunday afternoon matchup against the Giants after dominating the Titans at Lincoln Financial Field.

Jalen Hurts accounted for four total touchdowns and A.J. Brown scored two big touchdowns against his former team, as Philadelphia bullied Tennessee en route to a 35-10 win.

The Eagles remain the top team in the division and the entire NFC.

Here are your studs and duds from Week 13.