The Titans are still looking for a boost to their pass rush. Per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the club has brought in veteran edge defender Brooks Reed for a workout (Twitter link).
Though Tennessee picked up a critical overtime win against the Ravens on Sunday to keep pace with the Colts in the AFC South, Mike Vrabel‘s defense has struggled all season, and one of the reasons for that is the unit’s inability to pressure the opposing quarterback. The Titans have recorded just 12 sacks on the season, third-fewest in the NFL, and they rank near the bottom of the league in terms of passing yards allowed per game.
At this point in his career, Reed is unlikely to move the needle too much, but Tennessee has to try something. The team’s two major free agent additions to its pass rushing corps — Jadeveon Clowney and Vic Beasley — were major flops, and now Clowney is on IR while Beasley is on the Raiders’ practice squad.
Reed, 33, was a second-round pick of the Texans back in 2011. He posted six sacks in his rookie campaign, but that ended up representing a career high. For much of his professional tenure, which includes a four-year stint with the Falcons and a nine-game showing with the Cardinals last year, he has been deployed as a rotational pass rusher.
His 2019 campaign with Arizona was cut short due to a hamstring injury, and this marks the first time we have heard of interest in his services this year.
Which team will PU Clowney next offseason and think ‘this is his year!’? Houston paid 1/2 his salary when he was sent to Seattle. Seattle wasn’t bent that he walked, and now he’s not doing much in Tenn. But some team will sign him.
Clowney’s contract maxes out at $15 million with incentives. It’s actually about average for his position. Its guaranteed value, $12 million, is below average. It’s not like the Titans are paying him out the wazoo.
Seattle had him on an $8 million deal, which is obviously way below average. Say what you want about him (most commenters do), but Clowney hasn’t been ludicrously expensive during his career.