Spending Spree Pays off for Offense

Bleav in Titans

The Tennessee Titans made a big splash in the opening hours of the NFL's 2024 free agent signing period when they agreed to terms with wide receiver Calvin Ridley on a four-year, $92 million contract. ... All of the talk during the legal tampering period was that Ridley would choose between his former team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New England Patriots. The Titans, however, had plenty of money to spend, and they ultimately threw a lot of it at Ridley, a 2018 first-round draft pick by Atlanta who has twice topped 1,000 receiving yards in a season. ... Ridley will team with DeAndre Hopkins to give the Titans what looks to be one of their most potent receiving tandems ever. But does it completely eliminate the possibility that they will use their first-round pick in next month's draft on a wide receiver? Not necessarily. ... Ridley is not the only player the Titans have added early in free agency. Far from it. In Lloyd Cushenberry, they have a center who is a proven starter but is young enough for franchise officials to believe his best days are still ahead of him. What is certain is that he is much larger and more physically imposing than the man he replaces, Aaron Brewer. ... Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie steps into a defensive backfield that was inconsistent (at best) in 2024. In the last three years at Cincinnati, he showed position versatility and established himself as a reliable tackler. ... Running back Tony Pollard joins last year's third-round pick Tyjae Spears in the backfield. He also changes the dynamic of the position group, relative to recent years when franchise officials liked to have complementary pieces. Pollard and Spears have much in common when it comes to their skill sets. ... The man Pollard effectively replaced, Derrick Henry, has moved on to another team, one that has a history of signing former Titans stars late in their careers. ... Two starters on last season's defense, Denico Autry and Azeez Al-Shaair, moved on as well -- to a division rival.