The Tennessee Titans did exactly what the needed to do with the start of today’s free agency period, fill major holes.
The team’s top target, former Buffalo Bills guard Andy Levitre, who was the top player available at his position, became the first player to join the Titans when he agreed to a reported 6 years, $48.6 million dollar deal. That comes to a yearly average of $7.8 million, making Levitre the fourth-highest paid guard in the league.
Levitre, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Bills who selected him out of Oregon State with the 51st pick overall in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, he was the first guard taken in that draft.
Considered incredibly durable, Levitre has started all 64 games of his career including all 16 last season where he allowed just one sack. In his last 46 starts, he has not missed a single snap.
As an encore to filling a major need at guard, the Titans also added a tight end to replace Jared Cook who was allowed to go into free agency after he and the team could not agree on a long term deal, and the team passed on the opportunity to place the franchise tag on the talented, but under producing player.
Delanie Walker, who spent last season with the Super Bowl runner-up San Francisco 49er’s agreed to terms with the Titans shortly after the announcement of Levitre’s signing. Walker will replace Cook at tight end.
Walker has spent his entire seven year career with the 49er’s agreed to a reported four-year deal worth $17.5 million with $8.6 million guaranteed.
A sixth-round pick of the 49ers in 2006 out of Central Missouri, Walker had a career-high 344 receiving yards in 2012 and matched a career-best with three touchdowns.
Considered the top small school tight end in the 2006 NFL Draft, Walker was timed at 4.49 in the forty yard dash and was measured at 6’0” 242 pounds.
Walker also played H-back and fullback is considered very versatile, and a strong inline blocker and a strong lead blocker when in the fullback position.
During his final game with the 49er’s, Walker had three catches for 48 yards, threw a crushing block on Ravens safety Ed Reed on a touchdown run by Frank Gore and delivered a de-cleating hit on Jacoby Jones on a kickoff return in the Super Bowl.
For the Titans, it’s a good start but the team will look to continue today’s momentum as two other potential free agent signees, linebacker Moises Fouko and defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill are expected to visit Baptist Sports Park on Wednesday.
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