The Tennessee Titans have hammered out a five-year, $87.5 million contract with pass rusher Harold Landry III that includes $52.5 million guaranteed, according to a league source. Landry got a $20 million signing bonus, per a source.
One of the Titans’ biggest priorities this offseason is maintaining their aggressive, talented pass-rushing corps. Titans general manager Jon Robinson spoke about Landry and other Tennessee free agents at the 2022 NFL Combine.
Harold Landry III had an impressive season
Landry recorded a career-high 12 sacks last season and was a pending unrestricted free agent. Landry wasn’t named the Titans franchise player ahead of the franchise tag deadline. Nevertheless, Tennessee met GM Robinson during the NFL Scouting Combine, in which he expressed confidence in his ability to work out a deal with Landry.
“I hope so, but there’s a lot of factors that go into that,” Robinson said when asked if he thinks a new deal will be struck at the Combine. “He’s certainly worked hard. He’s been about what we’re about. We’re going to do our best to keep him.”
Landry doesn’t turn 26 until June, has a Pro Bowl and double-digit sack season under his belt, and has overall scheme versatility. That’s a rare outlook for the open market, as teams typically don’t let players like that walk free.
The Titans signed outside linebacker Bud Dupree to a five-year, $82 million deal last year. Plus, standout defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is in line for a new contract in the next year. The Titans recorded 43 sacks last season, a big jump from 19 sacks the previous year. It was a good group of defensive linemen, including Denico Autry.
“I think that all of those guys benefited from each other,” Robinson said. “I thought the rush was coordinated. I thought (Denico’s) presence, along with Jeffery’s presence, helped Harold. I hope Harold’s presence helped Jeffery.
“That’s what you want from that front, but it is a balance of trying to keep that thing together and working through Harold’s contract and being mindful of players we have coming down the pipe too that we want to try to keep there as well.”
And now they have locked up Landry.
Harold Landry’s new contract is well deserved
Landry, a 2018 second-round pick, came into last season with 19 sacks and 44 quarterback hits on his résumé. While his work as an outside linebacker in the Titans’ 3-4 defense allowed him to be a playmaker in multiple areas, his sack production entering his contract year was inconsistent.
However, Landry surged for the Titans in 2021, as Tennessee clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC. He produced a career-high 12 sacks and a whopping 22 QB hits ahead of free agency.