Tennessee Titans: Claim OLB Jonathan Massaquoi, Off Waivers

The Tennessee Titans have claimed OLB Jonathan Massaquoi from waivers today. The team announced the move today via their official team site.

Massaquoi was released by the Atlanta Falcons on Friday. During his three season tenure in Atlanta Massaquoi played 39 games (7 starts) where he totaled six sacks and 70 tackles.

As of now there is no indication if this will effect the teams negotiations of Derrick Morgan, who is scheduled to become a unrestricted free agent March 10.

Jonathan Massaquoi was a fifth round selection out of Troy in 2012’s NFL Draft. Massaquoi look like the Titans replacement for Derrick Morgan, who hasn’t quite lived up to his hype coming into the NFL.

In four seasons for the Titans Morgan has totaled only 23 sacks. However he can still become a solid piece to keep over time.

Massaquoi on the other hand was once consider a top talent before the 2012 NFL Draft but plummeted down the NFL draft boards because of “behavioral reasons”. In Atlanta Massaquoi still strugged to get his coaches and teammates true support, struggling to get snaps although playing good during the snaps he did see action.

ESPN.com’s Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure wrote

“He rubbed some folks the wrong way with his carefree approach. One member of the previous staff said Massaquoi was in the doghouse because he skipped treatments on the right foot he injured during a game against the Detroit Lions in London. Massaquoi was tabbed a “good kid who made some poor decisions and needs some structure.”

The addition of Massaquoi will not hurt the Titans financially, and he only has one year remaining on his current contract reportedly worth $660,000. As for the Falcons they didn’t gain much financially for releasing him. Rather it seems Massaquoi just fell out of favor with the Falcons coaching staff.

If Massaquoi can manage to win over the staff in Tennessee, as well as some of his teammates, then I believe that Tennessee will be a great place for him to really develop his talent. If Massaquoi is unable to do that however, and reverts back to his mindset that essentially got him released in Altanta, then I don’t see this as much more then an one year project for the Tennessee Titans.

Next: Will Devin McCourty and Jason McCourty Reunite in Tennessee