Oct 20, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) catches a pass for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half at LP Field. The 49ers beat the Titans 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
With Super Bowl XLVIII in the rear view mirror, it is time to look ahead to the 2014-15 NFL season.
Teams are busy strategizing about the various personnel decisions that must be made to better their situation. One of those decisions is who to place the franchise tag on.
Each team gets one franchise tag per season, and if they choose to use it, they must pay that player a one-year salary equal to an average of the top-five salaries at their position.
Last year’s decision for the Tennessee Titans was a difficult one. Jared Cook’s contract had run out, and he was a popular candidate for a breakout season seemingly every year. He is a very athletic tight end with good hands, but the breakout never came in his four years in Tennessee.
When his demands for a big money contract got out of hand, the Tennessee Titans brass decided it was time to let him walk. He was signed to a five-year, $35 million contract shortly thereafter by Jeff Fisher and the St. Louis Rams. The Titans wasted no time finding his replacement by signing Delanie Walker to a four-year, $17.5 million contract.
After one season, the question is: Did the Titans make a good decision by moving on from Cook?