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Tennessee Titans Expected to Sign Safety Johnathan Cyprien

By Matias Wodner

Oct 27, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) dives into the end zone for touchdown against Jacksonville Jaguars strong safety Johnathan Cyprien (37) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) dives into the end zone for touchdown against Jacksonville Jaguars strong safety Johnathan Cyprien (37) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Titans’ first move in free agency is taking away a strong safety from their divisional rival Jacksonville Jaguars, inking Johnathan Cyprien.

According to a report from Ian Rapoport, the Tennessee Titans will sign Johnathan Cyprien once free agency officially begins at 4 p.m ET. Cyprien spent the last three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coming out of FIU, Cyprien was an intriguing draft prospect and I was a bit upset to see him land with a division team.

He struggled in his initial three seasons, but finally put it all together in 2016. Cyprien had 27 run stops last year (first among safeties) and earned the highest run defense grade of all safeties by PFF’s metrics. According to PFF, he was also the second best available safety in free agency. He was slightly behind Tony Jefferson, but ranked ahead of Eric Berry last season.

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Cyprien’s signing begins the overhaul of the Titans secondary. His presence and game complements Kevin Byard swimmingly. Byard is a ballhawking type, and will thrive as a center field safety with Cyprien playing in the box on most plays. While Cyprien struggles in coverage, Dick LeBeau won’t put him in positions where he won’t succeed. LeBeau knows how to get the most out of his defensive players. Cyprien shouldn’t be an exception.

Up next in the revamping of the secondary is the cornerback position. A.J. Bouye looks to be headed to Jacksonville. Stephon Gilmore is New England bound. Logan Ryan is still available, as is Dre Kirkpatrick. More likely than not, the Titans will attack cornerback through the draft. Getting Ryan or Kirkpatrick first would ease the growing pains that starting rookie cornerbacks in 2017 would bring. We’ll see what Jon Robinson does next.

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