The Tennessee Titans intend to sign veteran tight end Daniel Bellinger, multiple reports confirmed during free agency's legal tampering period. Bellinger is expected to support Gunnar Helm as the team's No. 2 player at the position in 2026. His arrival all but ensures Chig Okonkwo won't be re-signed by the team this offseason.
Teams tend to overpay for available talent in free agency. The nature of competing for signatures forces teams to result to desperate measures while attempting to improve their roster. It's an annual occurrence.
Reports indicate it's a three-year, $24 million contract for Bellinger. The Titans are guaranteeing him $14 million with a $6.5 million signing bonus. Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi overpaid for Bellinger.
Contract details confirm Titans overpaid for free agent TE Daniel Bellinger
#Titans Daniel Bellinger deal three years, $24M, $14.01M gtd, $6.5M signing bonus, salaries $2.49M (gtd), $5.94M ($4M gtd), $7.45M; annual $30K per game active roster bonuses, up to $750K playtime, catches incentive 2026, 2027; max APY: $8.5M
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 9, 2026
Spotrac had Bellinger at a market value of $2.5 million per campaign. The Titans paid the former San Diego State tight end nearly four times that. Spotrac isn't always accurate via their market projections, but they're usually closer than they were on the Titans' reported Bellinger deal.
Bellinger previously played for Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll with the New York Giants. There's no denying that Bellinger's familiarity with Daboll's offense made him a primary target for Borgonzi in free agency. It also clearly gave the player negotiating power.
Bellinger registered 19 receptions for a career-high 286 yards and two touchdowns for the Giants in 2025. He averaged 15.1 yards per catch. The Titans intend to give Bellinger $8 million annually despite him never producing 300 receiving yards in a single season.
Bellinger will play a crucial in-line role for the Titans as a primary blocking tight end. The offense lacked an effective player in that spot last season. The Titans believe reuniting Bellinger with Daboll will lead to productive results, and they were willing to overpay to do it.