After completing a contract extension with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons earlier this offseason, guard Peter Skoronski is undoubtedly the Tennessee Titans' next priority. The 11th overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft has established himself as a top-10 guard in the NFL. Skoronski has been due for an extension all offseason long, and the price probably just went up.
Skoronski's representation has certainly been paying attention to the interior offensive line market. On Saturday, the Atlanta Falcons signed guard Matthew Bergeron to a four-year extension worth $96 million, according to multiple reports. The massive deal contains $60 million in guarantees.
Assuming the numbers reported are accurate, Bergeron will earn an average of $24 million per season through the duration of the extension. That would tie Tyler Smith of Dallas Cowboys, making Bergeron the co-highest earner among all guards in the NFL. Skoronski now possesses more leverage in his negotiations with the Titans than ever before.
Tennessee Titans RG Peter Skoronski might be a very happy man after Matthew Bergeron's contract extension
Even before Bergeron's extension with the Falcons, the price tag for interior offensive linemen of Skoronski's caliber had gone up. The Las Vegas Raiders reset the market by making Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid center in NFL history. The Bergeron contract brings us one step closer to $25 million per year guards.
For the Titans, it's a first-world problem to need to sign Skoronski to an extension. After selecting Simmons in 2019, the Titans whiffed on three consecutive first round picks from 2020-2022 (Isaiah Wilson, Caleb Farley, Treylon Burks). Drafting Skoronski in 2023 ended the drought.
Pro Football Focus assigned Skoronski an overall grade of 79.0 last season, with an elite 84.5 score in pass protection. By comparison, Bergeron's grade of 70.8 was considerably lower (with a 65.7 in protection). PFF's grades aren't always totally agreeable, but Skoronski's representation will appreciate the opportunity to compare them as players when dealing with Titans GM Mike Borgonzi.
Borgonzi recently confirmed that the Titans have held positive discussions with Skoronski about an extension. A deal didn't sound imminent, but Borgonzi wouldn't rule out an agreement before the regular-season campaign begins. Bergeron's extension could speed up the process.
The Titans aren't gaining anything by delaying a Skoronski extension. The Bergeron contract proves the price will continuously increase. Borgonzi just received another reason to get the Skoronski deal done.
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