After playing a team-high 1,165 snaps as an inside-outside cornerback as a rookie in 2022, Roger McCreary really grew into his role for the Tennessee Titans as a sophomore. Allowed to focus on his natural position as a nickel defender more frequently, the former Auburn standout developed into a legitimate difference maker. McCreary played 585 snaps inside as opposed to just 367 as a rookie.
It led to obvious on-field development for McCreary, despite the secondary's occasional struggles. Pro Football Focus assigned him a coverage grade of 72.2 as he only allowed quarterbacks to complete 64 of the 89 passes thrown in his direction. Signal callers saw a middling passer rating of 87.3 when testing McCreary in coverage.
Roger McCreary year 2 pic.twitter.com/dBruvxcbxx
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) June 4, 2024
All indications are that McCreary is slated for a career-best season in 2024. His positioning as the nickel corner is more secure than ever with two mainstays in L'Jarius Sneed and Chido Awuzie present at boundary corner. All three cover-men are expected to thrive under the tutelage of new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. It's precisely why Bleacher Report recently named McCreary as the biggest contract extension priority on the Titans' roster.
"If you like physical and aggressive brand of football, turn on the tape of Roger McCreary," Ryan Fowler wrote. "A primary nickel defender for the Titans now two years into his career, McCreary used 2023 to anoint himself as one of the leagues top young slot corners.
The projection for McCreary shoud remain highly intriguing if you're GM Ran Carthon. With L'Jarius Sneed now in town, pressure on McCreary to play inside-out won't remain a priority. Nickel is where McCreary is best, and Carthon should approach McCreary's contract the same way he did with Sneed. The Titans have two years left of control on McCreary's deal and have plenty of cap room to strike a deal in the near future."
It's worth acknowledging McCreary isn't currently eligible to sign an extension. Players on their rookie contracts are allowed to begin negotiating extensions after the conclusion of their third professional campaign. McCreary is entering his third season in 2024, in which he's scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.5 million while carrying a manageable cap charge under $3 million, according to OverTheCap.
McCreary is one of the most important players on the Titans defense heading into the 2024 season. He fits Wilson's defense to a tee, which promises to be aggressive while challenging opposing receivers via press-man coverage. If McCreary experiences the campaign all parties involved think he can, Titans general manager Ran Carthon could begin talking extension with him next offseason.