The Tennessee Titans turned into New Jersey south during free agency, spending big money on two former New York Giants and adding four ex-Giants to their roster overall.
NFL executives who spoke anonymously to The Athletic did not like the accumulation of former Giants, with one saying “what are you doing?”
From Mike Sando of The Athletic:
It’s logical for teams to sign free agents their coaches have worked with in the past, but execs thought the Titans took this to an unhealthy extreme, especially when reuniting new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll with receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and cornerback Cor’Dale Flott, who both played under Daboll on the Giants.
“They signed two really high-level players in free agency: John Franklin-Myers, who (head coach Robert) Saleh did have a relationship with, and they signed Alontae Taylor, who they did not have a relationship with,” an exec said. “But then you bring in Wan’Dale Robinson and Cor’Dale Flott for a lot of money, and it’s like, what are you doing? I did not get that.”
Multiple execs were surprised by how much Robinson commanded.
“Wan’Dale stepped up for the Giants when (Malik) Nabers went down,” one said. “He’s really small, but he is quick, and he’s tough. I liked him, but he is really like a No. 3. He got paid the same as Rashid Shaheed, another small guy who is explosive and competitive. This is the GM (Mike Borgonzi) giving Daboll what he says he needs to develop the young QB.”
The Titans gave Robinson, a 5-foot-8 receiver coming off a career year a four-year, $70 million contract with $38 million fully guaranteed at signing.
The Giants signed tight end Isaiah Likely, and wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin to contracts totaling $45 million. Only Likely got a multi-year deal.
Flott, a starter for the first time in 2025, got a three-year, $45 million contract with $32 million guaranteed at signing. Will he play up to that contract? We’ll see.
The Titans also signed tight end Daniel Bellinger, a player Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll under-utilized as head coach in New York, and Austin Schlottmann, a veteran who has never been a regular starter.
— ‘Kudos’ to Chesapeake Blue for starting this discussion over on The Feed.
