Tennessee Titans Officially Place Tenders on Three Restricted Free Agents

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans didn’t wait long to get the ball rolling when the NFL’s new league year kicked off. The organization announced it had officially placed restricted free agent tenders on three players. Reports of a tender being placed on nose tackle Teair Tart came earlier in the day, but now we know the Titans will also be tendering offensive lineman Aaron Brewer and fellow interior defensive lineman Naquan Jones.

#Titans Place Tenders on RFAs Teair Tart and Aaron Brewer, Along with ERFA Naquan Jones
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) March 15, 2023

We know who the Titans will be tendering, but we also now know what tender they will be using. As outlined earlier today, the Titans placed a second-round tender on Tart. Turns out they are also placing a second-round tender on Brewer. A second-round tender means Brewer can go negotiate a new contract with a different team. Once he does, the Titans can choose to match the contract or they can decline to match and Brewer’s new team will have to give the Titans a second round pick. If Brewer does not receive a new contract from another team or the Titans, he would have to play on a one-year deal with just over $4 million.

Brewer joined the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2020 out of Texas State University and has appeared in 41 games. Brewer finally got a chance to start in 2022 and was able to play in all 17 games. That might be the best note from Brewer’s season though as he was routinely beat in pass protection to the tune of four sacks allowed and 36 pressures surrendered. At 6’1 and 270 pounds, Brewer is one of the smallest linemen in the NFL and he looked like it on Sundays. Getting driven into the Titans’ backfield with regularity. Brewer finished the season with a pass blocking grade of 45.4, per Pro Football Focus. Sadly, the run blocking wasn’t much better as Brewer struggled to drive defensive linemen like you would hope.

That makes this a curious decision for the Titans. This vote of confidence would seem to indicate the Titans view Brewer as a potential starter at center, but he has yet to show he is talented enough to be a full-time starter. Potentially giving Brewer over $4 million seems like an overpay. Either way, the Titans clearly see Brewer in their future plans with this move.

Finally, the Titans placed an exclusive-rights free agent tender on Naquan Jones. This means Jones only has the ability to sign back with the Titans on a one-year deal. This is due to Jones having less than three years in the NFL as he was an undrafted free agent from 2021. He either plays for the Titans or sits out the season. Certainly, Jones will choose to play football.

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