The Titans thought they were going to be able to keep tight end Jared Cook, but they might not have been in the same ballpark.
According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean, the free agent tight end’s deal with the Rams is worth $35.1 million, and could grow to $38.5 million with incentives.
That includes $19 million in guarantees, more than half the total value of the deal.
The Titans considered franchising him, but didn’t want to fight over the different between a tight end tag and a receiver tag, so he ended up walking.
Cook’s contract surpasses every expectation, and puts the pressure on the Rams to throw it to him enough to justify the expense. He’s an excellent option in the passing game, which the Rams sorely needed.
And it’s not as if the Titans were afraid to spend, as they dropped big contracts on Andy Levitre (five years, $39 million) and Delanie Walker (four years, $17.5 million) on the first day.
The Titans also used part of the savings to lock up fullback Quinn Johnson to a two-year deal.