The deep safety will be eligible for free agency following a brief stay in Tennessee.
Welcome to the Tennessee Titans 2024 NFL Free Agency Primer presented by Music City Miracles! The Titans can re-sign their own free agents prior to the start of the legal tampering period, which is March 11th. With complete roster authority at his disposal, general manager Ran Carthon will work with newly hired head coach Brian Callahan to develop the team’s 2024 strategy.
The Titans are expected to have 24 free agents total (19 unrestricted), which includes a number of important role players and starters. We’ll examine each free agent in-depth over the coming weeks and offer justifications for the Titans to sign them again or not. As an addition to our analysis, we’ll provide our ultimate judgement and a forecast.
Terrell Edmunds is the depth safety that we are examining today.
Call me Terrell Edmunds
Place: Safety
Age as of right now: 27
Why Edmunds should be re-signed by the Titans
Edmunds was acquired by the Titans in the midseason transaction that sent Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles. Edmunds played 179 snaps in his nine regular-season outings with the Titans. Edmunds was a dependable defender close to the line of scrimmage, and he lived up to his hype. His tackling grade on Pro Football Focus was 71.2.
Considering his previous troubles in coverage, it’s a good thing Edmunds wasn’t aggressively targeted in the passing game. Edmunds allegedly gave up seven receptions on ten targets for 78 receiving yards and no touchdowns, according to PFF. In Tennessee’s victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the regular-season finale, Edmunds also had an interception.
Edmunds was a good defender for a rotation. Amani Hooker was hurt, thus Edmunds, Elijah Molden, and K’Von Wallace were primarily seen in the safety room. Edmunds was a useful player in depth.
Why the Titans should let Edmunds walk
It’s a pass-happy league and Edmunds is a limited player in coverage. Including his season-long numbers from Philadelphia, Edmunds allowed 11.9 yards per reception in 2023 while allowing quarterbacks to complete 75% of the targets thrown his way. The Titans need to acquire dynamic defenders in the passing game for new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson to properly install his scheme.
Edmunds was a midseason rental player following Byard’s departure. With sweeping changes to the coaching staff and the front-office structure, the Titans are going to be overhauling their personnel. A makeover is particularly needed in the defensive backfield where the Titans have allowed more passing yards than any other defense over the previous two seasons.
Estimated Agreement
Although Spotrac does not currently have a projected contract for Edmunds, don’t worry—we’ve done the homework. Edmunds signed a $2 million one-year contract to play out the 2023 season. Based on his performance, he should receive a little wage increase. I would expect Edmunds to take another one of these short-term contracts, paying between $2.5 and $3 million a year, whether it is in Tennessee or somewhere else.
Final judgement
Edmunds should be able to be retained by the Titans for a fair fee. Right now, the only starting-caliber safety under contract is the injury-prone Hooker. Even if the Titans make a greater splash at the position in free agency, valuable depth will still be needed. Edmunds is a versatile player who can step up to the big stage.
Forecast
Though I’d be fine with Edmunds staying, I think the Titans will go in a different route. Elijah Molden is another depth player at safety, while K’Von Wallace is another player who might be resigned. I anticipate the Titans acquiring a free-agent safety like Geno Stone or C.J. Gardner-Johnson who has a relationship with head coach Wilson.
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