How terrible are the Tennessee Titans’ NFL free agency grades for letting go of Ryan Stonehouse and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine?
The Tennessee Titans’ recent decisions regarding punter Ryan Stonehouse and wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine have sparked discussions among analysts and fans alike. Evaluating these moves requires a closer look at each player’s performance, the team’s strategic considerations, and the broader implications for the Titans’ roster.
Ryan Stonehouse: A Decline in Performance
Ryan Stonehouse entered the NFL with promise, but his performance in the 2024 season raised concerns. He averaged just 38.3 net yards per punt, a significant drop from his previous seasons where he consistently exceeded 43 net yards per punt. This decline positioned him fifth among available punters in free agency rankings. Given that a Right of First Refusal tender would cost the Titans nearly $3.2 million, the team faced a challenging decision. Investing such an amount in a punter coming off a subpar season posed a financial risk. Consequently, the Titans opted not to tender Stonehouse, allowing him to explore free agency.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: Consistency Amidst Offensive Struggles
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine’s tenure with the Titans has been marked by consistent, albeit modest, contributions. In the 2024 season, he recorded 32 receptions for a career-high 497 yards and led the team with nine touchdowns. Notably, his 98-yard touchdown reception against the Minnesota Vikings was the longest in the league that season and tied the franchise record.
Despite these highlights, Westbrook-Ikhine’s overall production has remained steady over the past three seasons, averaging around 25 catches, 350 yards, and three touchdowns per year. Pro Football Focus assigned him a grade of 59.4 for the 2024 season, ranking him 92nd out of 128 eligible NFL wide receivers. This consistency, coupled with his reliability, made him a valuable depth player, but not necessarily a standout starter.
Strategic Decisions: Financial and Philosophical Considerations
The Titans’ approach to both players reflects a combination of financial prudence and strategic direction. In Stonehouse’s case, the decision not to tender him at the $3.2 million Right of First Refusal rate indicates a reluctance to allocate significant cap space to a punter with declining performance. This move suggests the team is prioritizing financial flexibility, possibly to address other pressing needs.
Regarding Westbrook-Ikhine, the Titans chose not to extend a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, which would have been approximately $2.6 million. Instead, they re-signed him to a one-year contract at a presumably lower rate. While this move retains a familiar and reliable player, it also raises questions about the team’s commitment to overhauling their wide receiver corps. Some analysts argue that bringing back Westbrook-Ikhine signals a lack of philosophical change, especially when the team has expressed a desire to add more speed and dynamism to the position.
Implications for the Titans’ Roster and Future
The decisions concerning Stonehouse and Westbrook-Ikhine are part of a broader strategy as the Titans reshape their roster. By not overcommitting financially to a punter with recent performance issues, the team preserves cap space for potential upgrades elsewhere. Retaining Westbrook-Ikhine at a team-friendly rate ensures depth and continuity in the receiving corps, but it also underscores the need for further talent acquisition to elevate the unit’s overall effectiveness.
The Titans’ free agency grades for these moves reflect a balanced approach. While the decision to let Stonehouse explore free agency aligns with fiscal responsibility, retaining Westbrook-Ikhine on a modest contract maintains stability without hindering future improvements. These choices, though not without criticism, demonstrate the team’s efforts to navigate the complexities of roster management in the NFL.