Titans sign OLB Harold Landry to $87.5M deal after breakout season

It came as a bit of a surprise to many when the Tennessee Titans opted against using the franchise tag on 25-year-old outside linebacker Harold Landry after he earned Pro Bowl honors in 2021 with 12 sacks. That decision made more sense by the end of the night Tuesday when NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported the Titans agreed to a five-year, $87.5 million contract with Landry.

Landry was a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and had 19 sacks through his first three seasons with the Titans. His big year in 2021 was his first season with double-digit sacks and led a defense that finished sixth in the NFL in points allowed.

A year ago, Tennessee signed one of the premier pass rushing free agents when it gave former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree a similar five-year, $82.5 million contract. Dupree finished his first season with the Titans with just three sacks, though, as he dealt with injuries and off-field issues.

While Landry's return is a boon to the Titans defense, it takes a top pass rusher off the list of impending free agent. Among the top players currently heading for the open market are Von Miller, Chandler Jones, and Jadeveon Clowney.