The Tennessee Titans have signed linebacker/defensive end Derrick Morgan to a four year contract worth up to $27 million dollars with $10.5 million guaranteed. The contract reportedly carries a base salary of $6,750,000.00 per year. Morgan entered free agency with several pass rush needy teams in hot pursuit but the Titans managed to entice him to return to Tennessee.
The Titans drafted Morgan out of Georgia Tech in the first round pick number number sixteen of the 2010 NFL draft. Originally drafted as a 4-3 defensive end, Morgan made the switch to outside linebacker in new defensive coordinator Ray Horton’s base 3-4 system during the 2014 offseason.
In his five year Titans career, Morgan has 191 tackles, four forced fumbles and 23 sacks. He also has eighteen passes defensed and looked quite good in coverage after converting to linebacker last season. He will join new addition Brian Orakpo who the Titans recently signed when the Washington Redskins let him walk in free agency. Orakpo’s deal is also four years at $32 million with $13.5 million guaranteed and a base salary of $8 million.
Edge rusher was a position of need for the Titans and they are likely to keep shopping. James Harrison is a rumored upcoming acquisition and they should look to the draft as well. While the number 2 overall selection is too rich for the position, there are several good candidates in the later rounds.
Congratulations to Morgan, Orakpo and the Titans and good luck this coming season! You can follow Morgan on twitter at @dmorg91 and follow Orakpo at @rak98. Follow the Titans on twitter at @TennesseeTitans.
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