The Titans and veteran center Ben Jones agreed to an extension Friday, the team announced. Jones has been the Titans’ starting center since signing with the team in 2016. It’s a two-year deal that will keep Jones in Tennessee through the 2021 season, Paul Kuharsky of Paul Kuharsky.com tweets.
This re-up will pay Jones $13.5MM in new money, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It marks an AAV bump for the eighth-year snapper who was entering the final year of his contract, but with it being on the low end for veteran centers, this marks a team-friendly pact.
The former Texans blocker has played in all 48 regular-season Titans games since signing his initial four-year, $17.5MM deal. He will no longer be entering a walk year, with the Titans viewing the 30-year-old lineman as a key piece going forward.
Tennessee has used a run-oriented offense throughout Jones’ tenure, and the franchise added longtime Rams guard Rodger Saffold this offseason to further bolster its ground attack. Jones joins Saffold and left tackle Taylor Lewan as Titans blockers signed long-term.
A former fourth-round pick out of Georgia, Jones has never missed a game since joining the Texans in 2012. His 112 straight games are the most among active NFL offensive linemen, as are his 80 consecutive starts. Jones graded as the NFL’s No. 12 center last season, per Pro Football Focus, and has been viewed as a consistent blocker for a Titans team that’s ranked third, 15th and sixth in rushing since he switched AFC South sides.
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