Bennie Logan Visits Titans
Bennie Logan logged his second visit of this free agency period, this one involving a trip to Tennessee.
The Titans hosted the nose tackle recently, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Logan also met with the Seahawks last month, and the Redskins were believed to be in the mix at one point.
Spending 2017 as the Chiefs’ starting nose, Logan took over for Dontari Poe after signing a one-year deal. His run-stop percentage rated as the seventh-best among defensive tackles last season, according to Pro Football Focus. While that was a tick down from his best Eagles work, Logan remains a proven NFL starter. The 28-year-old interior defender made 52 tackles with the Chiefs in 2017 and inflated his career start total to 63.
The Titans cut Sylvester Williams after one season. He’s now with the Lions. Logan would be a natural replacement, should this visit end up leading to a deal.
Titans To Host WR Michael Campanaro
The Titans are expected to meet with free agent wide receiver Michael Campanaro, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
Tennessee is searching for a new slot receiver, as 2017 slot man Eric Decker is currently a free agent. The Titans are also expected to host Jordan Matthews, and while he and Campanaro are very different receivers, they’ve both spent most of their time inside. At present, Tennessee’s wideout depth chart is topped by Rishard Matthews and 2017 first-rounder Corey Davis, with Taywan Taylor, Tajae Sharpe, Darius Jennings, and Zach Pascal in reserve.
Campanaro, 27, had managed only 12 total receptions during his first three years in the league, but topped that total alone with the Ravens in 2017. Not only did Campanaro post 19 receptions for 173 yards, but he served as Baltimore’s primary punt returner, averaging 10.8 yards per return while adding one touchdown. The Titans, for their part, used first-round rookie Adoree’ Jackson as a punt returner last season, but it’s possible Campanaro could take over that role if Tennessee wants to give Jackson a breather.
The Titans have been speaking with Campanaro’s agent for several weeks, but they aren’t the only club with interest in the wideout, per Zrebiec (Twitter link). The Ravens are still open to re-signing Campanaro, while “a few” other unidentified teams have also checked in, according to the Baltimore Sun scribe.
Titans Meet With Jordan Matthews
The Titans will meet with wide receiver Jordan Matthews, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Matthews previously visited with the Packers and Patriots and, at least at one point, had an offer from the Cardinals. 
The former Bills and Eagles receiver made a name for himself at Vanderbilt, which is a stone’s throw away from Nissan Stadium, so a return to Tennessee could hold appeal for him. The Titans would also give him an opportunity to shine with alongside Rishard Matthews and 2017 first-round pick Corey Davis.
From 2014-16, Matthews averaged 75 receptions for 891 yards and six touchdowns for the Eagles. Last year, however, he had only 25 catches in ten games for the Bills last year thanks to knee and ankle injuries. A one-year deal would make sense for him since he could restore his value with a big 2018.
Last year, the Titans posted the eighth-fewest receiving yards in the NFL and they’re looking to improve on that figure in the fall. With dynamic rusher Derrick Henry keeping defenses honest, that won’t be hard to do with the right personnel at wide receiver.
Contract Details: Texans, Weeden, Bills
A deeper look at some recent free agent deals:
- Quarterback Brandon Weeden‘s contract with the Texans is for one year at a rate of $880K. The deal includes $230K in guaranteed cash between $140K of his base being assured and a $90K signing bonus. Weeden has not seen the field since 2015 when he appeared in four games for Dallas and two for the Texans. The 34-year-old (35 in October) has a career 6-19 record.
- Linebacker Will Compton’s one-year deal with the Titans can be worth up to $2MM, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. The deal included a $250K signing bonus. As Keim notes, that’s a solid contract for Compton considering that shoulder and Lisfranc injuries held him back in 2017. With the Titans, he’ll have an opportunity to reassert himself and potentially start.
- The Bills’ contracts signed last week with cornerback Phillip Gaines and wide receiver/punt returner Kaelin Clay were both for one year at minimum salaries, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets. Gaines is not well regarded by the advanced metrics, but he was a pivotal reserve for Kansas City from 2014-2017 and started some games last year due to Steven Nelson‘s injury.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/3/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: CB C.J. Goodwin, RB Elijhaa Penny, DL Olsen Pierre, and OL John Wetzel (all ERFAs)
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Bucky Hodges
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: G Quinton Spain (RFA)
LB Will Compton Signs With Titans
Two weeks after hosting Will Compton on a visit, the Titans signed the free agent linebacker, Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline reports. It’s a one-year deal, per Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
A member of the Redskins’ linebacking corps for five seasons, Compton will now try to earn an inside spot with the Titans. Tennessee lost Avery Williamson in free agency, breaking up the longtime tandem of he and Wesley Woodyard.
Compton, who has started 33 games over the past four seasons, also visited the Bills during this free agency period. He will stay in a 3-4 defense, having played in that scheme throughout his career. The former undrafted free agent played in only nine games last season, which was cut short due to injury.
Woodyard and Williamson teamed up as starters for four seasons, so this will be a bit of an adjustment. Compton, who will be set for his age-29 season, was a full-time Redskins starter in 2016. He also started 10 games for the 2015 division champion Redskins. Shoulder and Lisfranc injuries plagued Compton in 2017, but the Titans look set to give the Nebraska product a shot at returning to a starting lineup.
Contract Details: Mathieu, Pamphile, Watson, Weeden
Some details on recent free agent deals (all links via Twitter):
- Tyrann Mathieu, S (Texans): $2MM base salary in 2018. $4.5MM signing bonus, $500K worth of per-game bonus (via Mike Jurecki of ArizonaSports.com).
- Kevin Pamphile, OG (Titans): $1MM base salary, $400K guaranteed. $850K worth of incentives (via ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe).
- Ben Watson, TE (Saints): One year, $2MM. $645K signing bonus/guaranteed (via Nick Underhill of The Advocate).
- Marcus Sherels, CB/PR (Vikings): Worth $1.4MM, base salary $1.05MM. $250K signing bonus, $500K guaranteed, $100K workout bonus (via ESPN’s Ben Goessling).
NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero also has signing bonus/guarantee details on players who signed one-year deals: TE Levine Toilolo $400K (Lions), LB Pernell McPhee $350K (Redskins), QB Brandon Weeden $90K (Texans), CB Leon Hall $45K (Raiders).
Titans Outbid Other Suitors For Malcolm Butler
- Thanks to a video produced by Sports Illustrated, we have some insights into the offers received by cornerback Malcolm Butler before he agreed to sign with the Titans. Early on, the Bears pitched him on a three-year, $30MM deal while the Texans offered a one-year contract (value unknown). It seems that Tennessee greatly outbid the other suitors after signing him to a five-year, $61.25MM deal with $24MM fully guaranteed.
Titans Sign Xavier Su’a-Filo
The Titans announced they have signed free agent offensive guard Xavier Su’a-Filo. Sua’-Filo spent the previous four years of his NFL career with the Texans. 
[RELATED: Titans Extend GM Jon Robinson’s Contract]
Over the last two seasons, the 27-year-old has started in 31 of 32 regular seasons games for Houston. The advanced metrics have never been high on him, however, as Pro Football Focus has routinely rated him as one of the league’s lesser guards. In 2017, he was PFF’s third-worst qualified guard and ranked ahead of only Ethan Pocic (Seahawks) and Jeremy Vujnovich (Colts).
The Titans also built their offensive line depth this week by signing former Bucs lineman Kevin Pamphile. Josh Kline, Quinton Spain, Su’a-Filo, and Pamphile will all jockey for time, though Kline and Spain are the presumptive starters at guard.
Titans Extend GM Jon Robinson’s Contract
The Titans signed Mike Vrabel to a five-year deal this offseason to be their new head coach. Their GM, Jon Robinson, now has a deal to match. Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk tells Paul Kuharsky that she extended Robinson’s contract to take him through the 2022 campaign. 
“I’ve put them on schedule,” she joked.
The Titans hired Robinson in 2016 and the Titans have been on the right track since then. They have gone 18-14 under Robinson’s watch and they qualified for the playoffs in 2018, giving them their first postseason berth since 2008.
The Titans didn’t have the flashiest offseason in the NFL, but Robinson did make some moves of note. The Titans signed cornerback Malcolm Butler to a massive five-year, $61.25MM deal and also added fellow former Patriot Dion Lewis.