NFL Free Agency: Brian Orakpo, Titans Strike a Deal
The Tennessee Titans and edge rusher Brian Orakpo have agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth up to $35 million, per Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports.
Here is the report from Garofolo’s Twitter account, confirmed early Friday morning.
Brian Orakpo's deal with the Titans: four years, $32 million base value, $35 million max, with $13.5 guaranteed, per source.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 13, 2015
Our Charles McDonald (@NFLDraftWhiz) worked tirelessly on free agent bios and previews, and had this to say about Orakpo going into the process this offseason.
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“Brian Orakpo is one the better pass rushers in the NFL when healthy — but that’s precisely the problem. He missed almost the entire 2012 season with a torn pectoral muscle and missed the back half of the 2014 season with the same injury. A team signing Orakpo should be wary of his health, but if the medical situation checks out, your getting a guy who has 40 career sacks in 71 games over his career.”
Orakpo got $13.5 million guaranteed from the Titans, essentially two years of the contract. That’s a pretty solid bargain for the Titans, considering what Ray Horton could potentially do with the skills of a guy like Orakpo. The problem, as Charles perfectly stated, is the fact that Orakpo cannot stay healthy it seems. When he is healthy, Orakpo is a guy who can really change the dynamic of your defense, and the Titans desperately need his presence. Hopefully he can stay healthy to make this an impact signing.
GRADE: B+
The Titans got pretty good value for the former franchise player for the Redskins. Orakpo, a first round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, has hit double digit sacks just twice in his six NFL seasons, and will turn 29 this year.
This is a great price point for a guy who has been struggling with injuries, and is absolutely a risk worth taking for Tennessee.
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