NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- NFL free agency is off and running, and we're keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2024 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The new league year began Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, which allows deals to become official. The first round of the 2024 NFL draft begins April 25 on ESPN.
Here's a breakdown of every 2024 NFL free agent signing by the Titans and how each will impact the upcoming season:
Calvin Ridley, WR
Ridley is signing a four-year, $92 million contract, including $50 million guaranteed.
What it means: The Titans were desperately in need of help at wide receiver. Ridley instantly becomes the No. 1 pass catcher for the Titans opposite veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Having three receivers that can be moved across the formation will help new Titans coach Brian Callahan find favorable matchups. Tennessee will also have Treylon Burks as a possible target for second-year quarterback Will Levis. Ridley posted 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns for the Jaguars last season. The seventh-year veteran is a viable deep threat option which meshes well with Levis, who likes to push the ball down the field.
What's the risk: Signing Ridley to such a huge deal comes with some risks. Ridley had a successful return last season after serving a one-year suspension for gambling. In 2021, Ridley announced on social media that he was stepping away from football because of mental health reasons. Ridley revealed that he played most of the 2020 season, his best as a pro (90 receptions, 1,374 yards and 9 touchdowns), with a broken foot.
Tony Pollard, RB
The Titans are signing Pollard to a three-year, $24 million deal.
What it means: Adding Pollard to a backfield that already features Tyjae Spears shows the Titans are heading in a different direction from before. The days of Derrick Henry and the rushing attack being the feature part of the offense is over. New coach Brian Callahan is looking to bring a more modern offense to Tennessee. Pollard and Spears are interchangeable backs whose versatility will help make the Titans less predictable this year. The sixth-year veteran made his mark in a shared backfield with Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas when he established himself as a threat both catching the ball and running with it.
What's the risk: The move means the end of an era for the Titans as Henry will now end up elsewhere. The Titans for years relied on Henry to be the catalyst to their offense. Moving on from Henry takes away their most consistent player on offense. Pollard started all 17 games for the Cowboys last season, his first year with more than four starts. A committee of Spears, a second-year back, and Pollard looks solid on paper. But it is still unproven.
Lloyd Cushenberry, C
The Titans are signing Cushenberry to a four-year deal worth $50 million, $26 million guaranteed at signing, according to a report by Pro Football Focus.
What it means: At 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, Cushenberry gives the Titans much-needed size and stability at center. Cushenberry will take over for last year's starter Aaron Brewer, who agreed to terms with the Miami Dolphins on Monday. The fifth-year center will be relied upon to help anchor a Tennessee offensive line that is facing a massive overhaul. Cushenberry is only 26 and has started 57 out of 65 games for Denver, including all 17 last season. He has allowed only two sacks and 16 total pressures in the last two seasons combined. Getting a player of Cushenberry's caliber bodes well for second-year quarterback Will Levis.
What's the risk: There aren't any huge risks associated with the Cushenberry signing. Cushenberry is a proven starter who hasn't missed extensive time because of injury. He suffered a strained groin last season and finished the year on injured reserve, but recovered in time to make it back if the Broncos elected to activate him from injured reserve.
Sebastian Joseph-Day, DT
The Titans are bringing in the lineman on a one-year deal.
What it means: Joseph-Day made 14 starts combined for the Chargers and 49ers last season. His three sacks and 11 quarterback pressures are a sign that he is a capable pass rusher from the interior. At 6-4, 310 pounds, he brings a sizable presence to lineup next to Jeffery Simmons at defensive tackle. Joseph-Day also adds versatility to line up at one of the defensive ends spots.
What's the risk: The risks are minimal when a team signs a veteran free agent like Joseph-Day for one year. Over his career, Joseph-Day has primarily been a starter and doesn't have an extensive injury history other than a torn pectoral in 2021.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR
Westbrook-Ikhine comes back to Tennessee on a one-year deal.
What it means: The Titans are bringing back one of their most reliable players over the last three seasons. Westbrook-Ikhine has found his way to the starting lineup each year. He played 69% of Tennessee's offensive snaps last season. The fifth-year veteran can play all three WR spots and doubles as a special teams contributor.
What's the risk: Re-signing Westbrook-Ikhine comes without any risk. He's a capable backup and has been available for the most part of every season since joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Mason Rudolph, QB
Rudolph's one-year deal is worth up to $3.62 million.
What it means: Rudolph gives the Titans a veteran quarterback to compete with Malik Willis who is entering his third season. Rudolph has an 8-4-1 record in 13 starts over a four-year career. The six-year veteran offers short-term security if Levis were to go down.
What's the risk: There isn't much risk to the deal with Rudolph having already served as a backup for most of his career. Rudolph is on a low-cost deal that allows the Titans to move on if he somehow gets beaten out by Willis for the backup job.
Nick Folk, K
The Titans are bringing Folk back on a one-year deal.
What it means: Folk was one of the Titans' most consistent players last season. He made 96.7% of his field goal attempts, which led the NFL. Folk's lone miss came from 51 yards out against the Buccaneers, but he was good on his other five attempts from 50 yards or more. Folk was also 28 of 30 on extra-point attempts.
What's the risk: Folk is 39 years old but hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. Adding him on a one-year deal doesn't come with many risks although the value at $3.75 million is steep.
Kenneth Murray Jr., LB
According to multiple reports, Murray agreed to a two-year contract worth $18 million.
What it means: The Titans desperately needed to find starters at inside linebacker after electing to let Azeez Al-Shaair go via free agency. Before signing Murray, the Titans didn't have any inside linebackers with more than one year as a starter on the roster. Getting Murray gives Tennessee an instant starter. He'll immediately assume the role of wearing the green dot helmet to relay the defensive calls from the sideline. Murray is a former first-round pick who had a career year last season. The fifth-year veteran tied his career high with 107 tackles and posted career highs with three sacks and four pass breakups.
What's the risk: Murray had his ups and downs with the Chargers throughout his four years in Los Angeles. The Chargers declined Murray's fifth-year option despite him coming off his best season with the team last year. Given his sideline-to-sideline range, it's easy to understand why the Titans signed him. But his best attribute can be used against him at times by misdirection plays. The Titans will have to find a way to get Murray to play with a little more patience so he doesn't get caught out of position.
Chidobe Awuzie, CB
Awuzie agreed to a three-year deal worth $25.5 million, with $17.5 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
What it means: Awuzie is a veteran cornerback that will immediately occupy one of the starting spots in the Titans' secondary. He has started 32 out of 44 games over the last three seasons with the Bengals. Awuzie played both in the slot and on the outside over his career which matches new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson's stated desire to have versatile players on the backend. He is also a willing tackler against the run. The Titans still need to add another cornerback after Sean Murphy-Bunting agreed to a free-agent deal with the Cardinals and with Kristian Fulton remaining on the market.
What's the risk: At 29 years old, Awuzie is inching closer to a possible drop off. Awuzie opened last season as one of the Bengals' starting cornerbacks. But a herniated disc limited him to 73.7% of the defensive snaps last season. Awuzie eventually lost his starting job to rookie DJ Turner. If creating turnovers is a focus for the new Titans defense, Awuzie may not be the answer. In seven seasons, Awuzie only has six interceptions with his best season coming in 2021 when he intercepted a career-high two passes.
Morgan Cox, LS
The Titans and Cox agreed to a one-year deal.
What it means: Cox, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, appeared in every game last season as the team's long snapper for the third consecutive year. His steadying presence is shown by 216 career games trails only JJ Jansen (243) and Jon Weeks (227) for long snappers. The 15-year veteran joined the Titans as an unrestricted free agent in 2021 after spending 11 years with the Baltimore Ravens. Cox was a finalist for the Bart Star Award which was created to honor the player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community.
What's the risk: This move comes with no risk. Cox has been a model of consistency since joining the Titans.
Saahdiq Charles, OG
Charles and the Titans agreed to a one-year deal so that he can prove he can be a part of Tennessee's future.
What it means: Adding Charles, who has started at both right and left guard over the last two seasons for the Commanders, proves that the Titans will continue to be dedicated to retooling the offensive line. Charles also logged starts at tackle as a rookie in 2020. The fifth-year veteran will compete for the starting right guard spot in Tennessee. He also joins his LSU teammate, Cushenberry, as a newcomer.
What's the risk: Charles has a history of injuries resulting in three trips to injured reserve. The first injury was a dislocated kneecap that ended his rookie season. A concussion led to Charles' second stint on injured reserve in 2022. Charles suffered a calf injury in Week 7 last season and was placed on injured reserve causing him to miss six games. The Commanders activated Charles in Week 14, and he returned to the starting lineup for the final four games.