NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans have one, big primary contract concern after the season.
And a little-known permutation of the little-known type of contract Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is working under is keeping the team from attempting to start negotiations with him before the season ends.
NWI signed a one-year deal with the team on March 15, 2024. The deal is what’s known as a veteran salary benefit contract, which allows a team to pay a veteran more than he counts against the cap. It’s a CBA mechanism that helps increase opportunities for veterans like Westbrook-Ikhine, who was heading into his fifth season, not lose out to younger players just because of the pay scale.
So NWI is making $2 million this season, $1.83 million plus of which comes in base salary and $167,500 of which came in a signing bonus. His cap number, however, is just over $1.29 million.
As part of such a deal, a team cannot extend the player before the season is complete.
So the Titans are forbidden from extension talks until their season ends, on either Jan. 4 or Jan. 5 against Houston at Nissan Stadium. The NFL has several games scheduled either/or that are not yet determined that will be firmed up based on playoff implications.
They will have a head start with him from then until March 11, 2025 when teams and agents can begin to talk in advance of free agency.
With a new coaching staff in place, Westbrook-Ikhine was not targeted in the Titans' first four games.
But since then, he’s been quite productive, with 23 catches for 393 yards and eight touchdowns. That gives him a team-best 17.1-yard average and ties him for fifth-best among NFL receivers in TDs.
The Titans have contractual control over Calvin Ridley, Treylon Burks (injured), Colton Dowell, Bryce Oliver, Jha-Quan Jackson and Mason Kinsey at receiver for 2025.
Other Titans free agents to-be include Nick Folk, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Quandre Diggs, Daniel Brunskill, Dillon Radunz, Mason Rudolph and Tyler Boyd.