Tennesse Titans Sign Promising Defensive Lineman

The Tennessee Titans will hold onto one of their starting defensive linemen through at least 2023. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports restricted free agent Teair Tart has signed his second-round tender, assuring he'll earn $4.3 million and play out next season with the Titans.

Titans’ restricted free-agent Teair Tart signed his second-round tender for $4.3 million in time for the start of today’s mini camp, his agents @DrewJRosenhaus and @RyanMatha confirmed.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 5, 2023

Tart joined the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2020 after a pair of productive years at Florida International. He emerged as a significant part of the Titans' defensive line rotation in 2021, earning 10 starts and playing 344 snaps. He increased his role in 2022, totalling 519 snaps while logging career highs in tackles (34), sacks (1.5), and pass deflections (6).

The fact that the Titans were willing to splurge by placing a second-round tender on Tart indicates they see him as an ascendant player. He earned a respectable 73.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus last season, and considering he's only 26 years old, his best years may very be ahead of him.

Signing the tender also puts an end to any possibility Tart could leave the Titans via an offer sheet. That was always a stretch; his production so far isn't eye-popping enough to tantalize rival teams, and the NFL is very stingy with second-round picks. Most likely, he'll enter unrestricted free agency next offseason with a chance to earn a significant multi-year deal.