He will not have a fifth-year option picked up, but the Tennessee Titans have plans for Rashaan Evans.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Titans want to sign the linebacker to a contract extension before his rookie deal expires in 2022. Per Schefter, the franchise is encountering ‘an ongoing salary-cap uncertainty.’
Titans informed @DrewJRosenhaus that they will not be exercising LB Rashaan Evans’ 5th-year option “due to ongoing salary-cap uncertainty and instead hope to sign Rashaan to a contract extension before his current deal expires in 2022,” Rosenhaus said.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 3, 2021
The #Titans are not picking up the fifth-year option for first round LB Rashaan Evans, per @DrewJRosenhaus. The hope is to sign Evans to a contract extension before his current deal expires instead.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 3, 2021
If his option was picked up, Evans would have collected $9.73 million for 2022 via Spotrac.
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Evans, an alumnus of the University of Alabama, was taken in the first round (No. 22 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.
He is responsible for 260 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, and six pass breakups in 47 games. Evans was third on the team for total tackles (96) in 2020 and totaled two stops for loss, five breakups, and one fumble recovery.
He assisted the Titans to an 11-5 record and its first AFC South Division title since 2008. Before turning pro, the Auburn (Ala.) native won two College Football Playoff National Championships (2015, 2017) at Alabama. Hopefully, the Titans will soon have a deal ready for Evans.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
