Linebacker David Long is signing a two-year, $11M deal with the #Dolphins, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 13, 2023
The Tennessee Titans have lost their second pending free agent of the day on Monday, with linebacker David Long reportedly agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Long is going to ink a two-year pact worth $11 million, which works out to $5.5 million annually. That’s slightly higher than Spotrac’s projection of $4.9 million per.
A 2019 sixth-round pick of the Titans, Long surprisingly emerged as a good starter over four seasons in Nashville. The only issue was his health, with Long missing a total of 12 games the past two years. Adding to that, he’s never played a full season.
When on the field, Long’s impact could always be felt. He plays fast, hits hard and is a very good run-stopper. While not great in coverage, Long has improved in that area over the years.
The dollar amount on Long’s deal is very reasonable, so it’s a bit surprising the Titans didn’t bring him back at that price. On the flip side, Long’s injury issues being part of the team’s overall woes in that area makes it not totally shocking the Titans didn’t bring him back.
With Long gone, the Titans now have two 2022 starters to replace after Zach Cunningham was cut recently. Linebacker Monty Long figures to be a favorite to land one of those roles, but the Titans will need to add more.
