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Titans reward Walker

Veteran tight end receives contract extension

Delanie Walker will be 34 in a couple of a weeks, while Jonnu Smith is a promising player in his second year. But the Titans don’t seem to be intending to make a switch at tight end anytime soon. Instead, they gave Walker a two-year contract extension today.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport says the new contract includes $12.6 million in guaranteed money. Doesn’t sound like the team believes Smith will be moving into the starting lineup in the foreseeable future. He’s a promising player (looks a lot like a young Walker) but he’ll apparently have to bide his time as a spot-duty player, mixed in for formations with multiple tight ends.

Prior to this deal, Smith arguably was a top-30 tight end in dynasty formats – a prospect who might be really good in 2019 or 2020. Now he looks more like waiver-wire fodder that maybe you pick up before the final roster freeze in December.

Walker has had a nice career, considering he came into the league as an oversized wide receiver out of tiny Central Missouri. He spent the first part of is career behind Vernon Davis in San Francisco, but he’s flourished in Tennessee.

Walker is getting up there in years, but tight end is a position where older players have been able to play pretty play. In the last 10 years, 44 tight ends who are at least 30 have been able to post top-20 numbers (standard scoring). And 27 have been able to post top-10 numbers, including Walker four times.

The Titans have a new coaching staff, and this contract is also a confirmation that the new group intends to tap into Walker’s talents.

BEST SEASONS BY 30-SOMETHING TIGHT ENDS (last 10 years)
YearPlayerAgeNoYdsTDFanRnk
2009Dallas Clark, Ind.30100110610170.62
2008Tony Gonzalez, K.C.3296105810165.81
2015Gary Barnidge, Clev.307910439158.33
2014Antonio Gates, S.D.346982112154.12
2015Greg Olsen, Car.307711047152.44
2015Delanie Walker, Tenn.319410886146.85
2012Tony Gonzalez, Atl.36939308141.03
2010Antonio Gates, S.D.305078210138.22
2013Tony Gonzalez, Atl.37838598135.94
2013Jason Witten, Dall.31738518133.16
2012Heath Miller, Pitt.30718168131.64
2011Tony Gonzalez, Atl.35808757129.54
2016Jimmy Graham, Sea.30659236128.32
2016Greg Olsen, Car.318010733127.33
2009Tony Gonzalez, Atl.33838676122.75
2016Delanie Walker, Tenn.32658007122.05
2012Jason Witten, Dall.3011010393121.95
2011Antonio Gates, S.D.31647787119.87
2015Benjamin Watson, N.O.35748256118.58
2017Jimmy Graham, Sea.315752010114.04
2014Delanie Walker, Tenn.30638904113.09
2013Antonio Gates, S.D.33778724111.29
2012Owen Daniels, Hou.30627166107.68
2017Delanie Walker, Tenn.33748074104.56
2010Tony Gonzalez, Atl.34706566101.68
2014Jason Witten, Dall.32647035100.310
2016Antonio Gates, S.D.3653548796.810
2014Heath Miller, Pitt.3266761396.112
2012Antonio Gates, S.D.3249538795.812
2010Benjamin Watson, Clev.3068763394.312
2015Antonio Gates, S.D.3556630593.011
2010Todd Heap, Balt.3040599589.914
2015Jason Witten, Dall.3377713389.312
2017Jason Witten, Dall.3563560586.010
2016Jason Witten, Dall.3469673385.314
2016Dennis Pitta, Balt.3186729284.915
2017Vernon Davis, Wash.3343648382.811
2017Jared Cook, Oak.3054688280.815
2014Owen Daniels, Balt.3248527476.718
2017Benjamin Watson, Balt.3761522476.217
2016Gary Barnidge, Clev.3155612275.220
2015Zach Miller, Chi.3134439573.916
2015Jacob Tamme, Atl.3059657171.718
2017Marcedes Lewis, Jac.3324318563.820

—Ian Allan

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