With a new CBA in place, free agency set to open on Wednesday, and the legal tampering period bringing us some much needed distraction, teams were chomping at the bit to improve their teams. With an increased cap number, teams can now actually act instead of guessing or pretending. So let’s jump right into the beginning off the offseason frenzy!
What a crazy first two days of the legal tampering period, where teams can work deals with free agents, but they can’t become official until Wednesday. It’s been fast and furious, as teams are leaving no stone unturned, in efforts to improve their teams. Teams have been shelling out money hand over fist and the players are the benefactors. One team that addressed a need today, was the Tennessee Titans, who desperately needed pass-rushing help. They moved on from aging veterans Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan at this time last year and tried to fill that hole with veteran Cameron Wake and young star Harold Landry. They found success in Landry, but the Wake project just didn’t work out, so they moved on from him this offseason. Being patient, the Titans sat back, let the market set itself and then went after their target. The player that they chose was outside linebacker Vic Beasley, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons.
What the Titans will be getting is a young (age 27) pass rusher to bookend with Harold Landry. Tennessee employs a 3-4 scheme and Beasley has experience in that system, from his time with the Falcons. The Titan’s lack of a pass rush clearly showed up in the playoffs, so adding Beasley was a necessity. They signed Beasley to a one-year prove-it deal, worth $9.5 million and hope they can get the 2016 version.
The one where Beasley led the league in both sacks (15.5) and forced fumbles (6), as well as being named to Pro-Bowl and All-Pro teams. If he had continued to play that way, the Falcons wouldn’t have let him walk, but unfortunately for both he didn’t. Over the next three seasons, Beasley would only total 18 sacks. The Titans believe a change of scenery is all Beasley needs and he can be a vital piece for a defense that already ranks in the top 10 in the league. It’s a low-risk option for Tennessee, that they can get out of easily if things don’t work out like they hope.
For Beasley, he gets a chance to revitalize his career and do so for a team that was one game away from going to the Super Bowl. The overall makeup of the Titans is much better than what he played with in Atlanta. Despite the drop off in his sack totals, not all of Beasley’s game was bad. He set a career-best in tackles (42) last season and drastically cut his missed tackle rate from 35.5 % in 2018 to an impressive 6.7 % this past season. The Falcons also gave him more pass-rushing opportunities, which saw his numbers trend back up. Keep in mind Beasley went through a position change twice in the past three seasons, as the Falcons switched to a 4-3 and then back to a 3-4. Clearly Beasley didn’t adjust well to being a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. During his five seasons in Atlanta, he finished with, 156 tackles, 37.5 sacks, 36 tackles for a loss, 11 forced fumbles and two interceptions.
For fantasy owners, I wouldn’t expect Beasley to set the league on fire again like he did in 2016. I would be comfortable with him producing between 7-10 sacks, which could place him in the LB3 range or EDGE 2/3 range, depending on how sacks are scored in your leagues. If you feel he will bounce back with a fresh start in Tennessee, then he can be acquired super cheap right now in IDP dynasty leagues and might be available in your league’s free-agent pool. Just like with the Titans, Beasley is a low-risk buy option, that could give you a decent return if things go well. Whether you are trying to trade for or trade Beasley away, I think the best you could receive in return is a late-round pick (6th/7th) or a player of comparable value.
Thanks for reading my article and if enjoyed it, you can read more of my articles here. You can also follow me on social media, on Twitter at Hollywood@DFF_DWin, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub I’m user KingTitan1 and you can tune in each week and listen to the podcasts, IDP Nation and D.I.G. (Devy IDP Grind), that I co-host, on a number of different platforms. Feel free to hit me up with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy
