The Tennessee Titans agreed to bring back Taylor Lewan after signing the left tackle into a whopping five-year $80 million extension on Friday.
Lewan, who is expected to receive $9.34 million under the final year of his rookie agreement, will be paid $16 million per year on his new contract, hence making him the highest-paid lineman in league history. The record was previously held by Nate Solder, who inked an eye-popping four-year deal worth $62 million with the New York Giants in March.
According to multiple sources, the new deal also includes a guaranteed money of $50 million. General manager Jon Robinson has been hoping to keep Lewan as part of the team for a long time.
"The only thing I am trying to be is the best left tackle I can be. Everything else, I am not here to reinvent the wheel. It doesn't matter how much you get paid. I am here to do my job," Lewan said.
The Titans star was not present in the team's mini-camp held last June due to the situation of his contract. He reported to training camp at the end of July to help complete the eventual deal. He is now under contract with the Titans through the 2023 season.
Solid Signing For The Titans
Lewan, who was a first-round pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, has shown his durability in the league, as he has started in every game over the past two years. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the fourth-best offensive tackle in football last year just behind teammate Jack Conklin, who was in third place. Conklin is currently sidelined after suffering from a terrible knee injury.
The 27-year-old Lewan has been consistent the past two seasons, as the Michigan product earned a Pro Bowl selection in each year. In his four seasons with the team, Lewan has started 53 games for the team, highlighted by 47 consecutive starts over the last three years.
Lewan started all 16 games for the Titans during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Prior to the 2016 season, he started 15 of the team's 16 games. Lewan averaged 136.7 rush yards per game two years ago, which is ranked third in the league.
Regardless of his multimillion deal with the Titans, NFL writer Kevin Patra believes that Lewan won't hold the designation of being the highest-paid offensive lineman long, citing that reliable offensive tackles are now scarce. Bleacher Report's Rob Goldberg added that the Titans are heading in the right direction as a team after making it through the divisional round last season.
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