The hits just keep coming for that Tennessee Titans secondary. Earlier in the week, news broke that they’d be releasing cornerback Malcolm Butler to free up some cap space. Today, it’s breaking that safety Kenny Vaccaro is the next cut in the pipeline after playing three seasons with the Titans. There are now several question marks surrounding what was one of the best and most underrated secondaries in the NFL not too long ago.
Former Texas Longhorns safety Kenny Vaccaro is expected to be released from the Tennessee Titans, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Vaccaro has been with Tennessee since the 2018 campaign, starting in all 42 of his appearances with the franchise during that stretch.
Vaccaro played in 13 games for the Titans in 2020, registering 62 solo tackles, 5 pass breakups and a forced fumble. Rapoport described Vaccaro’s looming release as a “cap casualty,” as the safety was due to have a $6.9 million cap hit.
This has really turned into an important offseason for the Titans, who are without a shadow of a doubt at a crossroads on defense. We know about Mike Vrabel‘s desire to get younger and faster every offseason. But, we’ve seen that come at the expense of experience and leadership in the last couple of seasons. This year, the Titans had to make a move in the secondary – between Butler, Vaccaro, Adoree Jackson, and Kevin Byard, something like 24% of the cap was going towards the secondary (don’t quote me on that – I’m trying to get this published quick…you can double check on Spotrac…we all have access to the same information. #journalism). But, to see it actually happen marks the changing of the guard. It leaves Jackson and Kristian Fulton to start at corner, and I’d guess this means Amani Hooker (who is more than capable, mind you) is elevated to start at safety opposite Byard. Desmond King is another domino waiting to fall.
But, this is life in the NFL, right?! Your defense sucked in 2020 – you have to overhaul it as quickly as possible so you don’t waste this championship-caliber offense. But, you need cash to do it – so here we are.
Vaccaro is a tough, feisty guy that was never afraid to get in there and get his hands dirty. Not too many guys play the game with the tenacity that he does. He was never afraid to make a hit. He was excellent in run support and in blitzing situations. And, he was a huge factor in setting the mental tone on that defense. He’s not going to be easy to replace in that regard.
He came to the Titans by way of the New Orleans Saints in 2018. Injury concerns and a similar sort of youth movement in the Saints defense allowed them to move on from Vaccaro even though the dude had plenty left in the tank. Lest we forget, Vaccaro signed with the Titans as a sort of stopgap – the team was set with Johnathan Cyprien at safety, but he tore his ACL right as the season approached. Vaccaro was only supposed to be a replacement….a veteran with some experience….until Cyp got healthy again. And, all he did was outperform those expectations. He played well enough to warrant the Titans signing him to a four-year $24M contract in 2019.
His stint with the Titans should serve as an inspiration. It doesn’t matter how you get there, it’s what you do with the opportunity once you do. Vaccaro excelled in Nashville – he was a surprise when he wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a one-year replacement safety.
Vaccaro made headlines here in Nashville last week as an investor in the first black-owned restaurant to open up on Broadway, Slim & Husky’s. Nothing but love for this dude – Kenny Vaccaro has been a hell of a lot of fun to watch and hell of a lot of fun to write about. Salute.
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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