Kendell Brooks

Career StatsD

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		16	—	—	23
2025		11	0	0	22
2024		5	0	0	1
2023		2

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Spotrac flags Kendell Brooks's contract as a market-rate deal; FanVerdicts grades it D+ Contract Value Index because the production-to-pay ratio shakes out accordingly. At $1.017M AAV over two years, Brooks is carrying a third-year safety on a depth-piece salary—reasonable floor-level compensation, except his 2025 season production (22 tackles across 11 games) doesn't yet justify even that modest outlay in an NFL safety market where starters command significantly more. The Contract Value Index reflects a player whose on-field performance (D grade) lags behind the sentiment narrative building around him; while his 53-yard pick-six return and composed media presence have generated organizational buzz and outside league interest, highlight plays don't yet translate to consistent starter production. At 26, Brooks sits at a critical inflection point—he's a third-year player with time to develop, but the gap between his emerging reputation and his actual statistical foundation remains meaningful. His contract length (two years) offers the Titans flexibility to evaluate whether he can bridge that gap during the 2026 season, but until his tackle count and coverage reliability match the hype, the D+ CVI stands as a fair marker of a deal that bets on upside rather than proven returns.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the D band — a quick read on where Kendell's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Kendell Brooks enters his first NFL season as a developmental safety for the Tennessee Titans, with early returns painting a concerning picture of his readiness. Graded at a D overall, Brooks ranks well below the standard expected even of rookie safeties finding their footing in the league. The trajectory here offers little encouragement, with grades sliding from an F in 2024 to a D- in 2023 before a marginal uptick to a D- in 2025. The most glaring concern is Brooks' tackling production, where he's averaging just 2.00 tackles per game against an NFL average of 3.85 and an elite benchmark of 6.81. For a safety — a position defined by its range, pursuit, and ability to clean up in run defense — that number is alarming at any experience level. There are no standout statistical strengths to offset the liability, leaving Brooks without a clear identity as either a box safety or deep coverage specialist. The grading trend does show incremental improvement, which is the lone developmental signal worth monitoring heading into year two. Brooks must demonstrate dramatically improved instincts, positioning, and tackle efficiency if he hopes to secure a roster spot beyond a depth role. If the upward trajectory continues — even modestly — there's a path toward league-average production, but the window to establish himself is narrowing quickly.

How Kendell Compares at the Position

Kendell Brooks ranks 166th of 196 graded safeties by performance. That slots Kendell between Theo Jackson (D) just ahead and Demani Richardson (D) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Kendell Brooks carries a B- sentiment grade heading into 2026, reflecting a player whose stock is quietly rising within Tennessee's organization and across NFL circles. The safety's dramatic 53-yard pick-six return became a viral moment that showcased his game-breaking potential, transforming him from an anonymous practice squad player into a legitimate developmental prospect worth monitoring. Interest from Pittsburgh, which prompted a retention decision by the Titans, signals that Brooks' emergence isn't just internal hype — other franchises are taking notice of his athletic profile and instincts. His composed media presence and self-motivated approach have added to a growing narrative that he could evolve from depth piece to meaningful contributor. While Brooks lacks the statistical foundation for widespread recognition, the combination of highlight-reel plays and organizational investment has positioned him as one of the more intriguing under-the-radar stories in Tennessee's secondary. The B- grade captures a player whose trajectory is clearly upward, even if he hasn't yet proven himself as a consistent NFL-caliber starter.