Tennessee Titans sign DE Earnest Brown

Earnest Brown's one-year, $2.5M signing earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) — a middling, below-market deal that reflects genuine depth-piece economics rather than a marquee addition. For a defensive end entering a prove-it year on a short-term pact, the $2.5M AAV is modest enough to avoid cap strain, but the contract structure offers no guaranteed protection or multi-year commitment, signaling the Titans view this as a low-risk, low-ceiling roster filler rather than a foundational pass-rush piece. The CVI grade acknowledges the salary sits in a reasonable band for a rotational edge rusher; there's no egregious overpay here, but neither does it represent an exceptional value capture. What tempers the grade is the thinness of the arrangement — single-year deals at this price point are inherently volatile assets, vulnerable to injury or performance collapse without financial cushion. For a Tennessee roster coming off a 3-14 season, this signing represents prudent, incremental roster-building rather than aggressive value creation; it's the kind of transaction that neither haunts the front office nor moves the needle decisively upward.