"This Season Is Personal:" Titans' Corner Roger McCreary Shifts Approach in Contract Year

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Among the Titans’ prominent players, no one is quieter than Roger McCreary.

The unassuming nickelback is a softspoken lover of baked beans, a laid-back cornerback heading into his fourth season, one of four draft picks remaining from the Jon Robinson-era teams.

He’s about to play out his four-year $9.2 million rookie contract and either get a new deal from the Titans or hit the market.

Roger McCreary
Roger McCreary/ Courtesy Tennessee Titans

McCreary is the sort of player the Titans would be wise to retain if his price stays reasonable, as they need some continuity as they build their young roster. 

Many guys try to change nothing as they head into contract years, but McCreary went a different route this summer, putting himself out there more and becoming more outspoken.

“I’ve got to step more into my game of being recognized as one of the top nickels in the game,” he told me. “It’s about trying to get better each and every year. I feel like this year I’ve really got to improve at that.”

On July 15, he posted a video clip on X with a caption that said “This season is personal.”

And a few days later on NFL Network he discussed the change of approach.

His ideal scenario is to be with the Titans long-term.

“The Titans drafted me, I feel like this is always home for me, so I’ll always be happy to come back,” he said. “But I feel like it’s really not my decision – it’s in the upper room. So I’ve got to come out and just keep playing and if it comes it comes. …If I play good, that’s going to come. I try not to think too much about it, that it’s a contract year. Stick to football and play to what I’ve been doing since I was a little kid.”

Chad Brinker said at the start of camp he hadn't had any extension talks with McCreary or Chig Okonkwo, but that he is open to them and doesn't have any sort of cut off date for conversations or deals for guys with deals running out.

The Titans alternative to McCreary inside in 2024 was Jarvis Brownlee, but Brownlee is now established as a starter outside, the team’s top guy if L’Jarius Sneed’s injury issues keep him off the field. So the backup to McCreary right now looks like Gabe Jeudy-Lally, though there is sure to be a big nickel package that features rookie third-rounder Kevin Winston. Sixth-rounder Marcus Harris has been more outside. 

“I'm excited about where Roger is,” Brian Callahan said. “He made a really nice play (Tuesday) in the team work. Playing over the top of a pick route and it was a well-thrown ball and he's in perfect position for it. I think you see guys when they get in the spot like Roger's—contract years—tend to be pretty motivated to show what they're all about, and I've seen that from Roger so far. It's been good to see from him, too.”

Friday, McCreary undercut a speed out from Cam Ward intended for Tyler Lockett and grabbed an interception. The Titans has been working on the short passing game the whole day, so a corner could have been leaning, but it still qualified as a fine play.

The Titans will likely move on from L’Jarius Sneed after two seasons, whatever contribution he makes in 2025, given they can get out with $8.1 million in dead cap in 2026 and save nearly $12 million in cash plus another $15.5 million in 2027.

That would leave them with hardly any money invested in corners. Brownlee is the only sure-fire guy under contract for next year. Darrell Baker will be a restricted free agent.

McCreary isn’t getting Taron Johnson’s three-year $31 million deal with the Bills, or the three-year $30 million contracts Jourdan Lewis got from Jacksonville or Kenny Moore got in Indianapolis. 

How far below that he falls is the question he is trying to answer with better play and a more outspoken season.

Cron Job Starts