Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Denico Autry recorded 2.0 sacks versus the Carolina Panthers
Tennessee Titans veteran outside linebacker Denico Autry recorded 2.0 sacks in Sunday’s 17-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Autry now has a team-high 8.0 sacks this season. The 33-year-old veteran continues to defeat Father Time.
7th sack of the season for Denico Autry
: Watch #CARvsTEN on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/rX4UXkQPx5
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 26, 2023
Pro Football Focus credited Autry with applying six pressures on Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young. It represented the second-highest single-game total throughout 2023 for Autry, who had seven pressures against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1. Uncoincidentally, that was Autry’s last multi-sack game.
Autry had a season-high four quarterback hurries against the Panthers in addition to his two sacks. Autry’s PFF pass-rushing grade of 75.4 was also a second-best single-game mark for the former Mississippi State standout this season.
Autry’s 32 pressures ranks second behind Jeffery Simmons (44) for the team lead. Arden Key places third with 26 pressures, and Harold Landry has 21. Autry has been significantly more effective at converting pressures into sacks, however.
Autry has totaled 313 pass-rushing snaps for the Titans this season. At 32 pressures, he’s recording a pressure every 9.78 pass-rushing snap, and a sack once every 39.12 pass-rushing opportunity. Simmons is impressively recording a pressure every 8.4 pass-rushing snaps (370), but sacks (5.5 on the season) are arriving every 67.27 pass-rushing snaps.
Denico Autry is only the 2nd player in Tennessee #Titans history (alongside Jevon Kearse) to record 8+ sacks in three different seasons. pic.twitter.com/JgvTtkLuTW
— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) November 27, 2023
Autry is currently playing out the final season of a three-year, $21.5 million contract. He’s arguably an all-time great Titans free-agent signing. It’ll be worth monitoring how Titans general manager Ran Carthon approaches Autry this offseason.
On one hand, Autry will turn 34 before the 2024 campaign marks its arrival. The rebuilding Titans may possess little interest in retaining aging veterans. Carthon may also be weary of handing out a multi-year extension to Autry, who will eventually slow down.
Alternatively, the Titans will be blessed with approximately $100 million in cap space this offseason. On the account of his age, Autry shouldn’t be too expensive to retain. A two-year backloaded contract extension could keep Autry’s 2024 cap hit at a manageable $5 million-or-less. The Titans have decisions to make regarding Autry’s future.