NFL Free Agency: Dexter McCluster Signs With Tennessee Titans
By Ben Nielsen
Dec 1, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dexter McCluster (22) gets past Denver Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton (94) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Denver won the game 35-28. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
It is official: Dexter McCluster is gone.
The All-Pro return man has signed a three-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. Here is the Twitter evidence.
Former Chiefs WR/KR Dexter McCluster reached agreement on a 3-yr deal with the Titans, per ESPN league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2014
Dexter McCluster’s deal with the #Titans is up to $12M over three years. He receives $4.5M guaranteed.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2014
We had a good idea this was going to happen on Monday when Terez A. Paylor reported the Chiefs had moved on from McCluster.
McCluster was a second-round pick for the Chiefs in 2010 but never really lived up to the hype until the 2013 season. Even with this season’s performance he left a lot of people wanting more. In four seasons, McCluster averaged less than 10 yards per catch (8.7), combined for nine total touchdowns (five receiving, on rushing, three punt returns), and fumbled the ball 10 times. PFF graded him as a -0.6 receiver in 2013, and had him dropping nearly as many passes (four) as he created missed tackles (six).
Still, the talent is there for him to be a useful part of an offense. Is with worth the three-years, $12-million contract the Titans gave him? We’ll find out. But we know the Chiefs could not have re-signed McCluster at that same deal, and filled other holes on the roster, given their current cap space.
As for a replacement, the in-house option appears to be A.J. Jenkins, though it would not be a surprise to see the Chiefs either sign a free agent, use a draft pick on a receiver, or both.