Why Tennessee Titans and linebacker Zach Cunningham makes sense in short, long term

The Tennessee Titans claimed standout inside linebacker Zach Cunningham on Thursday, one day after he was waived by the Houston Texans.

It seemed unlikely the NFL’s leading tackler in 2020 would be available when the Titans had their turn on the waiver wire, where claim priority is based on the inverse order of teams’ win-loss record. But Cunningham was available for the Titans, perhaps due to the size of his contract (four years, $58 million) or the disciplinary issues he had with the Texans. Or maybe some combination of both.

Regardless, the former Vanderbilt star is now with the Titans — and it looks like a smart move.

Here’s why:

Won’t be (financially) painful for Titans if he doesn’t work out

By claiming Cunningham, the Titans are on the hook for just $275,000 in base salary for the remainder of 2021.

After this season, there’s no guaranteed money on Cunningham’s contract, which runs through 2024, according to OverTheCap.com. His $10 million salary for 2022 doesn’t fully guarantee until the fifth day of the 2022 league year in March. So if he doesn’t pan out this season, the Titans could cut him before his '22 salary guarantees at little harm.

Under his current deal, Cunningham's base salary is $11 million for 2023 and $12.5 million for 2024.

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Cunningham familiar with Nashville, Titans coaches

Cunningham was benched by the Texans twice for violating team rules: a suspension for Week 13 after he was late to a scheduled COVID-19 test and the first quarter in Week 2 for recurring tardiness.

But familiar people, in familiar surroundings, could do him well. Titans coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen were on the Texans coaching staff when Cunningham was a rookie in 2017. At the time, Vrabel was Houston’s defensive coordinator and Bowen was a defensive assistant.

Cunningham also starred at Vanderbilt, where he earned All-SEC first-team honors in 2015 and 2016, before becoming an NFL second-round draft pick.

Vrabel spoke highly of Cunningham last October.

“Very good player,” Vrabel said at the time. “He shows up at Vanderbilt here probably undersized, got length and probably was lanky, grew into his body. He's an explosive player. Doesn't look like a physical player but he will be one of the best inside linebackers that we'll see unquestionably this year. Each and every year I see him he's more instinctive, reading plays and diagnosing them … He'll make the tackle and he'll be involved with it.”

Provides depth at ILB for short, long term

Inside linebacker has been one of the Titans’ hardest-hit positions by injury. Rashaan Evans has missed five straight games, David Long Jr. has missed three straight games and third-round rookie Monty Rice is on injured reserve. Evans has returned to practice this week, but Cunningham shores up the position down the stretch.

If all goes well, Cunningham figures to be part of what could be a strong inside linebacker corps in the coming years with Long (under contract through 2022) and Rice (2024).

Cunningham and Long, the Titans’ leading tackler this season, could be the 1-2 punch at the position in 2022, with Rice as the No. 3 option. Evans and Jayon Brown are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents after this season.

Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why claiming LB Zach Cunningham makes sense for Tennessee Titans