2 Titans ILBs were among surest tacklers at the position in 2020

Both of the Tennessee Titans’ initial 2020 starting linebackers, Jayon Brown and Rashaan Evans, were among the surest tacklers in the NFL at their position last season.

According to Pro Football Network, Brown and Evans registered the second- and third-lowest “broken and missed tackle percentage” among linebackers with at least 60 tackles, with Brown coming in at 3.8 percent and Evans at 4.0 percent.

Of course, the sample size for Brown is much smaller than that of Evans, as the UCLA product suffered a season-ending injury in Week 11, leading to him playing in just 10 games and missing the playoffs last season.

Lowest ‘broken+missed tackle %’, LBs w/ 60+ tackles in 2020, per SIS:

1. Eric Kendricks: 3.6%
2. Jayon Brown: 3.8%
3. Rashaan Evans: 4.0%
4. Demario Davis: 4.9%
5. Josey Jewell: 5.0%
6. BJ Goodson: 5.1%
7. Cole Holcomb: 5.3%
8. Bobby Wagner: 5.5% pic.twitter.com/9NwmGfvnsW

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) June 22, 2021

Considering the Titans were a poor tackling team as a whole, it’s surprising anyone on the defense registered such an impressive number.

While Evans and Brown are expected to once again man the starting inside linebackers spots in 2021, both players could be looking at their last year in Nashville.

Evans had his fifth-year option declined earlier this offseason, and Brown signed a $5.3 million contract to remain with the Titans, but with two voidable years he’ll hit the open market as well next offseason.

Brown’s status for this coming season is secured, but Evans’ situation is a different story.

Not only does he figure to see competition for snaps from 2019 sixth-round pick, David Long, but Evans is also a candidate to be traded before the campaign begins, as we outlined in a recent article.

However, that will depend upon how comfortable the Titans are with Long stepping into a starting role, and what 2021 third-round pick Monty Rice shows in training camp.

We’d bet that Evans plays out his final season in Tennessee, but we wouldn’t rule out the Titans trying to get something for him before what looks like an inevitable parting of ways between the two sides next year.