The Titans did not tender Jack Gibbens as a restricted free agent last week, passing on the $3MM-plus number despite the young linebacker working as a multiyear starter for the team. Gibbens has found a landing spot.
Mike Vrabel is bringing his former charge to New England. Gibbens agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Vrabel coached Gibbens from 2022-23. Gibbens, 26, will join former Tennessee teammate Harold Landry in following Vrabel to Foxborough.
[RELATED: Raiders Give Pats’ Christian Elliss Offer Sheet]
Under Vrabel in 2023, the Titans turned to Gibbens as an ILB regular. The former UDFA made 13 starts, working as Azeez Al-Shaair‘s primary sidekick. The Titans have made more changes at this position since, letting Al-Shaair rejoin DeMeco Ryans in Houston and then trading 2024 signee Kenneth Murray to the Cowboys. Shortly after adding Cody Barton during the legal tampering period, the Titans passed on giving Gibbens a $3.26MM RFA tender.
Working his way into a 66% snap share defensively in 2023, Gibbens made 95 tackles and registered a sack. Pro Football Focus viewed his initial emergence fairly well, ranking him 30th among ILB regulars that season. PFF graded Gibbens as a top-10 ILB last season, but the Titans did not give him enough snaps to qualify as a regular. Gibbens lost his starting job after Week 1, and while he regained it and logged three straight games with a 100% snap rate, an ankle injury ended his season after 10 games. Gibbens made 29 tackles during his final two starts last season, reminding of the form that caught Vrabel’s attention a year earlier.
The Patriots suddenly have a crowded ILB contingent. Holdovers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai remain, while the team paid up (three years, $33MM) to pry Robert Spillane from the Raiders. New England used the low-end tender ($3.26MM) to retain RFA Christian Elliss, though the Raiders’ offer sheet changes that equation. Fellow ex-Titan Monty Rice is also among New England’s LB corps. Gibbens could see a bigger role if the Patriots do not opt to match the Raiders’ Elliss offer sheet.