Titans agree to terms with Texans P Tommy Townsend

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans capped the second day of the NFL’s legal tampering period by fortifying their kicking game, agreeing to terms with veteran punter Tommy Townsend on a two-year deal that can reach $6 million, the team confirmed.

Townsend, 27, arrives after two seasons in Houston where he ranked among the league’s busiest specialists. In 2023 he placed fifth in total punts (72), fifth in punts inside the 20 (30), and unleashed a career-long 73-yard boot that ranked fifth in the NFL. The left-footed punter gives coordinator John Fassel a proven directional kicker to pair with kicker Nick Folk and long-snapper Morgan Cox.

An undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2020, Townsend won the Kansas City job as a rookie and was recognized on the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team. He spent four seasons with the Chiefs, overlapping with current Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi, before joining the Texans in 2022. Over 96 career games he has averaged 46.2 yards per punt with a 41.8-yard net.

Townsend becomes the 12th player to reach an agreement with Tennessee since the negotiation window opened Monday, continuing an aggressive early push in free agency. Terms of his contract include $3.75 million in guarantees, per source, positioning him among the top-10 highest-paid punters in average annual value.

Tennessee finished 2023 ranked 28th in gross punting average and 31st in net, prompting the front office to prioritize the position. With Townsend in place, the Titans now turn their attention to the remainder of the market with more than $50 million in salary-cap space still available.