Even with his contract situation up in the air, Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan reported to training camp with the rest of his teammates on Thursday.
Perhaps he knew a resolution was right around the corner.
The team announced Friday that it has locked up Lewan, whose contract was set to expire after the 2018 campaign, to a long-term deal.
#Titans officially sign @TaylorLewan77 to contract extension. pic.twitter.com/wnjsND0Cve
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) July 27, 2018
Lewan’s deal makes NFL history
The team did not disclose the details of the contract, but multiple outlets were quick to report that Lewan agreed to a five-year, $80 million extension that includes a whopping $50 million in guaranteed money.
At $16 million per year, the 27-year-old Lewan becomes the highest paid lineman in NFL history, an honor previously held by Nate Solder, who signed a four-year, $62 million deal ($15.5 million per year) with the New York Giants in March.
Before the new deal was agreed to, Lewan was set to play the 2018 season on his fifth-year option at $9.3 million. He previously did not report to the team’s mandatory minicamp in June due to his contract situation.
Lewan has been a steady presence for the Titans
Since the team selected him No. 11 overall in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft, Lewan has been a reliable presence on the offensive line. In four seasons, the Michigan product has made 53 starts, including 47 straight over the last three years.
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