After three disappointing seasons, the Tennesse Titans have finally cut cornerback Caleb Farley. A first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Virginia Tech product entered the league as a high-risk, high-reward prospect. While he earned First-Team All-ACC honors back in 2019, the cornerback had an extensive injury history, but the Titans decided to roll the dice on him staying healthy. That gamble didn’t pay off, as Farley appeared in just 12 games throughout his three-year career while making just two starts.
The Titans declined his fifth-year option earlier in the season and released him before he could make the roster. However, Caleb Farley could get another job even though the Titans just cut him. He was a first-round pick for a reason, and now he carries little to no risk. While he’s anything but a guarantee, teams with questionable cornerback depth could justify bringing him in to see if he still has anything left in his tank.
5 Teams That Could Claim Caleb Farley After Unceremonious Cut
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers came this close to signing Stephon Gilmore as a free agent. Unfortunately, the two sides couldn’t make the money work and the former Defensive Player of the Year eventually signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Carollina’s need for cornerbacks hasn’t changed, so they might as well roll the dice and sign the recently cut Caleb Farley. Seeing as they finished 2023 with the worst record in football, they have the top waiver claim and will land Farley if they want him. While injuries probably sapped what once made him special, he’s only 25 years old and 2024 could be his audition year for the rebuilding Panthers.
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City had the best cornerback duo in football last year, but they won’t be able to replicate that success in 2024. With L’Jarius Sneed now on the Titans, former fourth-round pick Joshua Williams will step up opposite superstar Trent McDuffie. The Fayetteville State product played well in small samples and should be ready for starting duties, but Kansas City could use more cornerback depth. Caleb Farley won’t have to start for the reigning Super Bowl champions, but he could cut out a role at the bottom of the roster. You can never have too many reliable cornerbacks, especially when you’re competing against the elite AFC quarterbacks.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are all-in on the 2024 season. After going 7-10 for three consecutive seasons, the team spent big on quarterback Kirk Cousins while adding key defensive pieces like Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons. What they didn’t do, however, is add another cornerback. The Falcons should win the NFC South with their current roster, but they’ll need a better secondary if they want to go on a deep playoff run. Caleb Farley likely won’t fix the unit, but it can’t hurt to kick the tires on the cut first-round pick.
New York Giants
The New York Giants made an active effort to improve their defense when they traded for Brian Burns a few months ago. While the former Panthers will improve the pass rush, the Giants must do something about their defensive backfield. New York’s secondary is a glaring weakness for a team that will likely need its defense to compensate for the subpar offense. Caleb Farley might not have cut it on the Titans, but he’s a decent low-risk, medium-reward investment for a team that must start showing signs of life.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens don’t need another cornerback, but that might not stop them from going after the recently cut Caleb Farley. Baltimore has one of the most talented rosters in football in large part because nobody is better at developing talent. Farley didn’t work out in Tennessee, but perhaps a more stable coaching group could bring out the best in the former first-round pick. With no pressure to start for this loaded roster, the Ravens have nothing to lose by giving it a shot.
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