Cam Riley

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Tennessee Titans secured solid value in retaining linebacker Cam Riley on a modest 2-year, $1.9M deal ($950K AAV), earning a C+ CVI that reflects a fair market transaction for depth linebacker production. At under $1M annually, this contract sits squarely in the replacement-level to rotational player salary range, making it a low-risk investment for a team that clearly values Riley's special teams contributions and linebacker depth. The two-year structure provides the Titans with cost certainty while giving Riley a chance to prove he deserves a more substantial role, though the modest total guarantees suggest Tennessee views him as organizational depth rather than a future starter. Riley's bargain-basement salary means even marginal linebacker production creates positive value, and the Titans can easily move on after 2025 if he fails to develop. This represents smart roster building — the kind of low-cost, low-risk signing that allows teams to allocate bigger money elsewhere while maintaining adequate depth at a critical position.

Performance Analysis

Cam Riley enters the NFL as a raw but intriguing linebacker prospect for the Tennessee Titans, earning a D+ grade through his early rookie exposure. For a first-year defender still learning the speed of the professional game, the early returns are modest but not alarming. Most rookie linebackers struggle to contribute immediately, and Riley fits that historical mold. His 3.00 tackles per game trails the NFL average of 3.80, reflecting the learning curve expected from an inexperienced defender still processing complex offensive schemes. His TFL rate of 0.33 per game sits just below the league average of 0.40, suggesting he has instincts worth developing but lacks the burst and recognition to consistently beat blocks in the backfield. The gap between his current production and elite benchmarks — 7.69 tackles and 0.70 TFLs per game — underscores how much projection remains baked into his value right now. Riley's trajectory will depend heavily on offseason development, coaching investment, and whether Tennessee sees him as a core piece or a depth rotational option. Watch for improvements in block-shedding technique and pre-snap recognition, two areas where young linebackers typically show the sharpest gains between Year 1 and Year 2. If he closes even half the gap to league-average production, comparisons to developmental success stories like Zach Cunningham early in his career become reasonable conversation.

Current Sentiment

Cam Riley enters the 2026 offseason in a precarious position after the Tennessee Titans released him in the immediate aftermath of the 2026 NFL Draft, a move widely characterized by media outlets as both ruthless and necessary. As an undrafted or minimally tenured linebacker on a minimum-value contract with no accolades to his name, Riley carried little roster security heading into the draft period, and the team wasted no time acting on that reality. All available media coverage converges on the same narrative — Riley was among six players waived to create space for incoming undrafted free agents, suggesting he was viewed as a depth piece rather than a core contributor. Fan perception, to the extent it exists, is largely indifferent, as Riley had not yet established a meaningful on-field identity with the franchise or generated a notable highlight reel to build a following. His path back to an NFL roster will require either a strong showing in a future training camp invitation or a significant positional need emerging on a rebuilding squad willing to take a developmental flier.