Tennessee Titans sign RB Michael Carter

Michael Carter's one-year, $1.215M signing earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) — a neutral evaluation that reflects the modest investment profile of a depth-piece acquisition during the offseason. For context, Carter is being brought in at a pure reserve cost, well below league-minimum thresholds for featured backs, which correctly prices the transaction as organizational insurance rather than a projected workhorse role. The $1.215M total commitment on a one-year deal carries minimal risk: the Titans are paying veteran depth rates with no long-term cap entanglement or dead-money exposure, making this the kind of low-stakes rostering move that exists to fill the back of a depth chart. The value equation hinges entirely on what Carter produces in a limited role — if he proves serviceable in short-yardage or as a change-of-pace option, the club has pulled an effective contributor at bargain rates; if he remains a marginal contributor, the sunk cost is negligible. Given Tennessee's 3-14 record and clear roster overhaul trajectory heading into 2026, this transaction slots into a broader "build without gambling" approach: the Titans are adding veteran floor without leveraging future assets or cap flexibility on speculative talent.