The Tennessee Titans defense had already reversed its fortunes and reputation by the time the team hit its bye in Week 13 of the 2021 NFL season. One of the league’s worst and most frustrating units in 2020 had reemerged as a game-winning force for the eventual AFC South champions, particularly useful after Derrick Henry was injured. So when divisional rivals Houston waived former Vanderbilt star linebacker Zach Cunningham, sure, he seemed like he’d be a nice addition. (Why the Texans waived one of the league’s most consistent inside linebackers and a guy averaging more than eight tackles a game is an unanswerable question, just like most every decision the Texans have made over the past few years.) It just didn’t seem plausible he’d fall all the way down the waiver ladder to Tennessee. And yet, Cunningham went on to be an extremely useful contributor on an already stout front seven for Tennessee and earned himself a new contract with the team. Houston, by the way, is projected to finish last in the division again.
Best Waiver Claim
