The Tennessee Titans are hedging in the right direction after making their first trip to the playoffs in eight years that has pushed forward much optimism around the organization.

The front office has decided to award one of their core pieces to the offense in Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker with a two-year extension worth $17 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Walker was set to enter the final year of his two-year deal where he was going to earn $5.4 million in the 2018 campaign as the new deal gives him both a pay increase along with securing him under a contract for the next three years. Since joining the Titans, he has been a huge source of reliability in the passing game as a consistent threat in the red zone and playmaker as the security blanket receiving option.

In his first five years with the Titans, he has notched at least 60 catches in each campaign while topping 800 receiving yards in the last four seasons, which are the most for a tight end in franchise history. He has also led his position in reception (356) over that span. He is coming off a campaign where he led the team with both 74 catches and 807 receiving yards with three touchdowns this past season. This also included surpassing 5,000 career receiving yards. For all 12th year players in the league, he led in receptions, receiving yards, first down catches (43), and receiving yards per game (50.4).

Walker has shown to be an all-around talent that has been a major factor as both a receiver and effective blocker that has made him a critical piece to the puzzle. With him in place for the next few seasons, it keeps a key part in the passing game for quarterback Marcus Mariota that should help them continue to push forward in building something special in Tennessee.