"Tight end Craig Stevens signed a contract extension with the Tennessee Titans on Friday, the team announced.

The deal, which according to multiple reports is for four years, was struck roughly six weeks before Stevens, a third-round pick in 2008, was to become a free agent.

"Craig is one of our young core guys for us," general manager Mike Reinfeldt said. "We will continue to see him improve into one of the better combo tight ends in the league.""