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Is Bill Barnwell right on his Tennessee Titans offseason moves?

By Will Lomas

Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (88) against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins (32) during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (88) against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins (32) during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bill Barnwell goes 3 for 5 in his latest ESPN piece on the Tennessee Titans.

Should this offseason be one where the Tennessee Titans go out and sign a big free agent from a Super Bowl team? Are they going to invest in the defensive line? Find out what I agree with and don’t agree with on Bill Barnwell’s story analyzing what the Titans should do this offseason.

If you aren’t familiar with Bill Barnwell, go look at the story I am referencing right now on ESPN.

Though some may scorn Barnwell for his offseason analysis of the AFC South last year (and yes it was a pretty rough piece) he still is a very knowledgeable writer who knows a lot about the NFL including the Tennessee Titans.

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Again, go read the story because I am only going to reference small portions of the analysis from each point.

1. Pick up Taylor Lewan’s option. Correct.

I think this one is a no brainer. Lewan is just going to be 26 years old at the start of the next season, the Tennessee Titans should lock him down to a huge deal this year.

2. Go after a cornerback. Correct.

Yes, this sort of has to be a priority in all phases of the offseason for the Tennessee Titans. Get a good cornerback in free agency and then hit the position again in the draft if you aren’t sold on LeShaun Sims being a solid starter.

Barnwell says:

“The biggest weakness the Titans exhibited during their surprising 2016 campaign came at corner, where Perrish Cox was one of the worst regulars in football before being released at midseason.”

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    • 3. Sign Martellus Bennett. Wrong.

    I should preface this by saying that Bennett is one of my favorite tight ends to watch on a year to year basis. However, how is he not going to get TE1 money in this free agency class?

    Honestly, to pay for him the Tennessee Titans would have to make him a huge offer while threatening to make their starting tight end angry/jealous/upset/etc. that he is doing all the dirty work without getting the big pay check.

    Bennett should go to the LA Rams and be a young QBs best fried. If not there, go to Green Bay and be Jared Cook times a million.

    4. Use a one first round pick to add a defensive lineman. Wrong.

    I want to start by posting this quote from Barnwell. I have not read anything that supports this, but if this is information he is getting from people in the league it is VERY interesting:

    “Robinson will have plenty of flexibility on what to do with the fifth pick. He could plausibly opt for secondary help at that spot, but it seems more likely he’ll opt to upgrade a defensive line that overachieved a bit in 2016.”

    I think Robinson is set to take the best football player on the board there, and maybe Barnwell is suggesting that Jonathan Allen is the guy they take there. While he is high on everyone’s draft board (including mine) I think that is too rich.

    Take a guy at a premium position like Marshon Lattimore or someone like Malik Hooker or Jamal Adams who are some of the best prospects at their positions in nearly a decade. I like Allen, but is he that much better than Leonard Williams or DeForest Buckner in the past two years.

    5. Add a guard to compete for a starting job.

    Unless they really like Sebastian Tretola, guard is an area the Tennessee Titans need to attack with some urgency this offseason. I am not saying go out and get Kevin Zeitler (but I am saying that, do it) but they need a mid level guy who hasn’t had a real chance yet or a sleeper.

    If they can’t find that guy like they did with Ben Jones last year, then in the fourth round of the draft they need to have a short list of players with a lot of upside and the right demeanor.

    If none of those guys are higher rated that Sebastian Tretola, then pass on them. However, if there are some talented guys that fall, go after them in the hopes that they compete with Kline this year and that you aren’t forced to re-sign him in 2018 if you don’t want to.

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