Tennessee Titans: 3 underrated additions they can make this offseason
While the big names in free agency take the headlines, the Tennessee Titans could do good business with these three players.
With free agency in full swing and the official start day nearing, players are already being linked to teams. While most of the focus is on the high-profile names like Allen Robinson, Sammy Watkins and Dion Lewis, Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson has shown in the past that he’s all about bargains.
Here are three available players that not many people are talking about, but could make for serious values for this year and beyond.
Pernell McPhee, DE/OLB
McPhee makes a lot of sense for a number of reasons. If you listened to our most recent podcast, you know that I outlined why McPhee to the Titans seems like a likelihood. McPhee played for current Titans DC Dean Pees when the two were in Baltimore. Pees was the linebackers coach in 2011 when McPhee got drafted, so the two spent the whole season face-to-face. Pees was then promoted to defensive coordinator and directed McPhee until the latter left in 2015.
McPhee racked up 17.0 sacks, 24.0 tackles for loss and forced three fumbles during his four years with Pees in Baltimore. The connection is obviously there, and McPhee is versatile in that he can play with his hand in the dirt or standing up, either inside or outside. Coming off a season-ending shoulder injury and soon turning 30, McPhee will not be heavily recruited in free agency and could make for a fantastic rotational piece in the front seven.
Nickell Robey-Coleman, CB
Robey-Coleman was also a free agent last season, and he was a player that could’ve been a very nice addition for a struggling Titans secondary. It was no surprise that Robey-Coleman caught the attention of Jon Robinson, as it was reported that the Titans were interested in his services. The Titans chose to sign Logan Ryan and draft Adoree’ Jackson, and Robey-Coleman ended up taking a 1-year, $855,000 contract with the Los Angeles Rams. He played in 15 games for the NFC West champions last season, picking off two passes, forcing a fumble and making a career-high 49 tackles as one of the better slot corners in the NFL.
Tennessee Titans
At a diminutive 5-7, 169, Robey-Coleman has been incredibly undervalued for the past two seasons. His ability to play sticky coverage and constantly make plays on the ball in the middle of the field is an indispensable asset in today’s NFL, but teams see his size and believe he’ll get destroyed by bigger receivers; yet that hasn’t happened at all over the last few years. Signing Robey-Coleman would leave Ryan and Jackson as the Titans’ two main outside cornerbacks, and buy the Titans some time to develop LeShaun Sims and Tye Smith, or a rookie cornerback.
Cameron Meredith, WR
Another Chicago Bear? Surely, you can’t be serious! Meredith is coming off a lost season, having torn his ACL and partially his MCL in the Chicago Bears’ preseason game against the Titans last August. In 2016, his second NFL season, Meredith broke out to the tune of 888 yards and four touchdowns on 66 catches. His 13.5 yards per reception were particularly impressive because his quarterback was a combined triumvirate of Jay Cutler, Matt Barkley and Brian Hoyer.
At 6-3, 207 with a great catch radius and with his best football still ahead of him at just 25 years old (spent his first two years in college as a quarterback before switching to receiver), Meredith would be a very under the radar signing by Jon Robinson if he can make it happen. Meredith is a restricted free agent, but the Bears tendered him at his original round. Since he was an undrafted free agent out of college, the Bears would receive no draft compensation if Meredith were to sign an offer sheet from another team and the Bears declined. The Bears will likely match, but their tender decision suggests another team could outbid them.