Defining the Tennessee Titans 3 biggest needs on defense
By Will Lomas
1. EDGE
How could it be anything other than EDGE at this point given what we have seen from all the Tennessee Titans EDGEs over the last two years whose initials aren’t H.L.?
Opposite Landry the Titans need someone who can anchor vs the run as well as get to the quarterback. If I had to pick, I would potentially take an elite run defender with average pass rush production over a good pass rusher who couldn’t stop the run.
That may be surprising, but at this point the Titans should go into the 2020 season with two players well equipped to coming in as pass rush specialists even if they can’t be in on rush downs. Former rookies D’Andre Walker and Derick Roberson look like players with all the tools and tape to suggest success in those roles.
Free agency is actually pretty loaded with EDGEs who could come in and play for the Titans immediately in that role if that is the way they want to go.
While I believe that the preference will be to go after a top EDGE in the draft, the fact is that there are probably two or three EDGEs deserving of a true first round grade. In a class full of some pretty impressive talent I would rather see Jon Robinson and the Titans take the top player on their board and figure out a position like EDGE in free agency.
Potential players to watch: Jadeveon Clowney (Seattle Seahawks), A.J. Epenesa (Iowa), Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State), Curtis Weaver (Boise State), Kyle Van Noy (New England Patriots), Jason Pierre-Paul (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Arik Armstead (San Francisco), Bud Dupree (Pittsburgh Steelers), Matthew Judon (Baltimore Ravens), Yannick Ngakoue (Jacksonville Jaguars).