What does a successful Titans free agency look like?
By Brady Akins
The Titans are usually quiet during free agency, but there are a handful of moves, re-signings and stay-aways Tennessee can make to set this offseason up for success.
There are essentially two schools of thought NFL general managers share when assembling their rosters, either slowly build through the draft or shell out handfuls of cash for big-name free agents. Titans general manager Jon Robinson has been a ‘draft’ type guy in Tennessee, and it’s worked out.
The Titans roster that Robinson inherited in 2016 won three games the year prior, but over the years, he has been able to find gem after gem through the draft to help assemble the roster into what it is today. But, Robinson’s work hasn’t been done solely through the draft.
A certain faction of Tennessee fans will lament Robinson’s lack of ‘splashy’ free agency moves through the previous offseasons, but that doesn’t mean the general manager has sat on his hands watching the signings take place either.
Under Robinson’s watch, the Titans have brought in key pieces on both sides of the ball like Rodger Saffold on the offensive line and Malcolm Butler at cornerback, while being able to lock-up draft players like Taylor Lewan and Kevin Byard to long term deals.
So Robinson and the Titans have had their fair share of successes in free agency during the GM’s tenure, with this years period starting out on the right foot by resigning quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a four-year deal without breaking the bank (relatively speaking for a quarterback, Tannehill still got PAID).
What else does Robinson need to do during the 2020 free agency period to make it a success? What moves should he be trying to make? And which ones should he avoid? There are a handful of players he should be trying to resign and bring in, so let’s look at all of them, starting with an easy one.