Best EDGE rushers for Tennessee Titans in free agency besides Jadeveon Clowney
By Ravi Konjeti
After Clowney, the Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen is the next best available pass rusher on the market. Griffen had a productive season with the Vikings with eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Griffen made his fourth Pro Bowl roster after entering the league in 2010.
After spending his entire career in Minnesota thus far, he is looking to get a bigger contract. The cap-strapped Vikings would like to keep one of the most devastating defensive lines intact but cannot afford to keep Griffen. However at the age of 32, Griffen is looking at the latter half of his career.
General Manager Jon Robinson has historically taken flyers at veteran rushers. He brought in Brian Orakpo and Cameron Wake late in their careers. While Orakpo was a successful signing, Wake’s injuries cut his impact short. Griffen seems like the ideal candidate to anchor the team opposite second-year Jeffery Simmons.
One drawback is Griffen’s off field incidents. For a team that has stayed away from any locker room distractions, Griffen would be a departure from that line of thinking. Griffen was banned from joining the team in September 2018 until he went through a mental health evaluation. A couple of days later, Griffen allegedly threatened to shoot someone at a hotel.
Despite the concerns, Griffen is worth the risk. He has shown good composure since his incidents. Griffen’s market will get bigger once Clowney agrees to a deal. If the Titans want to keep their options open, they need to go after him quickly.