4. Filling up the holes on the roster
Giving Clowney a big contract shuts down the ability to add mid-tier free agents for the team. The Titans are finally in the limelight after a decade of obscurity.
They have the ability to garner the attention of key players to join the team. While that is useful in attracting the attention of players like Clowney, the team might be best suited to spend the cap space on mid-tier free agents.
Right now, the Titans need to add another cornerback, a starting right tackle, and depth on the defensive front. While the 2020 NFL Draft can help solve one of those positions, the team will be reliant on free agent adds to fill the roster.
After trading away long-time veteran Jurrell Casey, the Titans are now lacking depth on the interior of the defensive line. A player like defensive lineman Derek Wolfe might be the perfect player to add. Wolfe has been with the Broncos since 2012 and a key contributor to their devastating defenses that lead them to a Super Bowl ring.
Another player the Titans can consider is cornerback Prince Amukamara. Amukamara spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Bears. The Bears had one of the best defenses the past two seasons with Amukamara in the secondary.
The Titans can eye ex-Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, who is most notoriously known for the missed pass interference call in the NFC Championship game two seasons ago. Robey-Coleman is a great role player that can help the Titans in the slot.
Theoretically the Titans have the ability to divvy up the Clowney money and can actually expect to sign all three players above. If the Titans move away from Clowney, they can fill these roles while using the draft picks to add much needed depth.
While landing Clowney will be a huge addition to the roster, not all is lost for the Titans if they don’t land him. In whichever scenario, the Titans front office has shown poise and credibility the last few seasons to make the most of their situation.