Jadeveon Clowney is just one of a few free agent fits that make sense for the Tennessee Titans.
Yesterday, ESPN came out with an article describing free agents left on the board and which situation makes the most sense for them, a group that was obviously headlined by Jadeveon Clowney.
If you don’t know, Jadeveon Clowney is a free agent player that is having one of the most confusing free agency periods in NFL history.
I joke because there is no way you follow the Tennessee Titans and haven’t seen at least some of the Jadeveon Clowney/Titans saga.
Anyway, when I clicked on the link to see if there were any nuggets of information in there, I came away more interested in what happened throughout the rest of the list.
The Titans came away linked to nearly one third of the top free agents left according to that list.
One of them was Prince Amukamara, but he has already signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, so just to give you an idea of what the format of this article will be, you can check that out below:
Prince Amukamara, CB
Other teams considered: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams
What they said:
"Yates: Titans. There has been some chatter about Adoree’ Jackson moving into a slot role for the Titans, which would open up snaps on the perimeter. While second-rounder Kristian Fulton should see immediate time, Amukamara is a steady veteran who would help too."
So, now that we know what we are looking at, which other free agents make sense for the Titans on this board?
Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE
Other teams considered: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets
What they said:
"Yates: Titans. Sometimes when there is smoke, there’s fire. Tennessee has publicly acknowledged that it has communicated with Clowney, who would reunite with Mike Vrabel (from their Texans days) and provide a boost to their edge play."
I figured that we would start with the elephant in the room in Jadeveon Clowney.
By far the most likely player on this list to be with the Tennessee Titans at the start of the season, Clowney is also likely the most expensive player on this list.
With recent rumors suggesting (probably incorrectly) that someone like the Philadelphia Eagles or New York Jets have come in and agreed to pay him near what he originally demanded ($20 million per year) it seems like he might price himself out of the Titans market.
Still, there is a better chance that cooler heads prevail and that Clowney realizes that the best decision for him from a tax standpoint this season and from a chance to really thrive and earn a healthy contract in 2021, is to come to Tennessee and play with former teammates and coaches.
Damon “Snacks” Harrison, DT
Other teams considered: Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers
What they said:
"Bowen: Titans. Harrison isn’t going to give the Titans production on passing downs. As a run defender in early-down and distance situations, though, Harrison can eat up blockers and create disruption versus the running game."
I think Harrison is a perfect fit for what the Tennessee Titans actually need at defensive tackle.
Jeffery Simmons is perfectly capable of being the 3-tech on the starting defensive line which he showed when the Titans asked him to do just that last year. People forget just how effective he was, and it is pretty clear to me that Simmons was the best defensive lineman on the Titans roster in 2019.
Beside him, you have Daquan Jones who can also anchor vs the run, but who probably fits better as a moving piece that can do a little bit of both pass rushing and run-stuffing, like Simmons.
However, I think that they need two specialists behind those two starters. One should be a pass rusher and they have a good option there with Isaiah Mack who did very well in limited duty last season.
What they don’t have is a jumbo, nose tackle type that could come in and hold down the A-gap if they wanted to let Jones and Simmons wreck opposing guards or tackles.
Harrison could be that player and it wouldn’t require him to be on the field for too many snaps, meaning that they get the best out of him in his limited but important role.
Mike Daniels, DT
Other teams considered: Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers
What they said:
"Fowler: Titans. Tennessee might strike out on the top pass-rushers but could get a boost in Daniels, who has Pro Bowl pedigree, can apply quarterback pressure and has experience in a 3-4 scheme."
While I think Harrison is a better fit for what the Titans actually need, if you are trying to add as many pass rushers as you can to a roster then it makes sense to add Daniels.
Despite playing in defenses where he was rarely allowed to pin his ears back, Daniels has shown that he is a disruptive force in a 3-4 defense.
If the Titans believe that they have their 4-3 starters at DT, but want someone with experience and talent to slide into that line up on 3-4 looks, then adding Daniels and rotating Simmons and Jones beside him is a smart strategy.
Plus, if they think that Larrell Murchison is eventually going to take that “3rd defensive lineman” role down the line, then it would be fun symmetry to see a former Day 3 pick turned Pro Bowler teach another Day 3 pick how to be a Pro Bowler.
Eli Apple, CB
Other teams considered: New York Jets, Houston Texans
What they said:
"Bowen: Titans. Yes, the Titans just drafted LSU’s Kristian Fulton in the second round. But you can never have enough defensive backs with coverage traits. And a one-year deal here for Apple gives the Titans more flexibility to play matchups in sub-package sets."
I don’t know what to say about this one because a year ago I would have said that this is wasted money. However, we are a year removed from seeing the Titans turn to free-agent cornerbacks at crucial moments.
That has made me think that maybe adding another body in the mix isn’t a terrible idea.
Apple is just 25 years old and if Mike Vrabel reached out to Kerry Coombs (his former coach) and got a good report, then you could do worse than adding him to the depth chart.
That would give the Titans:
Starters: Malcolm Butler, Adoree Jackson, Kristian Fulton
Next men up: Jonathan Joseph, Eli Apple, Tye Smith
Special teams/developmental players: Chris Jackson, Chris Milton, Kenneth Durden
That is a LOT of depth, and at this time of year that is a good thing.