Tennessee Titans state of the roster heading into free agency

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After looking at the returning talent on the roster and the tendencies of this team, I think the Titans have 5 positions that they need to address. In order of importance:

1. EDGE

At the beginning of the 2020 season the EDGE depth chart for the Titans looked promising, but not like a dominant unit.

Harold Landry was a mainstay on the defense and at worst, he is a very good utility player who will do exactly what you ask him to do whether you want him to drop in coverage, rush the passer, stop the run, or even play off the ball.

Then you had the Vic Beasley and Derrick Roberson who were supposed to make up for cutting Cameron Wake. These two were supposed to be the designated pass rushers whose only job was to bring pressure on 3rd downs.

Kamalei Correa and Jadeveon Clowney were supposed to be the base down EDGEs and rotate with Harold Landry to keep everyone fresh.

Three of those guys will be on different teams after free agency and Roberson didn’t do enough to make a compelling case for a major role in 2021.

An EDGE who is expected to play 80% or more of the snaps needs to be added, and likely depth behind that as well.

2. Wide Reciever

The Titans shouldn’t let Corey Davis hit the open market. It would be a bad move and unlike when they let Jack Conklin walk, there is no clear replacement on the roster for him.

What makes it even worse is that the Titans (likely) wouldn’t get a 3rd round compensatory pick like they did for Conklin last year.

It isn’t every day that fans are ready to let one of the most efficient players in the NFL at his position walk, but Titans fans really don’t seem to understand how good Corey Davis has been over the last two years given the limitations of an offense that ran through Derrick Henry getting so many carries.

He shouldn’t be allowed to even think about free agency, but if he does leave then the Titans will likely have to replace him and Adam Humphries who is very likely to be a cap cut.

3. Defensive line

If the Titans add a bigger EDGE, let’s say someone listed at 6’5, nearly 290 lb., then this is only really a position that could be upgraded in the offseason, not a position of need because they would have a player who could fill the EDGE and the “other” defensive line role.

If they don’t add this mystery man (let’s just call him Justin James) then they will need to address the defensive line.

Jeffery Simmons is great and Teair Tart showed a lot last year, but the only other defensive lineman on the roster is Larrell Murchison who spent most of 2020 getting bullied by offensive linemen.

If you are going to run a front with three defensive linemen, then you need…well three defensive linemen, right?

4. Tight End

With Firkser still under contract, the Titans have their big slot/decent blocking tight end, but they don’t have someone that can dominate the point of attack. Whether they want that to be a very good starter like Jonnu Smith at his price point, remains to be seen.

Don’t forget, when Delanie Walker was going through his decline and eventual cut, Jonnu Smith was known as a receiver who couldn’t block. This staff believes they can create blockers out of big-bodied receiving-type tight end, and they have been right in the past.

Regardless of whether they want that stud TE1 or if they think they can make Firkser that guy, someone has to be added to the depth chart here.

5. Linebacker

So far in Jon Robinson’s tenure, he has spent a 1st round pick on Rashaan Evans, a 5th round pick on Jayon Brown, and a 6th round pick on David Long. You can argue that he has shown that he knows how to identify linebackers on Day 3, better than he has been able to in the 1st round.

Currently, the Titans defense only features two off-ball linebackers on most snaps, and when they do want to add a third player on the second level, they are comfortable with more Landry back or walking up a safety like Vaccaro.

If that is the plan, then the only need at linebacker is depth behind Rashaan Evans and David Long, though adding a difference-maker here would surely be welcome.