Titans plans for free agency and the draft drastically changed in 24 hours
By Will Lomas
![Tennessee Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass intended for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) during third quarter action. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Tennessee Titans Sunday, December 13, 2020, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars trailed at the half 17 to 3. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Ftitansized-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F15529785-d4ee9e79aff009c0424433d93e7a7d02a5e66d021083b771f21c9da8858b79bd.jpg "Tennessee Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass intended for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) during third quarter action. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Tennessee Titans Sunday, December 13, 2020, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars trailed at the half 17 to 3. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]")
Why these three moves mattered to their positions
Isaiah Wilson’s trade really doesn’t do much to the Titans depth chart. David Quessenberry and Ty Sambrailo were already getting snaps ahead of him in the games that Taylor Lewan missed with injuries, and even going back to training camp the question was whether he was the OT4 or OT5.
The Titans have plenty of bodies on the roster to replace him with immediately, but this could make them interested in a developmental tackle in the draft.
Malcolm Butler’s release indicates that the Titans are confident that Adoree Jackson is on a path to full recovery and that they think he still has the potential to be a long-term answer at the position.
It also should read as a vote of confidence for Kristian Fulton who is now going to be able to slide outside to his natural alignment on the boundary.
Finally, Kenny Vaccaro was a thumper who had the flexibility to play a little bit in the slot, a little in the deep half/third, and a little in the box. I think that Amani Hooker is going to replace what he did as a true safety and in the slot, while David Long might be asked to do more in coverage to replace what Vaccaro brought when he lined up in the box.
I don’t think Tennessee desperately needs to go out and find players who can fill these positions immediately because they have solid in-house candidates, however those positions do become question marks that force you to consider the option that a player could be signed or drafted to fill the holes they leave behind.