Titans only looking for winners?
The Tennessee Titans have had a strange offseason and it is really hard to tell whether that is a good thing or a bad thing.
I have said for a while now that the Titans should have two goals this offseason and they seem to be taking one of them to heart.
While they are disregarding my plea to keep the offense intact as much as possible because it is what dragged them to the playoffs, they are committing themselves to making sure that the three new quarterbacks in the AFC South will struggle with their new teams.
As harsh as it sounds, one of the primary objectives facing the team right now is stopping Trevor Lawrence from becoming the next Peyton Manning, and the easiest way to do that comes from David Carr’s squashed development. Long story short, it is really hard to develop into a good quarterback when you are picking yourself up off the ground every other play.
Here is where it gets interesting though, the Titans front office might be focusing on a specific type of player.
Mike Herndon mentioned this the other day and it is still true:
This may not mean much at all — or anything for that matter — but every player the #Titans have signed so far in free agency was on a playoff team last year.
— Mike Herndon (@MikeHerndonNFL) March 18, 2021
Again, Mike IS NOT saying that this is a true filter, but it is definitely interesting to consider and the odds that this is a coincidence seem very low. Let’s make a leap of faith and say that the Titans do have a strong preference towards free agents coming from playoff teams.
If that is the case, then there are 10-12 free agents that Tennessee would have their eyes on right now.
Instant Starters
As it stands right now I think there are three free agents that would be instant starters with the Titans whether because of their talent and current level of play or how badly the Titans need certain positions.
1. T.Y. Hilton, WR
-I don’t think Hilton is anything close to what he used to be, but he did just put up nearly 800 yards on a team with the husk of Phil Rivers at quarterback. For the first time since his rookie year, Hilton could join an offense and know that he is the WR2 and not the focal point of the defense.
2. Ndamukong Suh, DL
-Suh and the Bucs are both interested in a reunion, but nothing is official right now and it looks like Suh’s camp is waiting to make sure there aren’t any better offers.
I don’t think Suh is among the best defensive linemen in the league anymore like he was a few years ago, but on the Bucs defensive line where he wasn’t the biggest threat, he thrived with 8.5 sacks, 16 TFLs, and 36 QB hits over the last two years. That is something worth pursuing and a defensive front with Harold Landry, Denico Autry, Jeffery Simmons, Ndamukong Suh, and Bud Dupree sounds like something straight out of The Avengers.
3. K.J. Wright, LB
-I actually don’t know how interested the Titans are in linebackers anymore, but all indications are that they are not sold on Rashaan Evans. But, they have re-signed Jayon Brown and maybe they are comfortable giving the starting jobs to whichever two of the top three linebackers stand out before the season starts.
Rotational fit and premium backups
4. Justin Houston, EDGE
-Probably my favorite player on this list, I have loved the idea of Justin Houston signing with the Titans since he was initially let go by the Kansas City Chiefs. Looking back on it, I was absolutely right because in the two years that he spent with the Indianapolis Colts he had 19 sacks, 21 TFLs, and 30 QB hits.
The Titans don’t technically need a starting EDGE, but getting an elite rotational piece like this who can pull 10+ sack seasons out of nowhere sure seems like a nice thing to have.
5. Olivier Vernon, EDGE
-It made sense to avoid Vernon early in free agency because his best seasons have come opposite great EDGEs like Jason Pierre-Paul and Myles Garrett. However, the Titans are different now and they have one of those guys in Bud Dupree, so with that in mind, he is worth taking a hard look at now.
6. Ricky Wagner, OT
-Like linebacker, I don’t know how interested the Titans are at filling offensive tackle right now. Taylor Lewan is anchoring the left side and it looks like there will be a healthy competition between Kendall Lamm, Ty Sambrailo, and David Quessenberry at right tackle.
However, Wagner is the type of player whose experience might give him an edge in a competition for right tackle, and a depressed OT market might push him to sign with a team like the Titans where he would thrive on a short deal.
7. Carlos Dunlap, EDGE
-Maybe the most consistent EDGE in recent history? I don’t know where Dunlap will end up, but I can almost guarantee that he is going to finish the season with something close to 8 sacks, 9 TFLs, and 20 QB hits.
Solid Depth
8. Josh Reynolds, WR
-The Titans have to come away with a wide receiver or two in free agency, and young, moderately productive and he is a good athlete. Definitely worth a shot if they can get a deal done.
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9. Ryan Kerrigan, EDGE
-His best days are obviously behind him, but Kerrigan is a sneaky Hall of Fame candidate and he was a dominant pass rusher for a decade. Despite having his role reduced in Washington to make way for younger EDGEs, Kerrigan still has something in the tank.
Even if the Titans didn’t use him any more frequently than Washington did last year, he had 5.5 sacks off the bench for two straight seasons and there is no reason to think that he wouldn’t be able to have similar contributions with this defensive line.
10. Mitchell Schwartz, OT
-On talent alone, Schwartz probably belongs in the top-tier of these rankings, but the problem is that he is a 32-year-old coming off of back surgery. I wouldn’t mind bringing him in to see what he can do, especially since the Titans have backup caliber tackles that could act as a safety net. Still, I don’t think you can count on him until you have seen him play a season after that surgery.
11. Trent Murphy, EDGE
-Murphy is a mixed bag because there is a chance that you will get the great version of him like we saw in 2016 and 2019, but that isn’t a given. Still, he has a decent floor and this defensive line/edge group could use a little more depth.
12. Sammy Watkins, WR
-Probably not a fit because he doesn’t have a great relationship with WR coach Rob Moore, but he has proven that he can be a mid-level WR2.