The Tennessee Titans hit the jackpot when they signed Ben Jones away from division rival Houston in 2016 and he’s someone they’ve come to lean on tremendously during his five years with the organization.
Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report listed Jones as the player the Titans can least afford to lose after this season and had this to say:
"Tennessee Titans center Ben Jones is simply a rock, which is pretty critical when you’re blocking for the league’s most productive running back and an established franchise quarterback. So while he’s no spring chicken at 32, the Titans have to make sure he sticks around beyond his 2021 contract year.The 2012 fourth-round pick was PFF’s second-highest-graded center in 2019 before allowing zero sacks in another solid campaign in 2020. He’s missed just one start the last seven years, and it’s a crime he’s never been a Pro Bowler or All-Pro."
Finding a solid center is crucial for teams because they serve as the anchor for the offensive line. Jones has been just that for the Titans and, as Gagnon mentions, is a durable player as well, missing just one game since he signed with Tennessee half a decade ago.
The Tennessee Titans need to do what they can to keep Ben Jones on their roster.
Having a solid offensive line is important for every team but for the Titans, who rely heavily on Derrick Henry and the run game, it’s the difference between a winning season and a losing season. Jones gives them stability in the middle of the o-line and he’s proven worthy of the deal they signed him to five years ago.
If this is the final year for Jones in Tennessee, it’ll be a tough pill to swallow for the Titans. Jones might not have made it to a Pro Bowl or been named All-Pro during his career but the Titans know what he’s capable of and they know that losing him would be a tremendous blow to the offensive line.
Jones is an underrated player in the league and the fact that he didn’t allow a single sack last year, as Gagnon noted in his write-up, is a testament to that. Hopefully, the Titans can strike a deal with their center and make sure he’s in a Titans uniform past the 2021 season.