ESPN suggests a Tennessee Titans reunion in free agency

The Tennessee Titans have been very economical in free agency, in every sense of the word.

In terms of cap space, Ran Carthon’s first offseason has been built around signing players to deals with low cap hits in 2023 and with easy outs if the Titans decide they want a different player.

He has also been economical because they…haven’t been particularly active.

Not that there is anything wrong with passing on the big-name players and using free agency as a way to apply Band-Aids to situations, but the Tennessee Titans have really only solved three needs in free agency.

Daniel Brunskill solves the need for a right guard to replace Nate Davis, and Andre Dillard solves the need for a left tackle (potentially left guard depending on the draft).

Azeez Al-Shaair helps replace the David Long Jr./Zach Cunningham hole in the middle of the defense.

I’m not including Arden Key because I don’t know exactly what his role will be in 2023. I expect him to be in the rotation opposite Harold Landry, but how the reps are distributed between him, Denico Autry, and Rashad Weaver is still up in the air.

Heading into free agency the Tennessee Titans need to identify starters at LG, TE2, and WR2.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggested that Ran Carthon solve the Tennessee Titans offensive line issues by signing one of the remaining free agents.

Does a reunion make sense for the Tennessee Titans?

Here is what Barnwell had to say about potential additions to the Tennessee Titans offensive line:

"“Even if the Titans do use a first-round pick on a lineman, though, they could still stand to add more depth up front. Former Seahawks lineman Jamarco Jones is on the roster after missing all of 2022 with an elbow injury, but at least one more veteran lineman on the interior would make sense. Saffold is a free agent after his lone season with the Bills, as are veterans Trai Turner and Matt Feiler.”"

I’m not overly interested in Trai Turner, but Matt Feiler and Rodger Saffold are interesting options.

Feiler has started at right tackle and left guard in the NFL, so he has enough position versatility to stay active on game days even if he isn’t a starter.

While Saffold is pretty much a left guard only, he would make some sense as a free agent addition. Similarly to when the Tennessee Titans signed him the first time, if the team is trying to lean more heavily on the ZBS (the only thing that has worked for the Titans in the last decade) he can be a crucial addition.

Even though Jason Houghtaling has had some experience teaching the ZBS, he is a young coach with minimal experience. Having Saffold there to coach up Andre Dillard (and potentially a rookie center) play in and play out, could help this group develop quickly.

By the way, if you were worried about him being injured, don’t be. Like most other players who leave the Tennessee Titans, he was healthy once he wasn’t in Nashville…

One other lineman who could help is Dalton Risner.

Risner was drafted by the Denver Broncos and played left guard for them for four years before being allowed to hit free agency. Before he was the starting guard for Denver, he started right tackle and center for Kansas State.

Adding Risner would give the Tennessee Titans depth at all three positions and he could be very similar to Daniel Brunskill as a veteran free agent who can come in and be a solid starter or a high-level backup.