The Tennessee Titans have insisted that they plan to build this roster through the draft, and their moves in free agency back up those claims.
The only long-term solution that the team invested in was left tackle Dan Moore, and the Titans overspent there in the hopes of fixing two tackle issues with one signing. Since then, Mike Borgonzi has shifted to signing cheap, band-aid players at positions of need, adding veteran contributors like safety Xavier Woods, and EDGE Dre'Mont Jones.
While the Titans are being patient with their roster-building process, some of their biggest holes have gone unaddressed.
Based on the inactivity at the quarterback position, the working theory is that the Titans are going to take Cam Ward with the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. If that is how they are going to address the quarterback position, then that rules out the option of trading down.
That decision would leave them with just one remaining top-100 pick. If that's the path forward, the Titans need to start adding bodies to other positions of need. With that in mind, these are the five short-term fixes the team should target during the next wave of free agency.
1. Amari Cooper, WR
Wide receiver is going to be a recurring theme on this list. Calvin Ridley is the only Titans receiver that would start for any other team in the NFL, and if you are going to draft a rookie quarterback, you need to help him out. Cooper isn't a top-end receiver anymore, and after failing to make an impact with the Buffalo Bills in their postseason run, he is probably looking to take the best deal on the table as he rehabs his image.
2. Jedrick Wills, OT
Jerick Wills is young, has experience playing right and left tackle, and has a history with Bill Callahan. He could be the perfect swing tackle for the Titans, and signing him would give them depth at a position where they have been paper-thin for years.
3. Elijah Moore, WR
Moore has had a tough go of it in the NFL. His first two years were with the New York Jets before he was traded to the Cleveland Browns. That is about as unlucky as you can get as a receiver, and he seems like a player who could turn things around with a change of scenery. Moore is a slot receiver, which differentiates him from the other receivers on this list, and he could potentially be the next Tyler Boyd in Brian Callahan's offense.
4. Brandin Cooks, WR
You aren't going to find many receivers with big-play ability at this point in free agency, but Cooks has made a career out of producing big plays. When you analyze his production, you can see evidence of Cooks' professionalism, because he has had 1,000-yard seasons with four different teams. That is the type of veteran signing that you want because even if he doesn't match that production, you know he has a plan in place to find a role in the offense, and he knows how to quickly build chemistry with his teammates.
5. Za'Darius Smith, EDGE
The Dre'Mont Jones signing was fine, but perhaps a tad overhyped. Jones is closer to Sebastian Joseph-Day than he is to Denico Autry, and the Titans still lack anything resembling an above-average pass rusher at EDGE. Smith has made a career out of harassing quarterbacks and the offensive lines in the AFC South are all worse than they were at this point a year ago (except for the Titans), so you might be able to entice him to sign on for a season where he could make some good money and put up some big numbers.