The Tennessee Titans will be near or at the top of the NFL in cap space once free agency kicks off in early March.
While general manager Mike Borgonzi has preached being conservative in free agency, there are always opportunities worth pursuing to improve the team. Instead of being frugal, the Titans should identify scheme and personality fits, using their cap space as a weapon to make sure that they land those handfuls of players that check Borgonzi's boxes.
Cornerback and EDGE are the Titans' two biggest needs heading into the offseason. Not only are those premium positions, but they need multiple starting-caliber players at those positions.
PFF: Titans should pursue Ravens EDGE Odafe Oweh in NFL free agency
If the Titans decide to spend on a big-ticket player in free agency, Pro Football Focus suggests that they go after EDGE Odafe Oweh. Here is what they had to say:
"With Robert Saleh and the Titans agreeing on a contract to be named their next head coach, the first order of business in Tennessee will be to revamp a defense that struggled on the edge. The Titans generated solid sack numbers but failed to produce pressure off the edge, generating just a 19% pressure rate (28th).
To his credit, Oweh led two different teams in PFF pass-rush grade (among defenders with at least 100 pass-rush snaps), generating a 71.1 mark with the Ravens before being traded to the Chargers, where he earned a 77.7 figure. Cumulatively, Oweh’s 78.0 PFF pass-rush grade finished 18th among all qualifying edge rushers."
This would be a good signing for the reasons outlined above, but what PFF didn't mention is that Oweh fits what Saleh has valued in EDGEs in the past. He drafted EDGEs in the first round in 2022 and 2023 in Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald IV, respectively.
Analyzing their pre-draft measurements and testing results, Johnson and McDonald are explosive athletes with long arms and average to above-average frames. Oweh has a slightly bigger frame with long arms, and he was even more explosive than the EDGEs mentioned.
While Oweh was more of a work in progress coming out of the draft, he is finally putting it all together. If he wanted to continue developing, going to a defense where he will be on a defensive line with Jeffery Simmons and another high draft pick at EDGE could be the perfect situation for him.
If the Titans explore free agency, this is exactly the kind of player who may be a value option. Oweh may be primed to outperform whatever contract he signs in free agency. That is what Borgonzi should be targeting, and that is what Titans fans should be hoping for.