Whether it was the veteran Ryan Tannehill, the second-year pro Malik Willis, or the strong-armed rookie Will Levis, the Tennessee Titans starting quarterback had to deal with pass rushers who ended up in the backfield more often than Derrick Henry.
All kidding aside, Tannehill (32), Levis (28), and Willis (4) were sacked a combined 64 times, tied with the New York Jets for the fourth-highest total in the league.
In each of these past two seasons, the Tennessee Titans have had the 32nd-ranked offensive line via Pro Football Focus. In both 2022 and ’23, the club finished dead last in the NFL in pass-blocking efficiency, and Tennessee was next-to-last in the NFL in this category in 2021.
Via Spotrac, only the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots currently have more salary cap room to play with than the Titans. Executive Vice-President and General Manager Ran Carthon has the 7th and 39th overall picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, but no third-round selections.
Here are four potential candidates who could hit the open market in mid-March, and another player that can be signed immediately. You will notice that more than one of these performers can line up at both tackle and guard, which could be important as Brian Callahan tries to find the right combination.
5. Billy Turner (New York Jets)
The 10-year pro has never been named to a Pro Bowl or earned All-Pro honors, but he’s seen plenty of action around the league with four different franchises.
Billy Turner appeared in 14 games with the Jets this past season and made a pair of starts. The versatile performer lined up both inside and outside in prior stints with the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and Green Bay Packers. Turner also has playoff experience, starting a combined five games for Green Bay from 2019-21.
4. Andrus Peat (New Orleans Saints)
Back in 2015, the New Orleans Saints used the 13th overall selection on Stanford University blocker Andrus Peat. The 6’7”, 316-pound performer has yet to play a complete season, be it 16 or now 17 games. However, he was efficient enough to earn three straight Pro Bowl nods from 2018, when he was primarily lined up at left guard.
Peat has seen his share of action at left tackle as well. All told, his days in the Crescent City have drawn mixed reviews. Bill Sigler of SaintsWire.com outlines how the nine-year performer was almost cut during this past offseason. Perhaps a change of scenery would do the player and his current employer good.
3. Chukwuma Okorafor (Released by Pittsburgh Steelers)
Here’s a player that general manager Ran Carthon can sign immediately because he had his contract terminated by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chukwuma Okorafor lined up at right tackle during most of his six-year stay with Mike Tomlin’s team. That’s where he was for the first seven games in 2023, but he was benched for the remainder of the season in place of 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones.
That doesn’t mean he can’t start anew for head coach Brian Callahan, who saw his share of Okorafor when he was the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals. The Titans’ most reliable player at right tackle in 2023 was Chris Hubbard. However, he missed the final seven games of the season with a biceps injury and is slated for free agency.
2. Jonah Williams (Cincinnati Bengals)
In 2019, the Cincinnati Bengals used the 11th overall pick in the draft on talented University of Alabama tackle Jonah Williams. Roughly two months later, he would undergo surgery on his left shoulder and would miss his rookie campaign. He would come back in 2020 and make 10 starts.
Over the past three seasons, Williams has been a mainstay on Cincinnati’s offensive front. He was injured in the team’s wild card win over the Baltimore Ravens and missed the next two playoff games at Buffalo and Kansas City. In 2023, he made the switch to right tackle when the Bengals inked Orlando Brown Jr. to a free-agent deal. He could be a top acquisition for GM Ran Carthon if he hits the open market in March.
1. Trent Brown (New England Patriots)
He has been a somewhat unsung performer, and via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the nine-year pro is destined to hit the open market in less than three weeks and is worth kicking the tires on.
Last week, tackle Trent Brown’s contract voided last week and he was not given an extension from the team. Of course, things are changing in Foxborough these days with the departure of Bill Belichick, with Jerod Mayo succeeding him as head coach.
Via Pro Football Focus, Brown and the Raiders’ Kolton Miller are tied for 11th in terms of the league’s best offensive tackle. Originally a seventh-round draft choice of the 49ers in 2015, the nine-year pro was in his second stint with New England. He played and started seven of the team’s first eight games, but saw very limited action for the remainder of 2023.