At the Senior Bowl, Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi stated that the team was prioritizing fixing the offensive line in free agency, which echoes what the new front office has said recently.
Whether it is Borgonzi, Brian Callahan, or Chad Brinker, when offseason plans have come up in conversation, the emphasis has been on getting better in the trenches (offensive and defensive line). Luckily, the talent available in the draft and free agency lines up well for the Titans to turn this offensive line into a top-10 unit if they play their cards right.
Considering that J.C. Latham, Peter Skoronski, and Lloyd Cushenberry are all trending toward being at least above-average players at their positions, the Titans are inching closer than most realize to making their offensive line a true strength.
On the defensive front, Jeffery Simmons was just named as a Pro Bowl alternate and T'Vondre Sweat was one of the best rookie defenders regardless of position. If Borgonzi and Co. can acquire a great EDGE to pair with Harold Landry, then the Titans will be in good shape up front, so long as some depth is sprinkled throughout the defensive line.
As the Senior Bowl has gone on, several linemen on both sides of the ball have improved their stock. Trench players like Gray Zabel, Deone Walker, Walter Nolen, and Aireontae Ersery all seem like players who will hover in that murky 20-50 range during the draft.
Add in the fact that ESPN's top 50 free agents list features double-digit offensive linemen who could start for the Titans, and it is easy to see why the team's front office should be getting very excited about their options this offseason.
If the Titans trade the No. 1 overall selection in this year's draft, the extra picks acquired from a deal like that would go a long way toward accomplishing their goal of accumulating a specific number of draft picks over the next three years. However, they could also be content to grab the best player on the board with the first pick, which might be Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter.
It has been a tough time for Titans fans, but the idea of an offseason where the Titans add a free agent guard Trey Smith, Carter, and the best available offensive tackle prospect in the second round, does start to make you feel like this team could be heading in the right direction.