NFL free agency opens in less than two weeks, and for the Tennessee Titans, it will be another offseason with several important holes to fill. Chad Brinker and Mike Borgonzi have talked about being more selective than they were in last year's cycle, but if they want to make this team better, they will have to still be fairly active and aggressive.
One of the positions they will surely have to address is EDGE, which might have just gotten even weaker with the news of Harold Landry being allowed to seek a trade. Luckily, there are some options who are good fits for what the Titans are looking for, and one of them has a direct tie to Borgonzi himself.
Charles Omenihu has never been an NFL star by any means, but has quietly improved over the past few years, and could be a serious value signing for the Titans. What might intrigue the Titans and their fans even more is that one of the EDGE's they signed in 2021 turned out to be a massive success, and when you compare him side by side to Omenihu today, there are some real similarities.
Charles Omenihu signing would give Tennessee Titans flashbacks to Denico Autry in 2021
Jon Robinson's last few years as GM of the Titans were littered with whiffs and bad decisions, but Autry could not have been more of an exception. In his three years in Nashville, he was super consistent and enjoyed the best years of his career, racking up 28.5 sacks in 46 games played.
He went from a quality player to a key force on the Titans defensive line, making plays even when guys like Landry and Jeffery Simmons were injured. Autry was the definition of one of those gems who was found for super cheap in free agency, and it would be no surprise if the same thing happens with Omenihu.
There are a lot of parallels between the two guys, and it starts with their styles of play. They are not true weak side outside linebackers like a lot of EDGE's in the modern NFL, but rather more traditional, hand in the dirt linemen who also line up inside and help out against the run as well as the pass.
They are far from the most nimble or athletic guys on the field, but more physical and imposing presences who at their best when using power and pursuit. The lack of athleticism is part of why neither guy will be a true premier player, but they are versatile, and well-rounded skillsets can go a long way to making successful NFL careers.
Both are near identical in terms of size, as Autry lists at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, and Omenihu lists at identical height and five pounds less. They are also similar in terms of draft pedigree, as Autry was undrafted, and Omenihu was the 161st overall pick, so clearly both guys had to work extra hard to get to where they have gotten in the NFL.
Their paths while in the NFL are also very similar. Omenihu came into the league at age 22 and has played six years, while Autry had played for seven years before joining the Titans. Autry played for two other teams before coming to Tennessee, while Omenihu has played for three so far.
The comparisons even go as far as each guy's production in their first few years in the league, which is shown below from their first seasons and on.
Autry years 1-7 respectively: 10 games 0 sacks, 14 games 3 sacks, 16 games 2.5 sacks, 16 games 5 sacks, 12 games 9 sacks, 14 games 3.5 sacks, 14 games 7.5 sacks
Omenihu years 1-6 respectively: 14 games 3 sacks, 15 games 4 sacks, 15 games 0 sacks, 17 games 4.5 sacks, 11 games 7 sacks, 6 games 1 sack
The progression and development for both guys has been tangible, which is what you would expect for players who were never supposed to be game changers. If Omenihu can play with effort and motivation, then it bodes well for his chances of blossoming like Autry did.
Now, there are some differences between Autry in 2021 and Omenihu now, and one of them is injury history. It is not like Omenihu is a super injury prone player, but he did tear his ACL during the playoffs in the 2023 season, and it cost him all but the final six games of the 2024 campaign.
Of course, he will be well removed from that ailment when the 2025 season kicks off, and his overall production did go back up during the recent playoffs, suggesting he may have been getting his legs back under him. Regardless, it will be a question until he proves he has overcome it, something Autry did not have to worry about.
That being said, one thing Omenihu does have in his favor that Autry did not quite have in 2021 was age. Omenihu is going to be 28 when the new season begins, and Autry was 31 when he joined the Titans.
Of course, Autry aged beautifully while on the team, but few guys can manage to do that, and the fact that Omenihu has some years before he reaches the dreaded age of 30 provides hope that he can play at the same level Autry did while in Tennessee.
There is no doubt that the Titans will take a look at Omenihu with his connection to Borgonzi and potential to be a value signing in free agency. Being nearly a full year removed from ACL rehab, he will only have more strength and confidence in his knee, and almost certainly will have an extra fire lit under him to prove he can bounce back.
Even if he is not THE top EDGE option for Borgonzi and the Titans front office, bringing him in would be a very sensible move given all of the circumstances, and recency bias with Autry only fuels that sentiment.