After the initial waves of free agency, one of the Tennessee Titans' biggest concerns was their dismal group of EDGEs. The draft didn't do much to help the position, and over the last month, it has become apparent that this will be one of the worst pass-rushing teams in the NFL.
Arden Key and Dre'Mont Jones will be the starters, and they aren't bad players. Key looks like he is still going to be a productive pass rusher, and Jones is a selfless teammate who helps other rushers by collapsing the pocket on a quarterback.
Behind them, the Titans are a mess with no one resembling an EDGE you want to see more than a dozen or so snaps per game. Rookie Femi Oladejo has looked like he's still acclimating in limited preseason action.
If the 2025 Titans want to prevent this issue from making the defense borderline unwatchable, they need to use some of their vast reserves of untapped camp space and sign a proven EDGE.
Now's the time for the Tennessee Titans to sign a productive pass rusher
If they are talented enough to pull it off, established veterans enjoy waiting until late August to sign contracts. It limits the wear and tear on their body because they skip training camp. The extra time means that they are likely to draw interest from a wider range of teams, and it gives them a chance to figure out which situation offers the most money and the easiest path to the role they want.
Earlier this week, Matt Judon signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins worth up to $6 million. That is the contract that every other veteran pass rusher will base their deal around going forward.
According to ESPN, the Titans have been interested in free agents at cornerback, EDGE, quarterback, and other positions. Jeremy Fowler even mentioned EDGE Preston Smith by name in his report.
Even after Judon's deal, Smith isn't the only established EDGE on the market. Here is a quick list of the top four EDGEs available, ranked by their sack totals over the last two seasons.
Jadeveon Clowney: 15 sacks
Za'Darius Smith: 14.5 sacks
Preston Smith: 12.5 sacks
DeMarcus Walker: 7 sacks
Because the Titans possess the top priority on the waiver wire, any move they make will probably come after the roster purge on Tuesday, and the subsequent claiming period on Wednesday. However, they should be in constant contact with the agents for all four of these EDGEs because making a waiver claim is extremely unlikely to fix their glaring pass-rushing issue.