The Tennessee Titans are in the middle of a rebuilding period, and one of the glaring weaknesses the on the roster heading into the 2025 season is at the EDGE position.
The most notable move the Titans made at EDGE in free agency was to replace Harold Landry with Dre'Mont Jones. While Jones is a solid EDGE, he doesn't move the needle as a pass rusher, and that is a concern when you remember that the Titans' defense was 30th in the league in sacks with a paltry 32 QB takedowns in 17 games last year.
For better or worse, Brian Callahan confirmed that this move was intentional in a press conference during OTAs. When asked about the EDGEs, the head coach pointed out that the team is intent on trying to move away from leaner pass rushers, focusing more on adding big bodies. When you look at the 30-plus pound weight difference between Landry and Jones, you can see that Callahan's words are accurate.
Titans are reshaping the way they analyze the EDGE position
Callahan said the Titans want pass rushers who can set the edge in the run game while also being able to use their size and strength to get to the quarterback by pushing tackles into the pocket. Second-round rookie Femi Oladejo also fits that profile.
There are some EDGEs who can win like this consistently, but most of them find their best matchups when they kick inside in obvious pass-rushing situations. Can the Titans' EDGEs consistently beat NFL tackles?
This isn't the first time this offseason that there has been a shift in mentality toward a position group. A few weeks ago, we highlighted the shift toward finding faster receivers and how that change was likely inspired by Mike Borgonzi. However, this move feels like it was driven by Callahan based on the way he spoke about the success of bigger EDGEs like Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard during his time in Cincinnati with the Bengals.
If Callahan makes it through this season, it will be interesting to see if the Titans continue with this approach at EDGE. Or perhaps this decision is one the coaches and front office believe suits them best based on the talent that was available to them in free agency and the draft.