The Tennessee Titans defense might struggle this year due to the lack of talent at EDGE.
General manager Mike Borgonzi may consider adding another veteran rusher before training camp begins in late July. A shiny new one just became available, with the Cleveland Browns releasing Ogbo Okoronkwo. However, the Titans need to be careful with what they do here because the goal is to rebuild this franchise the way the Oklahoma City Thunder did. Remember the mantra, "Shortcuts cut long runs short."
Signing someone like Okoronkwo is a great example of a mistake that the Titans need to avoid making.
Titans should avoid signing Ogbo Okoronkwo
Would Okoronkwo improve the Titans' pass rush in 2025? Almost certainly. But that isn't the question that Borgonzi and Chad Brinker should be asking. What they have to ponder is whether Okoronkwo is a massive upgrade, or is he simply going to take valuable snaps away from second-round rookie Femi Oladejo, who can be a core member of this roster over the next three or more seasons?
If the answer to both of those questions is no, then the Titans need to ignore the shiny object and move on.
It's difficult to see how Okoronkwo would benefit Oladejo. He isn't a true game-changer that draws double teams. Oladejo already has veterans like Dre'Mont Jones and Arden Key to lean on. Plus, Okoronkwo is 30 years old, which means he isn't a long-term solution to the problem.
Even if Okoronkwo did check those boxes, the Titans have something else to consider. They have been vocal about how they want their EDGEs to be bigger and more physical going forward. Okoronkwo doesn't fit that mold, and he isn't talented enough for them to reconsider their approach.
Instead, the Titans need to use this season to allow Oladejo to develop at a position he's still mastering after mostly playing off-ball linebacker in college. Even if it's occasionally frustrating to watch, a patient approach is the correct one.