The Tennessee Titans play their first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday evening. Brian Callahan's squad got in a spirited joint practice versus the Bucs earlier in the week. The exhibition is essentially a glorified scrimmage, but the Titans will continue learning about their team on Saturday.
One of the concerning themes at training camp thus far has been the lack of a consistent pass rush. The Bucs' offensive line got the better of the Titans' defensive line during one-v-one drills at practice. It's been an ongoing theme, with Tennessee's offensive line also routinely winning reps at Saint Thomas Sports Park.
The Titans posted the third-fewest sacks (32) in the NFL last season. With Dre'Mont Jones and Femi Oladejo being the only notable reinforcements at EDGE this offseason, it's fair to assume they won't be fielding one of the better pass-rushing units in the league. The results at training camp are begging the Titans to make one final notable acquisition this offseason.
Titans should make one final bold move this offseason
There are a number of veteran pass rushers still available on the market. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently tied them to a potential move for Preston Smith. Smith would certainly address the need for an effective and experienced rusher, having compiled 30 sacks over the previous four seasons.
There's not a lot of reason to believe the Titans will actually pull the trigger on a move for Smith though. GM Mike Borgonzi had a direct need for an EDGE rusher following Lorenzo Carter's abrupt retirement. Instead of signing a pass rusher like Smith, he opted for a quality veteran run stopper in Jihad Ward. The Titans also recently added defensive end Joe Gaziano, a back-end roster player, to their 90-man squad.
Za'Darius Smith is another available EDGE who should peak the Titans' interest. Smith recorded nine total sacks last season, and is a three-time double-digit sack artist. The Titans' movements suggest they're satisfied with their current edge-rushing group, but the early results indicate one final bold move would elevate their performance ceiling.