Titans still have work to do in free agency after big splash
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon started the free agency period with around $75 million to spend and myriad holes to fill along the roster.
After eight days, Carthon has made 11 moves, but the Titans’ roster still has plenty of room for improvement after coming into free agency with 22 free agents from last season’s team.
Carthon addressed two of the biggest needs by signing ESPN’s top-ranked center (Lloyd Cushenberry) and wide receiver (Calvin Ridley).
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Cushenberry comes to the Titans after four seasons with the Denver Broncos. His contract is a four-year deal worth $50 million, and Tennessee will turn to him to anchor an offensive line that was desperately in need of an overhaul.
Titans quarterbacks were sacked on 11% of their drop backs last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The New York Giants (13%) were the only team with a higher rate.
Carthon also added help by signing former Washington Commanders offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles, who primarily played guard over the last two seasons, but Tennessee still doesn’t have a proven option at right tackle.
The left tackle position is an even more glaring hole. Rookie Jaelyn Duncan and 2023 free agent addition Andre Dillard, who was released Friday, split time at left tackle. Duncan’s 16 sacks allowed, according to ESPN play-by-play tracking, were the third most among all offensive linemen. He was tied with left guard Peter Skoronski, Tennessee’s 2023 first-round pick, for the sixth most.
The Titans desperately need to add at least one offensive tackle, whether it’s by free agency or in the draft — where they have the No. 7 pick.
With the torch being passed from Derrick Henry to second-year player Tyjae Spears, running back didn’t seem like much of a need. But the Titans added former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard on the first day of free agency. Pollard figures to split the workload with Spears in Tennessee’s backfield to make up for Henry, who’s 1,167 rushing yards were second most in the league last season.
Despite adding Ridley from a divisional foe in the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Titans still need to find another option to eventually step in for DeAndre Hopkins, whose contract is expected to next offseason.
Here’s a look at other roster holes:
Inside linebacker
Former Chargers inside linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. described himself as “fast and physical” — which appears to be a good match for new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s attacking scheme. Murray is excited about the opportunity to work with a long tenured linebacker coach like Frank Bush, who’s entering his 32nd year as coach in the league.
“He definitely is an OG,” Murray said during his introductory press conference. “He’s a guy that is super energetic, and I am looking forward to getting after it and seeing what I need to work on to get better.”
But the Titans need to find a complementary piece to Murray. Jack Gibbens and Otis Reese IV are the two returning linebackers with the most snaps from last year. Neither of them are proven options.
The Titans hosted former Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker for a visit last week, but he eventually signed with Seattle. With few remaining options available, it’s likely that Carthon will turn to the draft to bolster the position.
Defensive line
While defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is the centerpiece of the defensive line, he’s pretty much the lone soldier when it comes to interior options. Outside of Simmons, the current group of interior defensive lineman have a combined 15 starts. Perhaps Tennessee feels it can get contributions from young players like TK McLendon Jr., Keondre Coburn and Quinton Bohanna.
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It doesn’t look like help is on the way given the lack of significant interior options left on the free agent market. Tennessee took a swing at signing former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader, but he opted to sign a two-year, $27.5 million contract with the Detroit Lions.
Free agent defensive end Chase Young was scheduled to visit the Titans this week, but he worked out a deal with the Saints on Monday. Adding Young would have helped offset the loss of Denico Autry — who signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Houston Texans last week — after he led Tennessee in sacks in each of the past two seasons.
The draft will have some options for the Titans in the second round or later. It will be up to new defensive line coach Tracy Rocker to get the most out of their talent.
Secondary
Former Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie will lock down one of the outside cornerback spots. While Roger McCreary will hold down the nickel position. The options after Awuzie and McCreary are limited.
Tennessee has been connected to cornerbacks on the market other than possibly acquiring L’Jarius Sneed from the Kansas City Chiefs. That deal doesn’t seem like an option for the Titans, who only have seven picks in the draft, with none in the third round.
There are some options like Xavien Howard or Ahkello Witherspoon, who was Awuzie’s college teammate at Colorado. Maybe the Titans decide to spin the block and re-sign Kristian Fulton or bring Adoree’ Jackson back for a second stint.
Safety is another part of the secondary that can use some help. Tennessee hosted veteran safety Marcus Maye on Monday. Maye’s best years came with Wilson as his defensive backs coach with the New York Jets. But at 31 years old, adding Maye doesn’t gel with what seems like a rebuilding roster.
Other veteran options include Justin Simmons and Quandre Diggs. Signing former AFC South rival safety Julian Blackmon would make the most sense. Blackmon is only 25 and posted 88 tackles, eight pass breakups, and four interceptions in 15 starts for the Indianapolis Colts last season.