Tennessee Titans
Tennessee has done great finding the happy medium between free agency and the draft in recent years. This is one of the primary reasons the Titans are coming off a nine-win campaign just two years after posting a 2-14 record. It really has been a well-rounded rebuild.
From adding franchise quarterback Marcus Mariota to the mix in 2015 to bringing in former Heisman winner Derrick Henry last year, Tennessee has found elite-level talent in the draft. Add in the trade for DeMarco Murray and signing of Brian Orakpo on the veteran market over the past two years, and that’s been magnified even further.
Tennessee now heads into free agency with an expectation of contention. It simply isn’t going to sit back and allow a nine-win season to be the team’s absolute ceiling here. That’s where free agency and the projected $67.6 million the Titans will have come into play. Despite last season’s tremendously successful performance, Tennessee still doesn’t have a true No. 1 wide receiver to call its own. Rishard Matthews led the club in receiving yards last season with less than 1,000. After that, the Titans’ No. 2 receiver was tight end Delanie Walker.
In order to take that next step towards contention status, the Titans must find a true No. 1 pass catcher for Super Mario. It could come in the form of the aforementioned Alshon Jeffery. It could also come in the form of a veteran such a DeSean Jackson or Brandon Marshall. Either way, this needs to be a central focus in free agency.
Also important to note, Tennessee finished in the bottom three of the NFL against the pass this past regular season. Acquiring an upgrade over Brice McCain and Antwon Blake needs to be a primary goal for this squad. The good news is that there’s a ton of potentially viable cover guys on the market, including A.J. Bouye from the division-rival Houston Texans.
This is where the Titans’ focus needs to be when free agency comes calling in March. Perimeter players on both sides of the ball. That will go a long way in terms of the team progressing from last season’s surprising performance.