We are now three days removed from the start of NFL free agency and there remains a slew of players that are unsigned that the Tennessee Titans should be targeting.
It seems the Titans are currently in a holding pattern, as the team has been mostly quiet with signing free agents outside of re-signing their own players and adding pass-rusher Vic Beasley.
That’s probably because the team is working on something big, but it remains to be seen exactly what that big move is.
Here’s a list of five players who are still available that the Titans should be focused on.
DE Jadeveon Clowney
This is the most obvious one.
After the team traded away Jurrell Casey, it was figured that general manager Jon Robinson had something big up his sleeve — and Clowney is probably it.
A recent report suggests that the Titans are one of three teams that have made an offer for the 27-year-old pass-rusher, so there’s a little smoke to the fire that Tennessee is at least pursuing him.
Landing the biggest fish in the pass-rusher market is the only way Robinson can soften the blow of trading a fan-favorite like Casey.
DE Everson Griffen
As I wrote on Friday, the Titans need to have a “Plan B” in the event that Clowney signs elsewhere, and Griffen is that guy. Granted, he has had issues off-the-field in the past, but that seems to be straightened out now.
Griffen totaled eight sacks in 2019, has finished with double-digit sacks three times during his career, and has played in 15 games or more in eight of his 10 years in the league (2018 was not injury-related).
The only downside is that Griffen is 32 years old, so Tennessee will likely be looking for another solution in a year or two, but he remains the best of the pass-rusher options available outside of Clowney.
CB Nickell Robey-Coleman
The cap-strapped Los Angeles Rams had to let their stellar slot cornerback in Roby-Coleman go by declining his option, making him a free agent.
The Titans’ need for a slot corner depends on a few things:
- Logan Ryan leaves in free agency
- They don’t trust Amani Hooker
In 2019, Roby-Coleman posted an overall grade of 74.5, per Pro Football Focus, which is almost a full 10 points higher than Ryan.
Robey-Coleman allowed completions on 64.1 percent of passes thrown his way with a passer rating allowed of 86.9, as compared to Ryan, who allowed completions on 66 percent of passes and a passer rating of 88.7.
Adding to that, Robey-Coleman would be a serious upgrade in the speed department over Ryan. Faster corners are increasingly important in today’s NFL, especially against teams like the Kansas City Chiefs that have a ridiculous amount of burners in their receiving corps.
Robey-Coleman was due to make $4.5 million 2020 before having his option declined, so chances are he’ll come much cheaper than Ryan, who is reportedly seeking at least $10 million per season.
QB P.J. Walker
Before we get started on Walker, who was playing in the XFL this season, it’s important to note that XFL players cannot begin signing with NFL teams officially until March 23.
Now that that’s out of the way, once Walker is available to be signed, the Titans should be at the front of the line and try to bring him in as a backup quarterback.
As it stands now, Logan Woodside is the only backup on the roster, and because of his lack of experience and the fact that he doesn’t necessarily bring anything special to the table the Titans should at least give themselves more options.
And, with Ryan Tannehill’s injury history, Tennessee can’t simply rest on the default option and potentially make the mistake of having the wrong guy behind him.
Walker was a superstar in the XFL this season, posting the league’s most passing yards (1,338) and touchdowns (15), while also completing 65 percent of his passes and compiling a passer rating of 104.4.
A lot of people will scoff at those numbers because he did it in the XFL, but Walker didn’t simply just play well in that league, he dominated. Not to mention, he received an endorsement from Andrew Luck to get in the league in the first place.
Walker also has the mobility to give an offense options, and he’s only 25 years old so he could be a long-term solution if all goes well. There’s a lot to like about Walker and the Titans should definitely get involved.
RB Chris Thompson
The Titans are almost certainly going to target a running back in the 2020 NFL Draft, but adding a veteran who can be an asset in the passing game should still be a consideration.
Thompson is arguably the best pass-catching back available and he should come cheap on a one-year deal thanks to his age (29) and injury history.
Unlike the failed signing of Dion Lewis, this one doesn’t come with a long-term commitment. That’s what we call a low-risk signing.
Tennessee could still use a draft pick for a back to spell Henry on the ground, while also deploying Thompson on third downs to help move the chains.
