The Tennessee Titans still have significant cap space available to fill some of their biggest remaining needs, which means they can still target some of the biggest names left on the free-agent market.
Per Over the Cap, the Titans have a little over $20 million to spend.
However, the team has yet to agree to terms with five of its six draft picks, so we can shave at least a few million off that number when the rookies are added to the top 51 number. Even with that being the case, the Titans could have as much as $17 to $18 million left to spend when it’s all said and done.
With that much money, the Titans have their pick of the lot if they want to add another high-priced free agent, or they could add multiple lower-priced free agents if they so choose.
Here’s a look at the best remaining free agents at the Titans’ biggest remaining positions of need.
EDGE: Jadeveon Clowney
One of the biggest areas of need for the Titans going into the offseason was adding a pass-rusher at EDGE to go along with Harold Landry, who had a career year in 2019 with nine sacks.
So far, the team has added Vic Beasley, who totaled eight sacks last season but has proven to be inconsistent overall during his career. Other than that, the Titans are depending on in-house options like Kamalei Correa, Derick Roberson and D’Andre Walker for improvement.
If the Titans really want to put that group over the top, signing Jadeveon Clowney is by far the best option.
On top of being a top-notch pass-rusher, Clowney is also elite against the run and can be moved all around the defense, much like he has during his career.
Clowney would be an answer for multiple spots on Tennessee’s defense and head coach Mike Vrabel has already proven he knows how to use him best, as Clowney’s highest sack total came in 2017 when Vrabel was his defensive coordinator with the Houston Texans.
DL: Mike Daniels
So far this offseason, the Titans have lost Jurrell Casey and added Jack Crawford in free agency and Larrell Murchison in the 2020 NFL Draft, two players who are more depth pieces right now than anything else.
Getting pressure off the edge wasn’t the only problem the Titans had with their pass-rush, as the defensive line also failed to consistently get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Mike Daniels would be a great fit for the Titans along the defensive front, as the veteran has proven to be both an effective run defender and interior pass-rusher during his career.
If the Titans can’t land Clowney, they’ll have more than enough cap space left to add Daniels, who would make the team’s defensive line even more formidable than it is now.
WR: Taylor Gabriel
The Titans failed to add a wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft and have yet to add one in free agency. While the Titans won’t find Corey Davis’ future replacement on the open market, they can add the burner the team needs.
Taylor Gabriel, who was cut by the Chicago Bears earlier in the offseason, fits the mold of what the Titans need. He has the versatility to line up all over Arthur Smith’s offense and can stretch the field thanks to his elite speed.
The ultimate plan might be for Kalif Raymond to fill the void as the team’s deep threat, but if not the Titans would be wise to sign Gabriel, a player who can certainly carve out a role ahead of the Holy Cross product.
Backup QB
Best unrealistic option: Cam Newton
Best realistic option: Blake Bortles
If you told me the Titans could get Cam Newton as their backup quarterback, I’d say sign me up. The former NFL MVP is by far the best option still available and would fit in seamlessly if Ryan Tannehill ever got hurt.
Adding to that, the Titans would instantly go from having one of the worst backup quarterback situations in the NFL to arguably the best.
On the surface, the move to Nashville would make sense for Newton, also. He’d be sitting behind a quarterback with an injury history and could take the reins of an offense that is very quarterback-friendly and has already revived the career of another once-fallen quarterback (Tannehill).
However, I just don’t see the Titans making a big splash like that, even if Newton does come cheap like Jameis Winston did for the New Orleans Saints. It just doesn’t seem like it’s in the franchise’s DNA to make a huge signing at a backup spot that could overshadow the team’s starter.
With that said, the best of the realistic options out there is former Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams quarterback, Blake Bortles.
Not only does Bortles have a big arm to make big plays for Tennessee’s offense, but he also has the kind of athleticism that would let the Titans continue running their offense should he get on the field.
Bortles’ past struggles are well-documented, but joining a Titans offense that is run-heavy and uses play action to move the ball through the air would make things much easier for the former No. 3 overall pick.
Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski
If nothing changes between now and training camp, the Titans are set to have a competition at kicker between two inexperienced players after having the worst field goal unit in the NFL last season.
On one side you have Greg Joseph, who has attempted 21 field goals in his career, and just one as a member of the Titans. On the other side, you have Tucker McCann, an undrafted rookie out of Missouri.
It would be doing a disservice to the team if general manager Jon Robinson didn’t add a veteran option to the competition at some point during the offseason. The Titans need to make sure they have the very best man for the job, and that means having as much competition for it as possible.
Stephen Gostkowski is easily the best of the remaining kickers on the open market. He’s posted a field goal success rate of 87.4 percent during his 14-year career and has made countless big kicks in playoff games.
The veteran did have season-ending hip surgery in 2019, but that will only help to get him on the cheap. Tennessee is also an attractive destination for a player like Gostkowski, who is looking for a starting job and would easily be the favorite in any competition with Joseph and McCann.
If Joseph can beat out McCann AND a veteran like Gostkowski, then we’d be a lot more confident that the Titans have the right guy.
