After falling one game short of the Super Bowl in 2019, the Tennessee Titans are going to look to add pieces that can get them over the hump in 2020.
For now, the Titans have about $50 million to spend this offseason, but that number could jump to about $75 million if the team makes some cuts. Restructuring contracts is also an option to open up even more cap space.
Because of that flexibility, the Titans have the potential to make a few big splashes this offseason, whether that comes via trade, free agency, or both.
While they obviously won’t be able to — or have to — make all of these moves, here’s some examples of earth-shattering trades and signings the Titans could potentially make.
Sign Tom Brady
This is the biggest of the possible splashes the Titans can make.
It was once thought that Ryan Tannehill was a lock to return, but as free agency approaches, the chatter about the Titans signing Tom Brady becomes louder and louder.
Bringing Brady to Nashville would be one of the biggest free-agent stories not just of 2020, but in NFL history. It isn’t everyday you see a six-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback switch teams.
The Titans are a team ready to win now, and if they can find a way to bring Derrick Henry back to go along with a solid group of pass-catchers and a good offensive line, Brady has all the weapons necessary to be successful.
There’s a lot for Brady to like when it comes to Tennessee.
Sign Jadeveon Clowney
It remains to be seen if Jadeveon Clowney and the Seattle Seahawks can work something out so he doesn’t hit the open market, but if he does the Titans will surely be in the running to sign him.
Clowney’s raw numbers from 2019 aren’t eye-popping (he had just three sacks), but he is still a top-notch pass-rusher who stands to be one of the best available this offseason.
In the two years prior to 2019, Clowney totaled 18.5 sacks, and in one of those seasons Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was his defensive coordinator. It just so happens that 2017 season with Vrabel calling the plays saw Clowney finish with a career-high 9.5 sacks.
Signing Clowney as a free agent is going to cost a pretty penny, but the Titans have to explore every means necessary in order to improve their lackluster pass-rush.
Trade for Matt Judon
Should the Titans fail to add a top-notch pass-rusher like Clowney in free agency, looking to the trade market will be the next best thing.
If reports are true and the Baltimore Ravens franchise tag pass-rusher Matt Judon, who totaled nine sacks in 2019, they might be forced to trade him.
As it stands now, the Ravens have $30 million in cap space to work with before making cuts, so franchise tagging Judon would take up roughly half of that.
When drawing up a potential trade package for Judon, we can look to what the Seattle Seahawks gave the Houston Texans for Jadeveon Clowney, which was a third-round pick and linebackers Jacob Martin and Barkevious Mingo.
If it takes a similar package to land Judon in a trade, the Titans should be running to the phone.
Sign Kenyan Drake
If the Arizona Cardinals can’t come to an agreement on a contract with Kenyan Drake and don’t use the franchise tag on him, he could be available in free agency.
The Titans need a back who can spell Derrick Henry and be an asset on third downs. Dion Lewis was supposed to be that guy, but things didn’t exactly pan out and he’s likely to get cut this offseason.
Signing Drake as a No. 2 back behind Derrick Henry would be a huge splash that would come with criticism because that’s a lot of money to spend on a position that has been devalued over the years.
Per Spotrac, Drake’s market value is estimated at $5.5 million annually, so if he commands close to that on the open market, it wouldn’t necessarily be an outrageous amount of money to spend.
If the Titans are going for it in 2020 and want to put together an offense capable of making a Super Bowl run, having Drake’s abilities as a runner and pass-catcher who can line up all over the field would help take this offense to another level.
Drake and Henry would easily be the best 1-2 punch at the position in the NFL, and if signing Brady is what the Titans are trying to do, we all know how much “The GOAT” loves his pass-catching backs.
Sign Antonio Brown
This is a move that wouldn’t happen on its own and would only happen if the Titans sign Brady, who is reportedly interested in reuniting with Antonio Brown should he leave the Patriots in free agency.
There’s no question that Brown is an elite receiver, but the problem is that he comes with a ton of baggage because of his numerous off-the-field issues and diva-like attitude.
Despite those things, bringing in Brown alongside Brady would be an intriguing proposition to say the least.
Having the four-time First-Team All-Pro would give the Titans an embarrassment of riches at wide receiver, and perhaps Brown would come to Nashville on a relatively cheap deal because of his issues.
Out of all the potential moves listed here, this one is by far the least likely; however, we can’t rule it out if Brady signs with the Titans and wants to bring Brown with him.
