The departure of Jack Conklin to the Cleveland Browns in free agency created a domino effect of sorts for the Tennessee Titans.
With Dennis Kelly re-signed to take his spot as the starter, Tennessee wouldn’t have the same kind of quality depth and versatility that the 30-year-old swing tackle offered as a backup for the past four seasons.
So, filling that void was going to be both difficult and necessary, but the Titans did about as well as they could have hoped with the signing of Ty Sambrailo.
The first thing that jumps out at you about the 6-foot-5, 315-pound lineman is his athleticism, which was on full display on a 35-yard touchdown catch he recorded last season, the longest ever for a big man.
That kind of athleticism makes him a great fit in the Titans’ zone-blocking scheme, a system that Sambrailo is also familiar with.
The former second-round pick has the ability to play both tackle spots, but has also played at guard during his career. That’s one less spot the Titans have to potentially rely on Jamil Douglas for if someone gets hurt.
Granted, Sambrailo didn’t post a great Pro Football Focus grade last season (55.1), but this is what you should expect from a backup. Tennessee was no doubt spoiled for all these years by having Kelly, who is a starting-caliber tackle, as an insurance policy.
Overall, there is a lot to like about Sambrailo, and hopefully we get to see him score another epic big man touchdown in the two-tone blue.
