Five possible free agents to fill Titans’ five biggest needs

Tempting Titans targets? A long look at one free agent for each of team’s five neediest spots…

By John Glennon

One after another over the last several days, Titans veterans have said their final goodbyes to the team.

The stretch began when the Titans released slot receiver Adam Humphries in late February, and continued in recent days with the release of cornerback Malcolm Butler and safety Kenny Vaccaro – all moves made to increase the team’s room under the salary cap.

So as we approach the start of free agency next week – teams can start negotiating with players Monday, signing them Wednesday – the Titans have to bolster the roster at a number of positions.

It remains to be seen just how active the Titans will be in free agency, as the team – even after the recent releases – doesn’t have deep pockets this offseason.

Keeping that thought in mind, here’s a look at a look at five free agents that could help the Titans at positions of need – edge rusher, wide receiver, cornerback, tight end and interior defensive line.

These are not necessarily the premier free agents at each of those spots, as the bidding for the top-of-the-line players may be too much for the Titans.

But the five players listed here all have qualities that would better the Titans, so they all appear to be worth a longer look:

Position: Edge rusher

Player: Haason Reddick

Ht., wt.: 6-1, 235

Age: 26

Spotrac projected value: $11.6 million average for four years

Pro Football Focus projected value: $8.5 million average for one year

What he did last season: In 16 games, Reddick posted career highs of 12.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles and four passes defended.

Why he’d be good for Titans: I don’t think many would argue this is the greatest position of need for the Titans, who finished with a Titans-era low 19 sacks in 16 games last year. Reddick blew up as a pass-rusher last season, after totaling a combined 7.5 sacks in his first three seasons in Arizona. But this doesn’t sound as if it was a case of a player taking his game to another level during a contract year. Instead, it was a decision by Arizona defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to play Reddick on the edge – where he played in college – as opposed to inside linebacker, where Reddick spent his first three seasons. With that in mind, a team like the Titans could conceivably get a player who’s going to rack up plenty of sacks in years to come for the price of just one productive season.

Author: John GlennonMulti-media journalist with extensive expertise covering the NFL, NHL, professional soccer and more, including the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators for The Tennessean with articles, videos and podcasts. Strengths include the ability to write quick, concise and thorough analysis, as well as the ability to uncover unique human-interest stories. In working as a reporter, John developed skills that extend beyond the sports journalism world. An efficient and effective communicator, John is confident, calm and productive under deadline pressure and knows the power of the written word. John brings to Broadway Sports a work ethic second to none, an intellectual hunger, and an ability to inform and entertain readers, viewers and listeners. Reach out directly to John at: