The Tennessee Titans have typically done well when it comes to the NFL Draft while also making a variety of different splashes on the free-agent market over the years. Whether it is uncovering hidden gems or landing superstar-caliber players on the open market, there really aren't too many negative things that can be attributed to this organization in those respects.
However, it is also true that no NFL franchise is perfect, even the Titans, who have a rock-solid track record of evaluating talent among both up-and-comers and veterans alike.
As a result, the Titans have most definitely made their fair share of mistakes upon signing players off the free-agent market — at least five massive mistakes, at that. Although evaluating talent and analyzing players after they have already played some high-level and successful NFL football should be a little bit easier to some degree, the following five examples by the Titans show that it still remains impossible to see into the future.
1. Dion Lewis, Running Back (2018 – 2019)
At the time, this seemed like a move that made all the sense in the world for both former New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis and the Tennessee Titans. Due to Tennessee's extensive ties with Lewis' former employer in the Patriots, it initially appeared as though the Titans had found a third-down, passing back that would compliment the team's workhorse rusher in fellow running back Derrick Henry.
Instead, the Titans encountered the worst free-agent signing in the history of the current AFC South franchise. In March 2018, the two sides agreed to a four-year, $19.8 million free-agent contract, a pact that also featured $5.75 million in fully guaranteed money—going on to last just two seasons in Tennessee before ultimately being released and signed by the New York Giants this offseason, a move that saved the Titans approximately $4 million in available salary-cap space.
Serving as a relatively productive weapon for the Titans at times during his first go-round with the franchise, it quickly went downhill for Lewis from there as the aforementioned Henry took over in a big way in 2019, which left the former Patriots rusher on the sideline for much of the year — and lackluster when actually on the field. With Henry becoming one of the most dominant players in the league, there was simply no more room for Lewis in Nashville, even as a slight contributor due to his contract and accompanying salary.
2. Alge Crumpler, Tight End (2008 – 2009)
The Tennessee Titans have always somehow managed to remain incredibly strong at the tight end position. Whether it is with big names like Frank Wycheck or Delanie Walker or by committee, the tight end position has never really been a weakness for the Titans. However, when longtime Atlanta Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler made his way to Nashville back in 2008, things didn't really work out as originally planned.
Throughout his seven seasons in Atlanta, Crumpler caught at least three touchdowns as a result of each campaign while more often than not exceeding such a figure. During his two seasons with the Titans, Crumpler caught just one touchdown as a result of each go-round. Not only that, but he caught 24 and 27 passes, respectively, in Tennessee while only catching 36 passes or less for the Falcons once — his rookie season. Capping off this disastrous signing for Tennessee, Crumpler infamously fumbled on the five-yard line of the Baltimore Ravens during the 2008 postseason, which played a major role in the top-seeded Titans being ousted from Super Bowl contention.
Although it can be argued that Crumpler's time in Tennessee wasn't all bad as the Titans immediately reached the postseason in 2008 and produced a 2,000-yard rusher in running back Chris Johnson in 2009, his individual play did not even remotely live up to the initial hype that surrounded him upon making the move from Atlanta to Nashville.
3. Kamerion Wimbley, Outside Linebacker (2012 – 2014)
After serving as a formidable presence as a pass rusher for both the Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders, outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley was unable to keep up upon officially arriving in Nashville. Spending what would go on to be his final three NFL campaigns as a member of the Tennessee Titans, Wimbley did manage to appear in all but three regular-season games for the current AFC South franchise — all three of his absences came in his final go-round in 2014.
Despite remaining on the field, he was unable to produce as a leading sack man as Wimbley tallied a total of 11 sacks in a Titans' uniform. His final two NFL seasons saw Wimbley tally two of his three single-season lows in regards to sacks. It is also worth noting that his tackling statistics were more than cut in half as a result of his three-year stint in Tennessee with Wimbley forgettably recording a mere 11 total tackles across 16 regular-season games in 2013.
During Wimbley's three seasons with the Titans, the team won a total of 15 regular-season games and never had a winning record while going through a pair of head coaches.
4. Sylvester Williams, Defensive Lineman (2017)
If you blinked, you might have missed former Denver Broncos defensive lineman Sylvester Williams in two-tone blue. The Tennessee Titans originally signed the veteran defender and former Broncos standout to a three-year, $16.5 million contract back in March 2017 while his time in the “Music City” would last just one year almost to the day.
After four productive seasons in Denver, the former Broncos' first-round NFL Draft pick tried to latch on with an up-and-coming Titans team. Still, it was ultimately unable to do so en route to starting 11 regular-season games and two postseason games with only one sack to his credit.
Once a quality and durable defensive lineman that could aid most schemes from around the league, Williams has played for five teams — including the Titans — since previously leaving Denver back in 2016. Granted, Williams did help the Titans reach the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade in 2017, but for the money that was originally given to him by the franchise, he quickly became a fringe backup earning the salary of a dependable starter.
5. Chris Simms, Quarterback (2008 & 2010)
Despite technically serving as a member of the Tennessee Titans on more than one occasion, former NFL quarterback Chris Simms never actually played a single down for the organization. Simms first landed with the Titans in September 2008 after the team's starter under center in Vince Young encountered a sprained MCL.
In the absence of the injured Young, Simms briefly served as the Titans backup quarterback behind a veteran in Kerry Collins. Until October 3, when Simms was later released in October 2008 to create an available roster spot punter Josh Miller. Simms was then re-signed by the Titans the following week.
However, Simms would then return to Tennessee a few years later in 2010 as his second stint with the Titans was very similar to his first. Signing with the team yet again in April 2010, Simms would last much longer this time around despite once again failing to appear in a regulation game for the Titans.
In September 2010, Simms was released by the Titans before re-signing with Tennessee in November of that same year to backup fellow signal-caller Rusty Smith, all of which stemmed from a season-ending injury suffered by the organization's original starter under center in Vince Young. Simms would never sign with another NFL franchise after the Titans eventually elected to not bring him back for the 2011 campaign.
Although Simms was a perennial backup at this point in his NFL tenure, it is quite challenging to be a good free agent signing if you quite literally never take the field for the team.
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