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2022 NFL Free Agency has been fairly quiet for the Tennessee Titans, who have made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, but just because the Titans haven't signed many players from other teams doesn't mean general manager Jon Robinson hasn't been active at all.
After re-signing edge rusher Harold Landry, the Titans really turned it on in the past couple days, filling two needs with the signing of tight end Austin Hooper from Cleveland, and the trade of a 6th round pick to the Los Angeles Rams in return for the services of wide receiver Robert Woods.
It must be said the Titans entered the offseason with few holes in the roster, and most have been plugged, but after all the moves made so far, a couple still remain, the biggest being at right tackle after the release of David Quessenberry, who while being Pro Football Focus' #1 graded run blocker, also gave up more sacks than any offensive lineman in the league.
Titans 2022 NFL Free Agency Needs
The Titans have a few options for filling this hole, but not a lot of money to work with. OverTheCap.com and Spotrac both have the Titans at roughly $6.7M over the salary cap, though that's expected to go down given the release of receiver Julio Jones is a post June 1st designation, which will save the team roughly $10M in cap space.
If the team can create a bit more cap space, through either more cuts, trades, or contract restructures, there are actually several options remaining in free agency. It's worth mentioning the Titans have already signed tackle Jamarco Jones, though it's unclear whether that's for a starting role or a backup role. If it's the latter, the Titans, assuming they find the cap space, could join the race for possibly the best remaining free agent, right tackle Terron Armstead.
The 30 year old has long been one of the most dependable tackles in football, and would likely be paid like it, likely commanding enough to make him the ninth tackle in the league to be paid upwards of $16M per season, so it would take quite the cap wizardry to find the money to bring the former New Orleans Saint to the Music City.
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If they decide to go a different route, or can't find the money to pursue Armstead, 14 year veteran Duane Brown may be an option. At this point in his career, he'd likely come fairly cheap, and on a very short term contract, allowing the Titans to invest draft capital at the position, depending their assessment on the future best position of last year's draft pick at the position, Dillon Radunz. Brown also fits a zone blocking scheme very well, as that's what he's been a part of in both Houston and Seattle.
The Titans could also find a cheaper free agent option in Daryl Williams, formerly of the Buffalo Bills, who is listed as a guard, but probably plays best at right tackle. That versatility may suit the team well though, as injuries often forced the team to reshuffle the line throughout the 2021-22 season.
As mentioned with Brown, Williams also would be much cheaper than Armstead, with his last contract containing an average salary of only $8M per season. He's also younger than both Brown and Armstead, at only 29, so this contract would likely contain the entirety of Williams' prime.
As mentioned, the Titans could also invest more draft capital at the position if they view Dillon Radunz as a future guard, though if they view him best at right tackle, the solution is right in front of them. Radunz filled in to start at left tackle for the injured Taylor Lewan against the San Francisco 49ers last season, and performed very well against one of the best pass rushing defensive lines in the league, only allowing one pressure, which came early in the first quarter.
Should they look to the draft for another tackle, however a realistic option in the first round would be Northern Iowa's Trevor Penning, who charted the single highest run blocking grade Pro Football Focus has ever recorded, even if against FCS opposition, which bodes well for the run-heavy Titans.
Other, later round tackles the Titans could realistically target include Tulsa's Tyler Smith, Arizona State's Kellen Diesch, who only allowed seven pressures all season last year, and Kentucky's Darian Kinnard. A good list for sure, and the Titans hold picks in just the rounds to take any of these four tackles, and there are plenty more who are expected to go on day 3 of the draft that the Titans could see as a future contributor.
