Grading the Tennessee Titans' Signings in Week One of Free Agency
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have been making moves in the first week of free agency. No, they haven’t made any big money splashes, but they have clearly been targeting players who they think can be starters that haven’t gotten the chance yet. Let’s go through each signing that has happened and talk about how well the Titans did. One thing to note, the Titans have not released exact contract details on all of their signings.
Andre Dillard – GRADE: B-
The first signing the Titans made was for offensive lineman Andre Dillard. After spending four seasons in Philadelphia, mostly as a bench player and utility man, Dillard should get a chance to start for the Titans on the left side of the offensive line. Dillard has experience at guard and tackle, although the majority of that experience is at left tackle. Dillard’s signing gives the Titans flexibility in the 2023 NFL Draft as they can take a guard or tackle to play on the left and Dillard can man the other spot.
This is reported to be a three-year deal worth $29 million. That is a positive to me. It is a low-risk deal that will likely be a two-year contract when the final numbers come out based on guaranteed money. There is the high reward of Dillard becoming a stud left tackle. He would be playing for an incredible discount at that point. The reality is though this signing is probably going to end up in the middle of low-risk, high-reward. Odds are Dillard is a borderline starter and the Titans have answered no long-term questions on the offensive line. Dillard will most likely be a band-aid for the Titans as they transition to a new core of young players within the next two offseasons.
Azeez Al-Shaair – GRADE: B
The Titans added to their thin linebacker group early in free agency with the signing of Al-Shaair. Former starting linebacker David Long went to the Miami Dolphins and left a major hole in the roster. Al-Shaair is another low risk, high reward signing because he was a back up in San Francisco in 2022 and was brought in on a reported one-year deal worth up to $6 million. The phrase “up to” is key here as that indicates a part of the contract is incentive based. Meaning Al-Shaair would need to hit certain criteria (Statistics, Game Played, Awards) to maximize his contract.
He will get the opportunity to do so as it looks like Al-Shaair is the only linebacker currently on the team with starting experience. Al-Shaair is most likely, as discussed with Dillard, a band-aid signing though. He is someone you can plug in and can start, but isn’t a long-term solution either. Only committing one year and under $6 million make it even less of a risk than the Dillard deal, which gets it a tick ahead grade-wise.
Luke Gifford – GRADE: C+
Gifford was brought over from the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year deal worth just under $2 million on the cap. Gifford has been a special teams ace for the Cowboys playing over 900 special teams snaps in his career. The issue with this signing is that is all Gifford can do. Some could be optimistic about his ability to play defense, but the truth is he has played only 74 defensive snaps in his career. Again, the odds are high that Gifford is what he has always been, a special-teams player. The Titans need that linebacker depth, but it is hard to get too excited about the move.
Daniel Brunskill – GRADE: B+
Brunskill brings great versatility to the Titans. He’s had over 300 career snaps at every position on the line from the center to the right tackle. Brunskill gives you a potential starting right guard, but if injuries hit, he can play elsewhere. That sort of coverage is key for the Titans considering they have had record injuries in the past two seasons. The key for the Brunskill signing to me is the commitment.
Brunskill’s deal is only two years long according to reports and the logical expectation is the salary is anywhere from $4 million to $6 million. Brunskill has a little less risk than Dillard because of the price, but I personally think there is a better chance Brunskill is worth the money. Brunskill is a another guy who was not a starter in 2022, but he still played over 600 snaps and appeared in 17 games after starting all of 2021. He could slide into a starting role for the Titans for a few years as they transition to the next era.
Arden Key – GRADE: A-
The Arden Key signing will get the highest grade from me for a simple reason. Key is the most talented player the Titans have signed so far and you steal Key away from a division rival in Jacksonville. The last time the Titans grabbed a pass rusher away from a division opponent it turned out pretty well(see: Denico Autry). Not only that, but Key was brought in on a very reasonable deal. Three years and $21 million for a player who was second in the NFL in quarterback pressures the last month of the 2022 season seems like an incredible bargain.
It isn’t just the contract though. A big part of this grade is what it means for the Titans’ pass rush. Having Key to go with Simmons, Autry, Landry and Weaver has the chance to give the Titans one of the best pass rush units in the NFL. When the Titans are at their best as a team the last two seasons, it is because they are smothering offenses with their relentless attack of the quarterback. Key can help them get back to doing just that.
- TITANS SIGN DILLARD: The Titans' biggest area of need entering free agency has their first new member with the announcement that former Eagles tackle Andre Dillard will sign with Tennessee. CLICK HERE
- TITANS LOSE DAVIS: The Tennessee Titans will need to find a new starting right guard after free agent Nate Davis joins the Chicago Bears on a three-year deal. CLICK HERE
- FREE AGENCY FORESHADOWING: The Tennessee Titans are set at the starting line of NFL Free Agency with a ton of needs on the roster. How they choose to address those needs will tell us a lot about how the front office sees the team’s potential in 2023. CLICK HERE
