Titans’ Offseason Positional Preview: Interior Offensive Line

The Tennessee Titans interior offensive line group is one of the most intriguing to watch on the roster as the Titans sit just a few weeks out from free agency. The Titans have some tough decisions and challenges ahead.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans interior offensive line could be in for a major overhaul going into 2023. Before the Titans can add new pieces, they must decide how to handle some of the tough decisions they have on the roster right now. Let’s take a look at what the Titans have on the roster right now and their pending free agents on the interior.

Under Contract

Ben Jones - $8.2 Million Cap Hit

Ben Jones is one of the most interesting players to watch this offseason. Jones will be 34 years old when the season starts and has already played 11 seasons in the NFL. He struggled to stay healthy in 2022 and only played in 12 games before finishing the season on injured reserve. While Jones is still one of the better centers in the NFL when healthy, some believe he may retire.

While not discussed as much as his possible retirement, Jones could also be cut by the Titans as the Titans are in a tight spot with salary cap space. Jones would save the Titans a little less than $4 million on the cap while leaving just over $4 million in dead money. If Jones wants to come back and play, the Titans would be wise to allow it and work to restructure the contract, if needed. The Ben Jones intrigue will continue until we hear his decision on the future.

Jamarco Jones - $2.4 Million Cap Hit

Jamarco Jones was expected to come in and compete for a starting role with the Titans when he was signed last offseason, but that simply didn’t happen. Jones never played a single game with the Titans due to injury and the only news he made was a pre-training camp fight with Taylor Lewan. Jones could potentially be brought back for a second chance as the Titans are very thin on the offensive line, but there is also a chance Jones is cut. The Titans could save a little under $1 million with the cut, but with $1.4 million in dead money barring a trade, it might make the most sense to keep Jones.

Jordan Roos - $1 Million Cap Hit

Roos spent most of the year with the Titans bouncing back and forth between the active roster and the practice squad. He is a guy who well liked in the organization and knows the system. However, Roos is little more than a borderline roster talent. While playing in seven games and making three starts Roos struggled mightily. He never was able to post a pass blocking grade over 34.4, per Pro Football Focus. Roos was better in run blocking, but again, he is someone who will be fighting for a practice squad spot in camp more than a roster spot.

Xavier Newman-Johnson - $870k Cap Hit

John LeGlue - $750 Cap Hit

Zachary Johnson - $870 Cap Hit

All three of the players listed above are young players within their first two years out of college and will be scratching and clawing just to make the practice squad. Maybe even to hold on to an NFL career. Newman-Johnson played in one game for the Titans last year, but only four snaps on offense. He is the favorite out of the group to stick, but not a surefire option. LeGlue played in six games for the Steelers in 2021, but never saw the field in 2022. Both LeGlue and Z. Johnson are signed on futures contracts and will be battling for their NFL careers.

Pending Free Agents

Nate Davis

Along with Ben Jones, what the Titans decide to do with Nate Davis will be fascinating to watch. Davis has been mostly healthy throughout his career, but has missed eight games over the last two seasons, including five missed games in 2022. When Davis plays though he is a solid starting guard who can drive defenders in run blocking, which fits well within the Titans’ ethos. Davis has improved in his pass blocking since coming into the league as well going from a 44.8 pass blocking grade in 2019 to a 66.8 in 2022, per Pro Football Focus.

Davis is a starting guard and the Titans need that, but with the missed games recently the Titans may look to truly overhaul the offensive line including not bring back Davis. Davis will hit free agency if the Titans don’t get a deal done before March 15 and most sites have his estimated contract at around $7 million a season for 3-4 years. Seems like a reasonable price so if the Titans decline at that number, it means they truly wanted to move on regardless of the contract.

Aaron Brewer – Restricted Free Agent

Brewer is a good story for the Titans. He worked his way into the starting lineup after being an undrafted free agent. Vrabel even said he was as “tough as a $2 steak” once. The issue is a $2 steak is still a pretty bad steak and Brewer was downright disastrous at left guard in 2022. For starters, Brewer was the smallest starting offensive lineman in the NFL last year at only 6’1” and 270 pounds. Brewer gave up 36 pressures and four sacks in 2022 and really struggled holding his ground against the monster defensive linemen around the league. If the Titans bring Brewer back, he needs to be at center only where his size is less of an issue. Although, it will not be a non-factor.

Corey Levin

Levin is an interesting name to watch. While spending most of his career as a backup, Levin has shown he has the ability to be a low-level NFL starter. While the Titans’ aspirations should probably be higher, they are limited in what options they will have to improve the offensive line this offseason. If Ben Jones retires and Nate Davis is not re-signed, the Titans will be looking to replace four of five offensive line spots. It will be tough to do so with only six picks in the draft and limited cap space. The Titans could choose to bring Levin back and give him a crack at the starting center role so they can focus their assets to the other three remaining spots.

Check out the rest of the offense below:

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

Tight End

Offensive Tackle

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