Titans Projected Starting Lineup: Defensive Backfield is Two-Faced
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have one of the best safety tandems in the entire NFL with Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker, but the same can not be said at cornerback. The young group of corners that Titans will be working with in 2023 will test the defense. They will need to be healthy and play their best football for the Titans to maximize their wins.
CORNERBACKS
Kristian Fulton
Sean Murphy-Bunting
Roger McCreary(Slot)
Sean Murphy-Bunting was added in free agency. Murphy-Bunting is technically a veteran addition, but at 25 years old, he is far from a sage. Outside of the new addition, every corner on the roster is within their first four years of service in the NFL. Kristian Fulton, Roger McCreary, Elijah Molden, Tre Avery and former first-round pick Caleb Farley make up the rest of the group. When it comes to starting, the two starters on the outside from 2022 will return in Fulton and McCreary, but McCreary has size limitations with his height and arm length that exposed him on the boundary last year. He is most likely destined for a bigger role in the slot.
Molden is a slot all the way, but the Titans only used him on early downs when they had a healthy group in 2021. Molden can be a pseudo-linebacker. He can play in the slot on early downs and factor into the run game. The Titans took him off the field on passing downs in 2021. So, you may see Molden starting on early downs and then McCreary come into the game on passing downs. Murphy-Bunting is a much bigger corner than Molden or McCreary at 6’1”. It makes the most sense for him to be on the outside with Fulton.
How to Address the Need:
The Titans may choose to add a corner in the draft if they have a player in front of them that they simply can’t pass on, but other than that I would be surprised to see any additions at this spot. The Titans have six corners on the roster now and not a lot of wiggle room for more bodies. Maybe someone is able to beat out Avery or Farley, but it would be unlikely any additions, outside of what I described to start this paragraph, no player of true consequence needs added.
SAFETY
Kevin Byard
Amani Hooker
There has been some turmoil with the two safeties over the past year. Hooker signed a new deal last offseason, but was injured most of the 2022 season and only played in nine games. Byard was recently in the news for reportedly declining a pay cut offer from the team. When all the chips fall, the odds are the pair will be starting for the Titans in 2023 and, if healthy, they are still one of the best duos in the entire league.
How to Address the Need:
The Titans absolutely need to add some safeties. Only Hooker and Byard have the talent to be on an NFL roster. The other options the Titans have like Mike Brown and Shyheim Carter are purely training camp bodies. Typically, the Titans will have four to five safeties on the roster. The two starters, but there is normally one safety that plays in passing situations and dime packages that the Titans can trust to play defense and then the remaining safeties are for special teams. The Titans need to focus on the safety that plays in dime. An addition in free agency makes the most sense, but the Titans could look to finally address it with a draft pick as well.
Other Positions:
Titans Related Stories
BYARD DECLINES PAYCUT: The Tennessee Titans approached All-Pro safety Kevin Byard about a pay cut, but Byard refused to take it, per multiple reports. Byard and the Titans now sit at a “crossroads” in regard to his future with the team. CLICK HERE
TITANS TO SIGN MURPHY-BUNTING: The Titans have addressed one of their other biggest areas of need outside their offensive line with the announcement that they are close to a deal with former Tampa Bay cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. CLICK HERE
TITANS FREE AGENT GRADES: The Tennessee Titans have signed five new players so far in free agency, but how smart of a signing was each move? Let’s take a look at some grades for each of the Titans' moves up to this point. CLICK HERE
