Titans’ Top Free Agent Targets at Biggest Need Positions
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans head into free agency in a transition period. The roster is being flipped by new general manager Ran Carthon and in the process, the Titans have created a number of roster needs. Three needs stand out above the rest and all three come on the offensive side of the ball.
Those needs are at offensive tackle, the interior offensive line and wide receiver. The offensive line is in shambles with two starters being released in Taylor Lewan and Ben Jones and two more starters, Nate Davis and Aaron Brewer, set to be free agents. The Titans had no valid depth behind those players to promote so, with the exception of Nicholas Petit-Frere, the Titans need four new starters. Certainly, the 2023 NFL Draft will be used to fix these issues, but veteran help will be needed as well.
Offensive Tackle – Mike McGlinchey
McGlinchey checks all the boxes for the Titans. He is a good player who is a devastating run blocker. He fits the mentality the Titans want to play with and Carthon will have hands-on experience with McGlinchey from their time together in San Francisco. McGlinchey can move into the right tackle spot right away, but if needed, McGlinchey could kick over to the left tackle spot, where he played in college.
McGlinchey will be highly sought after in free agency so the Titans may have competition, but the Titans won’t have to pay as much for McGlinchey as the top offensive tackle, Orlando Brown, will be getting paid. You get a certified starter at a major position of need for less than top of the market money? Sounds like a perfect fit for the Titans.
Interior Offensive Line – Ethan Pocic
With the release of long-time starting center Ben Jones, the Titans need significant help not only at tackle, but on the interior. No position on the interior offensive line is as important as center. The idea of drafting a pivot in April does make sense, but is quite the risk to take. The Titans would be smart to get a veteran in place who they can trust to be their center if they do not get a great opportunity to fill that spot in the draft.
Pocic is used to a smashmouth philosophy from his time with the Cleveland Browns last year. He is has good athleticism that will allow him to get to the second level on the Titans’ zone runs. Pocic should also be a value signing around $7-8 million and that should make Pocic a great option for what the Titans are looking for.
Wide Receiver – Allen Lazard
Lazard is not a flashy name by any means. He had great moments in Green Bay with the Packers, but at no point was mistaken for a number one wide receiver. The thing is, the Titans don’t need him to be that and won’t pay him like that either. Lazard needs to be a solid compliment to Treylon Burks. Burks was drafted in the first round and needs to become the Titans’ top passing target.
Lazard, at 6’5” and 225 pounds, could be a nice pairing with Burks. Lazard’s size, strength and blocking ability is what the Titans like at the position and Lazard has the speed to get down field and make plays. Not a big splash, but the kind of talented depth the Titans need to start to re-work their wide receiver room.
SIMMONS SET FOR PAY DAY: The Washington Commander dropped the first domino in the defensive tackle market in free agency on Sunday with the announcement that they have agreed to a deal with Daron Payne. The deal means that the asking price for Jeffrey Simmons likely just went up. CLICK HERE
TITANS IMPACT BY DRAFT TRADE: The Carolina Panthers made headlines with their trade up to the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and even though the Tennessee Titans weren’t involved in the trade, they were impacted both positively and negatively. CLICK HERE
TITANS EXTEND PRO BOWLER: The Tennessee Titans have agreed to their first extension of the 2023 offseason by bringing back talented long snapper Morgan Cox on a one-year deal. CLICK HERE
