The Tennessee Titans have produced three-straight 9-7 seasons, leaving fans like me itching to get over the hump. With the 2019 NFL combine arriving, general manager Jon Robinson has to have a superb offseason.
The Titans have a variety of issues keeping them as one of the average teams in the NFL. One of the most glaring problems is the health and inconsistency of quarterback Marcus Mariota. I am not calling for Mariota’s job yet, but this offseason it is time to build a team around him that leaves no doubt whether or not he is the franchise quarterback of the future.
First, the Titans must land a veteran wide receiver in free agency. This past season, the wide receiver group was a clear weakness. Outside of Corey Davis, not a single player on the team eclipsed 500 receiving yards on the season. Even Davis was very inconsistent. I am looking for the Titans to bring in a veteran slot receiver to act as Mariota’s security blanket, much like a Julian Edelman for Tom Brady as we saw in Super Bowl LIII. There are a few targets in free agency that are of interest. Ideally, the best option is Golden Tate. However, the more realistic options are Cole Beasley of the Cowboys or Jamison Crowder of the Redskins. The Titans do not need to necessarily have an elite player in the slot. They just need someone that Mariota can get the ball to quickly and take some of the pressure of the featured weapons such as Davis and Delanie Walker. Given the right opportunity, Beasley could flourish with Mariota in the 2019 season. Additionally, Robinson needs to draft a receiver in the second or third round. If South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel is still on the board at the 51-slot, the Titans should pull the trigger on him.
Next, the Titans need to make significant improvements to the interior of their offensive line. Aging guard, Josh Kline and center, Ben Jones struggled mightily in the 2018 season. With Mariota seemingly injury prone, a weak interior line will once again wreck the season if it is not addressed. This is where I want Robinson to be aggressive in free agency. With an upgrade at center and right guard, the Titans can return to hosting one of the elite offensive lines in the league. I want him to throw the bulk of their 40 million dollars of cap space (12th most in the NFL) at Rams guard, Rodger Saffold and Broncos center, Matt Paradis. Landing one of both of those guys this offseason would be a homerun. This move helps Mariota stay healthy and gives Derrick Henry’s production an even brighter outlook in 2019.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Titans lost linebacker, Brian Orakpo via retirement and seem to be moving on Derrick Morgan as he is an unrestricted free agent. With Harold Landry approaching his second year, he looks to be a star in the making on the edge of the defense. I look for the Titans to take an edge rusher to pair him with in the first round. Assuming they don’t trade up or down, Jachai Polite, pass-rush specialist from Florida is a perfect fit at the 19-slot. Polite finished his collegiate career with 15.5 sacks, 26.5 tackles for loss, and 8 forced fumbles. He possesses elite speed and relentless effort that scouts are raving about. The edge rush has been a problem for the Titans during the past two seasons and the addition of the high-motored Polite and the emergence of Landry could be a lethal weapon for the Titans in the near future as well as the next decade. In the middle rounds of the draft, the Titans could benefit from adding a disruptive defensive tackle to pair with Jurrell Casey such as Jonathan Ledbetter from Georgia or Demarcus Christmas from Florida State. The front seven is so close to being an elite group and could rise to that level with the right decisions this offseason. As far as the secondary goes, I think re-signing safety Kenny Vaccaro is the only move needed.
Lastly, the back-up quarterback position needs to be significantly improved and I cannot stress this enough. Mariota has not finished a full season in his four-year career. It is almost disrespectful to roll out guys like Blaine Gabbert, giving the team no chance to win. My solution: draft the 6’7”, 245-pound quarterback from Buffalo, Tyree Jackson. I see Jackson as a more accurate Cam Newton. Jackson has an all-world arm and can make any throw on the field. His combination of size, strength, and athleticism will make for a smooth transition to the NFL. Jackson should be available well into the fourth round so we are not risking a whole lot in order to take him. Not only will Jackson improve the back-up quarterback position, but if the Titans front office comes to the conclusion that Mariota is no longer the answer, he will have some experience under his belt and can be evaluated as the next starting quarterback. This move seems to be a win-win to me.
Having said all that, the 2019 season is a huge make or break year for a lot of the Titans organization. Mariota must prove he can stay healthy and get back to looking like he did during his impressive 2016 campaign. New offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith will be challenge with tailoring his offense to fit the strengths of Mariota and the rest of the new pieces they add. The NFL is a much different game than it was a few years ago and a luck-luster, run of the mill offense is not going to get it done. The front office has to use this season as the final evaluation for Mariota. If Derrick Henry is playing to his capabilities, the offensive line returns to being elite, and we add enough weapons for Mariota to succeed, he no longer has any excuses to be mediocre. If the Titans turn in another unimpressive season in 2019, the jobs of Mariota, Robinson, and head coach Mike Vrabel will be in serious trouble.