Free Agency bargain sale for the Tennessee Titans
We’re looking for diamonds in the rough for the Tennessee Titans. The guys who are cheaper than super-stars, but can still excel in key roles for a team.
On March 14th, 2018 the NFL free agency period will officially begin. The 12th of March the legal tempering period will begin. During the legal tempering period, teams can contact players whose contracts have expired and begin negotiating. The Titans currently have 11 players set to hit the open market.
Those players include: Eric Decker, Harry Douglas, Erik Walden, Ryan Succop, Brice McCain, Josh Kline, Eric Weems, Brian Schwenke, Brandon Weeden, DaQuan Jones, and Avery Williamson. Quinton Spain and David King are set to be restricted free agents, which means teams can call and negotiate with them, but the Titans will ultimately have a chance to match their offers before they would depart.
In my last article, I made a case for and against resigning each of these guys. In this article, you’re not going to find those big names such as; Jarvis Landry, Allen Robinson, or Trumaine Johnson. This is where you will find names that will potentially give you more bang, than the buck you spend on them, and they will fit a need for the Titans.
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Brice Butler or Sammy Watkins
Brice Butler:
A few weeks ago, Butler appeared on the Undisputed show with Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe. From the way this interview sounded, it is very unlikely Butler resigns with the Cowboys. According to Butler, the Cowboys have specific roles for each of their wide receivers, and Butler wants his opportunity to prove he can do more. He also spoke about taking a team’s starting quarterback into consideration for whatever team he signs with. Butler is in the prime of his career having just turned 28. He is 6’3 and has 4.3 speed. Butler has made some big catches for the Cowboys in the past, and all he needs is an opportunity, and he should be cheap as well.
Sammy Watkins:
Originally Watkins wasn’t going to make this list due to being a “big” name. However, Watkins has struggled with injuries throughout the most of his career. The Titans also brought in Matt LaFleur, who was Watkins offensive coordinator with the Rams. Given his past injuries and having a coach he is familiar with, the Titans could possibly get Watkins at a discount. When healthy Watkins has proven he can be an elite receiver in this league, and if the Titans get him at a deal slightly better than Rishard Matthews, that’s a bargain. Imagine the Titans starting line up, Butler/Watkins, Matthews, and Corey Davis, with Eric Decker, Taywan Taylor, and Tajae Sharpe playing rotational roles. Now, add Delanie Walker to the mix, and Mariota has an entire stable of weapons.
Others: Terrelle Pryor, Jordan Matthews, Paul Richardson, Cody Latimer, Donte Moncrief, Mike Wallace.
Dontari Poe
According to Sportstrac.com Poe’s market value is 5.7M/yr. Now, consider this the Titans have Sylvester Williams on a 5.5M/yr deal. While playing for the Chiefs Poe was an absolute monster. However, after signing a big contract with the Falcons, Poe kind of fell flat. The thing is, we know what Poe is capable of, and if the Titans can get that kind of production for under six million dollars, that would be a steal! With the background of Mike Vrabel and Dean Pees, maximizing his potential shouldn’t be a problem.
Others: Haloti Ngata, Star Lotulelei, David Irving, Kyle Williams
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Jeremiah Attaochu
Attaochu is only 25 years old. He hasn’t quite lived up to his draft pedigree being taken in the second-round by the Chargers, but he is highly athletic. The Chargers use him very similarly to how Vrabel used Jadeveon Clowney in Houston. You could also look at what Pees did with all of those undrafted free agents in Baltimore. With Derrick Morgan, Brian Orakpo, and Erik Walden all getting older, the Titans not only need more depth, they need some youth as well.
Others: Aldon Smith, Nigel Bradham, Trent Murphy.
Will the Titans sign all of these guys? Of course not. I expect another year of conservative free agency. When the 2019 NFL free agency comes around the Titans will have to resign Taylor Lewan, Delanie Walker, Derrick Morgan, and Brian Orakpo. In 2020 Marcus Mariota is going to break the bank. Whatever salary cap a team has left over rolls over to the next year. So, planning for the future is important.
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