5 Bold Predictions for the Tennessee Titans 2018 Roster

Unlike years past, the Tennessee Titans came out swinging to start free agency in 2018. Here are 5 bold predictions for the overall outcome.

Currently, free agency is in full swing, and the Titans have made some big moves early on. The Titans started free agency by signing one of the top available cornerbacks in Malcolm Butler, and followed that up by signing runningback Dion Lewis. While Titans fans love these moves the team has been made the butt of a lot jokes referring to them as the “Tennessee Patriots”.

Adding players isn’t the only moves the Titans have made thus far, the Titans have cut ties with Matt Cassle, Eric Weems, Da’Norris Searcy, DeMarco Murray, and most recently, Karl Klug and Sylvester Williams. Staff members of the Titans currently have their hands full while trying to figure what remaining free agents to target, college pro-days, and which collegiate players they want to invite to Nissan Stadium for a private workout.

We’ve seen some early action, but it’s far from over yet. Here are 5 bold predictions for the Titans 2018 roster.

5. The Titans will add 4 more defensive linemen.

Currently, the Titans are trying to coax Ndamukong Suh into a contract. Suh is one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL. He is currently in Nashville meeting with team officials. Reports surfaced that his dinner date with the team on Saturday night lasted til after midnight.

However, even if the Titans sign Suh, they’re going to need more depth along the line. The Titans were relatively thin at depth there last season, and cutting two players along the line doesn’t help matters. With the moves this team is making, it looks as if the Titans are gearing up to make a legitimate Super Bowl run. If the Titans want to do this, they’re going to need depth along their D-line.

I’m not going to try and predict how the Titans add 4, just that they do. They could split it and sign two and draft two, draft or sign all four, or even draft or sign all four. At the time of writing this article there are some talented defensive linemen left on the open market. Some of these include: Johnathan Hankins, Dominique Easley, Bennie Logan, and Nick Fairley. This draft class is looking deep at the position as well.

4. Kevin Dodd will be cut.

After Kevin Dodd’s rookie season Titans fans were split. Some believed Dodd was a bust after year one, while others believed he needed more time. Headed into year three of his rookie deal there is very little argument about the matter. As a second round pick and spending the later part of the 2017 season as a healthy scratch deserves that title. I believe Dodd should have been gone before Klug. The reason Dodd is still a Titan is because as a second round pick, cutting him would lead to a certain amount of dead money.

3. Aaron Wallace will play a big role on defense.

Aaron Wallace spent basically all of 2017 on injury reserved. Thanks to the departure of Avery Williamson, the Titans have a need at inside linebacker. Wallace will compete with Jayon Brown and probably a rookie for playing time next to Wesley Woodyard.

Wallace gets the edge over Jayon Brown to be a starter, but as for the likely rookie, that’s to be determined. Jayon Brown is to small to be a three-down starter, but he comes in handy for those 3rd and long situations. However, Wallace has the size and versatility to be used in multiple positions. New head coach Mike Vrabel himself describes is defense as “front multiplicity”.

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2. The Titans will sign two veteran wide receiver.

As is stands Rishard Matthews is the only veteran receiver on this roster who will realistically make it. Behind Matthews is Tajae Sharpe who is heading into year three of his rookie contract, but he missed all of 2017. Corey Davis and Taywan Taylor each only have one year of experience.

Many wanted the Titans to go after a big name receiver in free agency such as: Jarvis Landry, Allen Robinson, or Sammy Watkins, but after drafting Corey Davis at number 5 overall in the draft, that wasn’t going to happen. The Titans are expecting Davis to develop into that game changing type of receiver, and they was not going to spend that extra money to do so.

The 2018 draft class at receiver doesn’t look to deep anyhow. However, there are some nice veteran options still available, two former Titans in Eric Decker and Kendall Wright, Brice Butler, Jordan Matthews, and Terrelle Pryor.

1. The Titans will draft a Quarterback and Runningback.

Quarterback:

Titans General Manager Jon Robinson is mostly known for his time with the New England Patriots. Robinson has instilled many things from the “Patriots way” into the Titans organization. One of the things the Patriots seem to do over and over is draft mid-round Quarterbacks and trade them a few years later for higher draft picks or other needs.

A rookie contract lasts for four years. With the right scheme and coaching the Titans could get a solid backup Quarterback in the mid to late-rounds of the draft. With a four year contract the Titans could use this quarterback for three years before trading him.

Given Mariota’s injury history, in a three year contract it’s likely that backup is going to get his time to play/shine. Now, I’m not wishing injury on Mariota what-so-ever, just looking at the numbers. A few mid to late-round quarterback projections include: Rielly Ferguson (Memphis), Mike White (Western Kentucky), Luke Falk (Washington State), and JT Barrett (Ohio State)

Runningback:

You may call me crazy here. The Titans already have two backs capable of being starters in the league in Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis. However, this runningback class is absolutely stacked! Someone is bound to fall, and since when is taking a best player available a bad thing? In fact, I think the Titans could easily become a full blown Runningback-by-comit( RBC) in 2018.

While I myself prefer to having one bell cow runningback, one of the advantages to a RBC is plenty of depth. Another advantage to a RBC backfield is having scheme flexibility. Some scouts said of Henry coming out from the University of Alabama that he would fit best in a RBC backfield. A few runningbacks that could fall to the Titans in round 3 include: Nick Chubb (Georgia), Kerryon Johnson (Auburn), and Rashad Penny (San Diego State). Some late-round runningbacks the Titans could target are: John Kelly (Tennessee), Royce Freeman (Oregon), and Bo Scarborough (Alabama).

What did you think of this list leave us a comment and let us know. Also, what predictions do you have for the 2018 Tennessee Titans?

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