The camps are underway, teams are evaluating the talent on their current roster and contemplating signing one of the remaining free agents on the market. There are five of those players available that would immediately help the defending back-to-back AFC South Champions, the Tennessee Titans, setting them apart from the pack with hopes of locking up a third straight crown.
Odell Beckham, Wide Receiver
By far Beckham is the best name still available on the open market. Especially after tight end, Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement for the second time. He is coming off of his second torn ACL, which is part of the reason teams have remained hesitant in signing him. The second reason, which is the one factor that will keep a team like the Titans from bringing him in, is the prima donna antics that have followed him his entire career. Tennessee has made it a habit to not bring in those types of players for fear they will be a distraction if the team faces any adversity. Beckham if he is healthy would be a risk worth taking for the Titans even if the latter were to come to fruition.
Julio Jones, Wide Receiver
This one can be considered a been-there done that after the season the seven-time Pro Bowl receiver recorded last season. After the shocking draft-day trade that sent A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles, it wouldn’t be an entirely bad idea to give Jones another shot, given the current wide receivers on their current roster. Robert Woods, the former Los Angeles Rams playmaker who is returning from a torn ACL. First-round pick Treylon Burks, whose conditioning has come into question since he’s been in camp. After that, the depth chart features Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Dez Fitzpatrick, and Racey McMath.
If Jones’ pesky hamstring that has hampered him and his impact in the last two and a half seasons can be overcome, Jones can still be a viable playmaker, just a step or two slower than he was. Jones also had a year in the Titans system. Production aside, Jones would be a veteran presence and provide his insight to make them more successful.
Ndamukong Suh, Defensive Tackle
Suh, the former No. 2 overall pick, will turn 36 by the end of the season, and his best years are behind him. He was a key cog in Tampa Bay’s defense. He’s always been known as a run-stopping player but he can also guarantee a handful of sacks. If the Titans were to add him and put him alongside Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry on their defensive line it would only increase Simmons, who accounted for three of the Titans’ nine sacks of Joe Burrow in their playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. A Suh and Simmons tandem would look like the Albert Haynesworth and Jevon Kearse havoc-wreaking tandem of 20 years ago. With Bud Dupree, Harold Landry III, Zach Cunningham, and David Long rounding out the front seven this defense would be, at least on paper, one of the top units in the NFL instantly.
Will Fuller, Wide Receiver
There are other receivers available, including the other two on this list, that would be a better fit and potentially be more impactful for the Titans. Fuller, when healthy, has speed and playmaking ability that would boost many teams’ receiving corps. The major upside is he may be the least expensive option if they were to add a pass catcher. He has always had success against the Titans when he was with the Houston Texans before playing in Miami with the Dolphins last season. So the Titans who saw him two times a season for five years know better than anybody what he could bring to their offense.
Kevin King, Cornerback
The Titans have built their secondary, mainly their cornerbacks through the last three drafts. Kristian Fulton, Caleb Farley, and Elijah Molden, are joined by this year’s second-round selection of Roger McCreary. While their plan seems to be younger players who will likely take chances behind their front seven that likes to get after the quarterback. They could benefit from a veteran. A proven one in King who prior to getting injured last season in Green Bay was having by far the best season of his career.
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