Following the trade for Julio Jones, the Tennessee Titans have now shored a big position of need at wide receiver, but there are still a few spots the team should explore adding to ahead of 2021.
One of those is at tight end, where the Titans currently have two players at the top of the depth chart who aren’t well-rounded enough to be every-down players.
Geoff Swaim’s best quality is his blocking skills, as he’s a serviceable pass-catcher at best. Meanwhile, Anthony Firkser has proven to be a weapon in the passing game but is a question mark as a blocker.
If the Titans don’t want to become at least a bit predictable on offense, adding a more prototypical every-down tight end makes sense.
One potential option is Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, who is reportedly seeking to be traded or released and has no plans to participate in Philly’s offseason program.
Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton believes that the Titans are a realistic trade destination for the veteran tight end.
Tennessee allowed tight end Jonnu Smith to test the free-agent market, and he signed with the New England Patriots. Ertz and Anthony Firkser can become a solid duo in two-tight end sets for offensive coordinator Todd Downing, who coached the position over the last two years.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill could spread the ball around a solid pass-catching group that would include Ertz, Jones and A.J. Brown, and that could lighten the load for running back Derrick Henry, who leads the league in rushing attempts (896) since 2018.
The Titans have $7.1 million in cap space, but they can restructure left tackle Taylor Lewan’s deal to free up another $7 million to make room for Ertz’s $8.5 million contract.
While Ertz isn’t considered a great blocker, he’s more than capable in that area and would immediately become Tennessee’s most well-rounded tight end upon his arrival.
What’s more intriguing is Ertz’s skills as a pass-catcher. The 30-year-old has been one of the better receiving tight ends in the NFL during his career and adding him to an offense that already includes Jones and A.J. Brown would create even more headaches for opposing defenses.
The obvious preference for the Titans would be to sign Ertz rather than trade for him, as he could come cheaper than the $8.5 million he’d be owed should they acquire him via trade, and it wouldn’t cost draft capital to boot.
We estimate it would cost a fourth-round pick at most to land Ertz seeing as how the interested party would have to pick up his 2021 salary, the last year of his current deal, and he’s coming off a down year in which he battled injury and missed five games.
Tennessee currently sits with about $9 million in top 51 cap space, per Spotrac, but there are still two more draft picks to be signed and the team needs more cap space beyond that for potential in-season moves.
The Titans will have to find another restructure to fit Ertz in. The good news is there are options, as the deals of running back Derrick Henry, left tackle Taylor Lewan and left guard Rodger Saffold could all theoretically be re-worked.
Bringing in Ertz would be yet another sign that the Titans are going for it, and we’re on board with such a move.
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