In their list of the top 100 free agents available this offseason, The Athletic predicts the Tennessee Titans will sign three of them.
Here’s a look at which players Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic thinks the Titans will sign, along with their overall ranking in the top 100.
8. Jadeveon Clowney (DE): Titans
Let’s get crazy. The Titans produced a sack or QB hit on 18.8% of opponents’ pass plays last year — that ranked 24th. Clowney’s skills are best maximized in a creative defensive scheme where he can line up in different spots and create havoc. The Titans offer that, plus Mike Vrabel is familiar with Clowney from their time together in Houston. Tennessee goes all-in and lands one of the year’s highest-profile free agents.
11. Ryan Tannehill (QB): Titans
The franchise tag makes a lot of sense here. In 2019, Tannehill became the second player during the Super Bowl era — Joe Montana was the first — to complete over 70% of his passes and average over 9.0 YPA in a season. But it was a 10-game sample. The Titans should be wary about making a long-term commitment to him.
24. Derrick Henry (RB): Titans
If there’s no agreement on a new CBA, teams can use the franchise and transition tags this offseason. That would benefit the Titans with Tannehill and Henry as pending free agents. Henry is coming off a 409-touch season (playoffs included), but I don’t see a scenario where the Titans let him walk.
The last two are easy, as both Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill are expected back in Nashville. Tennessee could use the franchise tag on one and sign the other to a long-term deal, or just simply sign both.
However, the big splash here comes in the form of signing Jadeveon Clowney, who is easily the biggest name in the group of pass-rushers on the open market this offseason.
Signing the 27-year-old would be costly and come with some risk because of his injury history, but if Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has proven anything, it’s that he can get the most out of Clowney.
Back in 2017, Vrabel was Clowney’s defensive coordinator and the South Carolina product totaled 9.5 sacks that season, the most of his career. Vrabel loves players he’s familiar with, so adding Clowney is a distinct possibility.
In recent days, Tennessee has been positioning itself to possibly make a big move, as the cuts of Dion Lewis, Cameron Wake, Ryan Succop and Delanie Walker have freed up an extra $18 million to work with.
Four other Titans made the list of the top 100 free agents, but Kapadia predicts Jack Conklin, Logan Ryan, Marcus Mariota and Kamalei Correa will sign elsewhere.
25. Jack Conklin: Browns
45. Marcus Mariota: Raiders
51. Logan Ryan: Dolphins
97. Kamalei Correa: Texans
An argument can certainly be made for each of those Titans impending free agents to leave for those destinations.
The legal tampering period is set to start on March 16, with free agents officially being able to sign with teams at the beginning of the new league year on March 18.