Now that we’re nearly two weeks into free agency, it’s time to see what analysts from different media outlets think about the moves the Tennessee Titans have made thus far.
We start our grades round-up with USA TODAY’s Nate Daviswho gave the Titans a “C” for the biggest moves they’ve made so far this offseason. Here’s his thoughts:
They had roughly $80 million in cap space, more than any other AFC team, when the negotiating window opened. By collective bargaining rules, they had to spend a good amount of that ⦠but the Titans seemed especially aggressive despite the appearance they’re near the start of a rebuild after saying goodbye to Derrick Henry, HC Mike Vrabel and QB Ryan Tannehill.
Nevertheless, GM Ran Carthon ponied up for Ridley (4 years, $92 million), even though he’s never truly established himself as a No. 1 receiver, C Lloyd Cushenberry (4 years, $50 million), CB Chidobe Awuzie (3 years, $36 million), Pollard (3 years, $21 million), and LB Kenneth Murray (2 years, $15.5 million), among others. Feels like a heavy expenditure for players who come with performance questions and seem unlikely to lift this team out of the AFC South cellar in 2024. But Carthon also had to provide second-year QB Will Levis and rookie HC Brian Callahan with ammunition.
Davis’ last sentence is the key point here for the Titans’ offseason. After having a disaster around him in 2023, the Titans needed to supply Will Levis with much more support if they were going to properly evaluate and make sure he’s “the guy” for the future.
There’s still more work to be done at the tackle spots, but there’s no question Tennessee is on the verge of doing what was paramount: setting Levis up for success.
Now, the rest of our grades round-up:
Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ridley was the big fish on the market once all of the top wideouts either re-signed or got franchise-tagged. For most of free agency, it seemed that Ridley’s options were the Jaguars or Patriots, but the Titans came in toward the end with a strong offer to close the deal. The Titans did have a need at wide receiver, but there is some risk to paying Ridley more than $90 million when he’s going to turn 30 in December. Tennessee is also paying Ridley as a top-10 wide receiver even though he ranked 45th in PFF receiving grade, 50th in yards per route run and in the top 25 in drop rate this past season.
Tennessee desperately needed help across the offensive line, and center was a smart place to start with Aaron Brewer on the way out in free agency. Will Levis gets a veteran who can pass block as well as any center across the league, one with the potential for continued growth as he works under offensive line coach Bill Callahan.
Tennessee is set to lose Derrick Henry, and no running back can fill that void, so the team is pairing Pollard with 2023 rookie Tyjae Spears. Both players can do it all, in particular catching the ball cleanly without having to slow down to gather, and their presence on the field will never be a tell. Perhaps a short-yardage/bell-cow type could be a welcome addition, as well. Nonetheless, until the Titans massively upgrade their offensive line, it won’t matter who is in the backfield.
Syndication: The Tennessean
The Titans had a clear need at running back with Derrick Henry now with the Baltimore Ravens, so they signed a Tennessee native in 26-year-old running back Tony Pollard. He slogged through a tough 2023 in which he was still battling the lingering effects from a fibula injury in the 2022 postseason against the San Francisco 49ers. Over a year fully removed from that incident, he should be closer to his 5.9 yards per touch self from 2022 when he led the NFL in that metric. Paving the way for Pollard will be PFF’s 10th-highest graded center Lloyd Cushenberry (74.7 offensive grade). The former Denver Bronco excels in pass protection as his 76.4 PFF pass-blocking grade is the third-best among centers in the entire league, trailing only Chiefs Pro Bowler Creed Humphrey (78.6) and Colts Pro Bowler Ryan Kelly (78.3). Denver let him walk, and he procured a top of the market contract. Awuzie and Murray will be Day 1 starters along the Titans defense, a nice haul for a rebuilding squad.
Ridley gives the Titans a proven No. 1 wideout who should still have some prime years left in him. Rudolph, who went 3-0 as Pittsburgh’s starter last season, should provide good competition for Will Levis this summer.
Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
Dallas Robinson, Pro Football Network:
Ridley’s new $23 million salary is eye-popping, and Pollard probably didn’t play well enough to warrant a three-year, $21.75 million deal.
But don’t we always want teams to spend around young quarterbacks like the Titans’ Will Levis, if only to get an answer on their ability? With Ridley, Pollard, DeAndre Hopkins, TE Chig Okonkwo, and a (hopefully) improved, Cushenberry-led offensive line, Levis won’t have any excuses.
Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
While Sneed was a sound late addition to the defense via trade, the Titans are definitely remaking their offense into a pass-first attack with Brian Callahan and Nick Holz. Calvin Ridley provides a huge new weapon for Will Levis in Year 2 to go along with Deandre Hopkins and others. Tony Pollard adds to the open-field explosiveness of Tyjae Spears to help replace Henry. Lloyd Cushenberry is a nice inside pass-protection upgrade in front of Levis next to 2023 first-rounder Peter Skoronski. Mason Rudolph is now the better-suited backup. The defensive moves were just OK, but Tennessee needs to find out quickly if Levis is a true franchise QB. These moves further that objective.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Someone thought it was a great idea to break the bank for Calvin Ridley. It wasn’t me, honest. Tony Pollard needs to be used better than he was in Dallas. He’s a good pickup. Lloyd Cushenberry will benefit the O-line.
Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
Signed Ridley (four years, $92 million), Pollard (three years, $24 million), Awuzie, Cushenberry and linebacker Kenneth Murray. Lost Henry, Al-Shaair, Brewer and Murphy-Bunting.
2024-03-24 12:07:55
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