Here we go. Time to talk about the most important position we need to address this offseason. Last season's attempt to fix the problem failed miserably, but honestly, nobody could have seen that falling apart the way it did.
First, lets take a look at what we have,
Right now we have three OLB coming back from the disappointing group last season: Landry, Roberson and Tuzar Skipper.
Landry is the best of the bunch but regressed in 2020. I think he will be better as a rotational player if we can bring those snaps down, but I just don’t see him as a major impact player.
Skipper flashed at times, but is more of a developmental/depth guy.
Roberson offers little to nothing as an edge rusher. Hopefully, he gone.
So what to do?! I think we all agree the Titans need to bring in AT LEAST 2 impact edge rushers. My guess is we bring in at least one through FA and at least one through the draft.
FA
Some great names are out there:
Reddick, Judon, Ngakoue, Lawson, Vernon, Aldon Smith, Okwara (DET), Watt, Ingram, Floyd, Hendrickson (NO), Dupree, Hyder (SF), Barrett and of course… Clowney.
This is a huge FA class of edge rushers. I’d love to see us bring in Lawson or Watt AND Okwara AND Vernon on cheap(er) deals for depth. Honestly, getting any TWO from the above list would be huge. Who do you like?
Roster Bubble Cut Possibilities: Von Miller, Dee Ford, Chandler Jones, Preston Smith and Carlos Dunlap
Draft
So, we will be drafting Edge in round 1 or 2 and beyond.
Possible 1-2 round prospects right now appear to be: Kwity Paye, Jayson Oweh, Joe Tyron, Gregory Rousseau, Zaven Collins, Azeez Ojulari and Jaelan Phillips.
If we can get TWO FA pass rushers I think we still go EDGE in round 1 and Interior Defender in round two if there is an impact player there (though the impact DT/DE class is tiny).
Because of the depth at EDGE and lack of depth at DT/DE, I could MAYBE see us going DT/DE in the 1st and EDGE in 2, 3, 4.
Thoughts?
First, lets take a look at what we have,
Right now we have three OLB coming back from the disappointing group last season: Landry, Roberson and Tuzar Skipper.
Landry is the best of the bunch but regressed in 2020. I think he will be better as a rotational player if we can bring those snaps down, but I just don’t see him as a major impact player.
Skipper flashed at times, but is more of a developmental/depth guy.
Roberson offers little to nothing as an edge rusher. Hopefully, he gone.
So what to do?! I think we all agree the Titans need to bring in AT LEAST 2 impact edge rushers. My guess is we bring in at least one through FA and at least one through the draft.
FA
Some great names are out there:
Reddick, Judon, Ngakoue, Lawson, Vernon, Aldon Smith, Okwara (DET), Watt, Ingram, Floyd, Hendrickson (NO), Dupree, Hyder (SF), Barrett and of course… Clowney.
This is a huge FA class of edge rushers. I’d love to see us bring in Lawson or Watt AND Okwara AND Vernon on cheap(er) deals for depth. Honestly, getting any TWO from the above list would be huge. Who do you like?
Roster Bubble Cut Possibilities: Von Miller, Dee Ford, Chandler Jones, Preston Smith and Carlos Dunlap
Draft
So, we will be drafting Edge in round 1 or 2 and beyond.
Possible 1-2 round prospects right now appear to be: Kwity Paye, Jayson Oweh, Joe Tyron, Gregory Rousseau, Zaven Collins, Azeez Ojulari and Jaelan Phillips.
If we can get TWO FA pass rushers I think we still go EDGE in round 1 and Interior Defender in round two if there is an impact player there (though the impact DT/DE class is tiny).
Because of the depth at EDGE and lack of depth at DT/DE, I could MAYBE see us going DT/DE in the 1st and EDGE in 2, 3, 4.
Thoughts?
Are there any Impact Edge that we would consider trading up to get?
I think we should do what we can to sign JJ Watt. His work ethic and leadership would do wonders on the defense, He is an attention whore but if our defense gets better I can deal with it.
I think Clowney comes back on a very team friendly make it type deal.
Good break down on the likely available choices.
I'd like to see a FA and draft as well. I think 2 FA edge players is going to be too costly with a minimal cap availability.
Being that we had next to zero success in the pass rush department, I like the idea of 2-3 drafts used here plus a FA and hopefully at a minimum, a steady rotation will have some success even if no individual really stands out.
If I recall, it was GB a couple years ago with one of the nastiest defenses in the league but 6-7 no names rushing the QB.
Landry is fantastic. He is super active and does a little bit of everything. He isn't a guy that is going to get double digit sacks when coverage is bad and when the defense isn't gap sound and the quarterback can easily step up and run or pass. And he needs less snaps.
I think Roberson is a serviceable speed guy. He barely played last year.
We need at least 3 guys and we really need an impact guy. I don't see much point in talking FA when we don't know the cap and who will be available. Drafting 3 of 4 seems crazy to me, but I wouldn't be mad about drafting 2 edge guys before the weekend.. There are a lot of high ceiling guys in this draft. Payton Turner is a name that we should learn.
I think Roberson is a serviceable speed guy. He barely played last year.
We need at least 3 guys and we really need an impact guy. I don't see much point in talking FA when we don't know the cap and who will be available. Drafting 3 of 4 seems crazy to me, but I wouldn't be mad about drafting 2 edge guys before the weekend.. There are a lot of high ceiling guys in this draft. Payton Turner is a name that we should learn.
Cap space can be found. Cut Adoree or Butler or both. Cut Vacarro and Hump. Restructure Byard and Lewan and Saffold.
Boom. $40 mil cap space.
Please. Make it stop. This is a horrible idea.
Landry was like the 70th rated pass rusher last year. I wish he was “fantastic”, but he’s not.
Why? For what we’re paying Butler and Adoree we could resign King and Borders and sign Brian Poole and still save around $10 million. Start Poole and Fulton/Borders with King in the slot.
Start Hooker instead of Vacarro.
For the cost of Corey Davis and Hump we could prolly sign Marvin Jones, Kenny Stills AND Sammy Watkins.
Hahahahahahaha that’s a horrible starting secondary That would be a massive step backwards. The goal is to get better. Not free up cap space to sign worse players....
I base my comment off him being all over the field.
I just picked Khalil Mack. Last year, Mack had 1 more TFL. Landry had 2 more passes defended, 19 more tackles, 3 more QB hits.
You mentioned Judon. Landry had 19 more tackles, 3 more passes defended, 1 more TFL, and 3 less QB hits.
Bradley Chubb was the other non-TJ Watt AFC Pro Bowl OLB. Landry had 27 more tackles, 5 more passes defended, 1 more TFL, and 3 less QB hits.
Landry isn't going to get you a ton of sacks by himself, but they guy is a 100% effort guy and will shine with the right guys around him.
I'm curious how you get these names.
Brian Poole played slot on a terrible defense. Why would we think he could play outside here? Kenny Stills caught 11 balls for one of the worst teams in the league. Hammy Watkins?
Purely hypothetical riffing. The point is cap space can be freed up by getting creative.
You know what makes a secondary better? Pass rush.
I love Landry, don’t get me wrong. But like I said he needs to be part of a much deeper rotation to reduce his snaps and hopefully he can increase his production. I personally wouldn’t call him “fantastic”, but I hope he proves me wrong this year. That would be awesome!
These aren’t specific people I’m lobbying for. Was just using them to point out the ability to get creative with the cap.
We need EDGE and interior pass rush to make it to the promised land. That will mean getting creative at other positions.
Well yeah. Cutting half our starters and replacing them with scrubs saves money.
Some of that can be done, not all of it.
And good luck attracting talent in the future when you start redoing every other players contract
I don’t think cutting Adoree and Butler helps the team. I also think this year is an anomaly and players will not think negatively about restructures given the reduction (probable) in cap space. Unusual circumstances this year. Typically, restructures mean more upfront money for players so not necessarily a negative thing for them.
Adoree and Butler need restructured....Watkins? He sucks, is non existent or is hurt...no thanks
Stills? Pass
Marvin Jones would be a good signing but I think he'll sign with LAR
This happens on NFL teams ALL the time. And do you really think that high priced players around the league don’t expect their teams to ask them to restructure with the Cap going down this year?
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