NFL Free Agency: Tennessee Titans Expected to “Go Hard” After Andy Levitre
By Josh Hill
It’s no secret that the Tennessee Titans boasted one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season, so it comes as no shock whatsoever that they’re trying to fix that. The free agent guard pool is plentiful this offseason, but the Titans are diving right in and are expected to “go hard” after top choice Andy Levitre once free agency officially opens on Tuesday.
The Titans demonstrated an interest in Levitre earlier in the week, and the two sides have reportedly talked over the weekend. According to Peter King of SI.com, with $19 million dollars to play with, the Titans are going to make a serious run at signing the all-purpose guard to shore up an awful offensive line.
"Tennessee, with an estimated $19 million available to spend, is targeting Buffalo guard and all-purpose lineman Andy Levitre. One source told me Tennessee would go out hard for Levitre in the opening hours of the market, which echoes what beat man Jim Wyatt wrote in the Tennessean last week.– Peter King, SI.com"
Jake Locker is supposedly the future of the franchise, but he was beat up badly last year and protecting him has become a priority in Tennessee. But while Locker will be happy to hear his team is a heat seeking missile after Levitre, Chris Johnson won’t be as tickled. Johnson wasn’t afraid to throw his offensive line under the bus after a poor season in 2012, and Levitre is suited better as a pass protector than as a run blocker.
Still, Johnson isn’t viewed as the future of the team and if the NFL has taught us anything, it’s that you can have the best back in football but you don’t win without a protected quarterback.