Fansided

10 NFL teams who could change their fortunes via Free Agency

By Andrew Garda

Feb 22, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh takes in the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh takes in the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 7, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger (7) against New York Giants the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger (7) against New York Giants the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Tennessee Titans

Overview: The Titans look like a mess that shouldn’t be a mess. They have some talent, but it seems to be scattered all over the field so you can’t point to one unit and say “well, at least the backfield doesn’t suck” or “thank goodness they have that secondary.” They might have a quarterback (they want to believe in Zach Mettenberger) but they lack pieces elsewhere.

They have OK wide receivers, OK running backs, an OK line, some OK defensive players. It doesn’t seem like they are that far off and yet they continue to struggle badly. With $46,576,630 in cap space and just over $5 million in dead cap, they have plenty of ability to add talent. But where do they go first?

Pros: Maybe if this were a good quarterback free agency class, we’d say they should go in that direction, but it’s not and Charlie Whitehurst is as good a backup as any for them. Same thing with running back where Bishop Sankey may yet show us upper echelon talent, but at worst he is a solid runner. What they need to do is attack the offensive line, especially since Michael Oher was mediocre and Chance Warmack has been uninspiring.

Luckily they have a solid tackle with Tayler Lewan, but Michael Roos retired and adding some top end guards – you may be sick of seeing the name here but Mike Iupati comes to mind – could only help the cause. The need some pass rushing help as well, so targeting someone like a Brandon Graham or swinging for the fences with Brian Orakpo or Jason Worilds would make sense.

Cons: The Titans went to address the offensive line last year and it didn’t work. In fact, the Titans often try to address the line and fail. So is it safe to assume that any money they spend might as well be lit on fire? One hopes they learn their lesson, but the franchise has been adrift so long that it’s hard to imagine they have.

Andrew Garda’s work can currently be found on FanSided as well as SportsonEarth.com and the fantasy football site Footballguys.com. You can follow his NCAA basketball work at NJ.com, where he is trying to explain just what is happening with Rutgers and Seton Hall. Garda is also a member of the Pro Football Writers Association. You can follow him on Twitter: @andrew_garda.

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