To say this season ended up being a pleasant surprise for the Tennessee Titans would be an understatement. After squeaking into the playoffs with a 9-7 record, the Titans went on a tear that saw them upset the Patriots and the Ravens before ultimately losing to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship.
So, now the question is “what’s next?”
Jon Robinson has to roll up the sleeves and get to the wheelin’ and dealin’ he’s come to be known for as the General Manager of the by God Tennessee Titans. Here’s how I see it shaking down.
2020 Offseason Plan for the Tennessee Titans
Defensive Coordinator – Plenty of time to settle this one, but the longer it goes on, the more likely it would seem that the Titans are just going to promote from within. They just hired Anthony Midget to replace Kerry Coombs as the secondary coach. Adam Caplan reported that the rumor going around was Shane Bowen for the DC job, but personally, I’d go with Tyrone McKenzie. Regardless, there should be some continuity on defense.
Ryan Tannehill – This team turned its season around when Tannehill was named the starter. He’s developed a tremendous chemistry with play-caller Arthur Smith and wide receiver A.J. Brown. It seems like a perfect fit, and you don’t always find that in the NFL. While you’d be foolish not to expect him to come back down to Earth a little bit in 2020, I think he has to be the top priority for this regime once free agency hits.
Derrick Henry – Up next is Derrick Henry. We can sit here and debate who’s more important to the Titans offense between Tannehill and him, but honestly, the Titans need to do everything in their power to bring them both back. Henry was once again the hottest running back in the NFL down the stretch. And, he doesn’t have the typical wear and tear you see on a running back that’s due for a big second contract. Plus, he’s built like a brick shithouse – you’d think he’d be more durable than your average back. You wanna know how valuable he was? Just think about what this Titans team would’ve done had they been forced to rely on Dion Lewis all January.
Free agency, Pt. 1 – The Titans have a lot of other decisions to make regarding free agency. Jack Conklin, Logan Ryan, and Dennis Kelly immediately come to mind, but the Titans have nearly two dozen players entering free agency (restricted or unrestricted). I think they’ll be in a better place regarding cap space than most, but they’re still not going to be able to bring everyone back. Gun to my head, I think Conklin might be the player they won’t be able to afford.
Free agancy, Pt. 2 – Figuring out who to keep is one thing, but figuring out which new players to sign is another. A lot of people have high hopes for a Jadeveon Clowney or a Michael Judon, but it’s going to be interesting to see who the Titans bring back and what will be left over for the prized free agents.
The NFL Draft – The last step in fortifying this roster comes in the form of nailing another NFL Draft. 2019 was a great class. J-Rob has a track record of being a decent drafter so far, so there’s definitely reason for confidence. The Titans need help at EDGE, for sure, but if they want to build to beat the Chiefs offense, they could use some more speed at cornerback.
Finding another running back is going to be important, too. Part of what made Henry so effective in the postseason was just how healthy he was in December and beyond. They have to keep using him the same way to be successful, and in order to do that, they need a better guy to relieve him when he needs a break. Maybe they’ll be in the market for another tight end or offensive lineman, but that’ll largely be determined by how the Titans handle free agency.
This is a big offseason for the Tennessee Titans. They’re in a position to make this roster even deeper. If they win earlier in 2020, they’ll be closer to achieving the goal of hosting playoff games instead of playing on the road the whole way next year.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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