NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans' pass-rush upgrade begins not on the edge but on the defensive line with the addition of Denico Autry of the Colts, per Ian Rapoport.
Courtesy Indianapolis Colts
The line has been an understated position of need given the Titans’ major issues on the edge and at receiver as well as at corner.
But the pass rush has gotten little from linemen.
Jeffery Simmons needs to now develop that area of his game, and Autry will make a pass-rush contribution that DaQuan Jones (a highly respected run-stuffing captain) and Jack Crawford, both free agents, simply didn’t provide.
It doesn’t rule out a Jones return, as he played a lot of nose tackle and Autry was a 4-3 end in Indianapolis. He could play on the edge a bit on first down but is best suited as more of an inside rusher.
He's a clear, big upgrade over Crawford and Matt Dickerson and will minimize what needs to be asked of Larrell Murchison in his second season.
The #Titans are signing former #Colts DT Denico Autry to a 3-year deal worth $21.5M, per me and @TomPelissero. He gets $9M guaranteed and $14.25M over 2 years. TEN’s first FA signing.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2021
Autry can win one-on-ones and can line up against tackles or guards. He’s a solid player against the run but is clearly a factor in the pass rush at 31, which he turns in July.
In three seasons with the Colts, he had 20 sacks, and he has 30.5 in his career which started with four seasons with the Raiders, who grabbed him as an undrafted rookie out of Mississippi in 2014.
He’s a big favorite of PK.com contributor Blake Beddingfield who sold me on him during a chat last week.
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