By JAMES FOSTER, special correspondent
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Mike Borgonzi inherited a roster that was thin at most key positions, but didn’t have the draft capital to address every need in a single offseason properly. One of his first major decisions as general manager was choosing which positions to prioritize in Year One.
Borgonzi took an analytically-driven approach, investing heavily in quarterback, wide receiver, edge rusher and offensive tackle, while filling the linebacker room with undrafted free agents and mid-level contracts.
This is a smart philosophy in a vacuum, since linebacker has been shown to yield a poor return on investment early in the draft. But with one of the league’s best defensive tackle duos anchoring them up front, Tennessee is uniquely positioned to execute this teambuilding strategy and come out ahead.
The presence of Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat gives the Titans some immunity to bad linebacker play, as they consistently occupy blocks and provide second-level defenders with a clear path to the ball.
One of the most difficult jobs in the NFL is playing linebacker behind a soft interior defensive line. Fortunately for the Titans, however, the inverse is also true.