NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans want to be substantially younger and healthier.
They’ve also talked about being less of a player in free agency, filling in the roster with players who are good for their culture and can produce, but not so much the centerpieces.
That’s easy to say, but as thin as they are and with over $35 million in effective cap space, they should take a swing or two. They could gain $10.9 million if they decide Harold Landry has faded, $7.6 million if they seek to upgrade Kenneth Murray and $3.3 million if they end their relationship with Nicholas Petit-Frere. (The total is $21.8 million.)
We will go by the Titans' positions of needs and consider the top-of-list free agents.
I use the age a guy will be at the start of the season and injuries are the best I could compile from a variety of sources.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Tee Higgins
Age: 26
Games missed: 17 of 84 (20 percent)
Injuries: Shoulder, concussion, hamstring (3), rib, quad
PFF 2024 grade: 88.2 (sixth)
2024 snaps: 635
His yards 12.5 per reception were the lowest of his five-year career in 2024 but he had a career-highs in catches per game (6.1) and touchdowns (10) in just 12 games. It seems the Bengals will tag him as they look to work out a deal.
He has appeal because he's younger, connected to Brian Callahan and big at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds.
Chris Godwin
Age: 29
Games missed: 25 of 132 (19 percent)
Injuries: Hamstring (2), concussion, finger, ACL, MCL sprain, dislocated ankle (2024)
PFF 2024 grade: 86.3 (10th)
2024 snaps: 258
The Bucs want him back, but they won’t tag him as it would be a third time which elevates the price to a prohibitive level. He’s been a great player, but he’s coming off the dislocated ankle and pushing 30.
Stefon Diggs
Age: 31
Games missed: 20 of 164 (12 percent)
Injuries: Ribs, groin (2), hip, knee, torn ACL (Oct. 27, 2024)
PFF 2024 grade: 79.0
2024 snaps: 430
Like Godwin, coming off a season-ending injury. Doesn't speak well for him that the Bills dealt him and fared two games better in the standings and advanced further in the playoffs with what was regarded as a lesser group of receivers with Josh Allen winning MVP with them.
Amari Cooper
Age: 31
Games missed: 10 of 164 (six percent)
Injuries: Wrist, heel, concussion, ankle
PFF 2024 grade: 68.7
2024 snaps: 667
Better at staying healthy. But just finished playing for his fourth team, which certainly says something about how he's been valued by the Raiders, Cowboys, Browns and now, maybe, the Bills.
Keenan Allen
Age: 33
Games missed: 42 of 196 (21 percent)
Injuries: PCL, collarbone, kidney, ACL, hamstring, heel
PFF 2024 grade: 64.4
2024 snaps: 848
He had a terrific 11 years with the Chargers, producing 95.6 receiving yards per game in his last season there in 2023. In a year in Chicago, it was 49.6 yards with a rookie quarterback.
The Titans signed their 30-year-old costly free agent wide receiver last year in Calvin Ridley. I think they should steer clear of old guys with injury histories. The only big name above I'd consider is Higgins.
They picked a mediocre receiver with the fifth overall pick in Corey Davis in 2017, struck gold with AJ Brown in the second round in 2018 and then foolishly traded him to the Eagles in a deal that landed them Treylon Burks at No. 18 in 2022.
It’s time for them to find a young receiver who can grow with them. But with their large needs at quarterback, edge and right tackle it may be difficult to land such a pass catcher, and while there are good ones in the draft this year is not as good as the last few. I think they will fare better in free agency at those positions than they will at receiver,
They need to re-sign Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, so they have Ridley, NWI and hopefully a draft pick as their top three. They can let guys like Colton Dowell, Bryce Oliver, longshot Burks (coming off a torn ACL), Jha’Quan Jackson, perhaps a lower pick and some undrafted free agents hash out the depth.
Two guys, obviously not the same level of production, but also not the same level of price, I am curious about. They'd offer more than Tyler Boyd did, and could help replace NWI if he's lost in free agency.
Demarcus Robinson
Age: 30
Games missed: One of 148 (0.6 percent)
Injuries: Looks as if he was a healthy scratch for the one game he missed
PFF 2024 grade: 65.0
2024 snaps: 993
Robinson's not been a featured player at all. But in 2024 he was third in the NFL in average targeted air yards (15.7) for the Rams, accounting for 24.69 percent of the team's air yards. He caught seven touchdowns on his 31 receptions, making him a lot like Westbrook-Ikhine, who had nine on 32. He won a Super Bowl with Kansas City and has been to the playoffs every season of his career. He played the 11th most WR snaps in the NFL last season.
Josh Palmer
Age: 25
Games missed: 10 of 68 (15 percent)
Injuries: Knee, concussion (2), foot.
PFF 2024 grade: 67.0
2024 snaps: 616
He may be best suited to help the Titans if they lose NWI, as opposed to supplementing a group that includes him. Palmer was sixth in average targeted air yards at 15.2, just behind Ridley's 15.3. Very clearly a No. 3 at best.
