The Tennessee Titans will have several difficult decisions to make over the coming months, both in the front office, coaching staff, and on the roster.
For starters, they first need to hire the general manager that’s going to be responsible for making these crucial decisions regarding the roster. That process has already gotten under way, but several of these personnel decisions won’t be resolved for several more weeks.
From there, the Titans will have to hire a new offensive coordinator to replace Todd Downing, which could also have an impact on how the team approaches this offseason, at least on the offensive side of the ball.
We’ve already covered the players under contract for 2023 who the Titans should consider parting ways with in a previous article.
Now, it’s time to be a bit more positive and discuss which pending free agents could have possibly earned themselves another year in Tennessee.
QB Josh Dobbs
The Tennessee product joined the team late in the year, and he stepped right into a disastrous situation, giving the fanbase a sliver of hope during a time when they desperately needed it.
Josh Dobbs wasn’t fantastic by any means, but he likely played himself into a backup quarterback contract somewhere after his two starts in Tennessee.
Highest graded Titans in Week 18 vs Jaguars:
🥇 Austin Hooper – 80.6
🥈 Joshua Dobbs – 76.1
🥉 Monty Rice – 74.9
4️⃣ Denico Autry – 72.0
5️⃣ Kevin Byard – 68.2 pic.twitter.com/ngP36H2Mau— PFF TEN Titans (@PFF_Titans) January 10, 2023
If the Titans aren’t comfortable with rolling into 2023 with Malik Willis being the bona fide No. 2 quarterback, it would be wise for them to keep this cheap and competent option in their building to push everyone in the quarterback room.
Dobbs finished the 2022 season with 411 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and two fumbles lost — one of those turnovers being very debatable.
-Shaun Calderon
TE Austin Hooper
Austin Hooper had a sneaky productive season for the Titans. It wasn’t anything close to his Pro Bowl years in Atlanta, but Hooper routinely came up big in the most clutch situations for this offense.
The veteran tight end was considered the starter for most the year, but if he were to return, he would likely need to accept a No. 2 role going forward. If the former Pro Bowler still has his eyes set on being a primary tight end, then this might not be the spot for him any longer.
Tennessee already has a budding star in Chigoziem Okonkwo on their roster, so keeping Hooper will have to come at a much cheaper discount than he’s playing for now.
Depending on how his free agent market shakes out, the Stanford product should be welcomed back with open arms as long as his number remains reasonable for an aging No. 2 tight end.
Hooper finished the year with 41 catches, 444 yards, and two touchdowns.
-Shaun Calderon
IOL Corey Levin
Corey Levin was thrown into the fire this season after Ben Jones was lost for the season due to a pair of concussions.
The Titans blocker had the choice to either sink or swim, and he more than held up his own. Over the final three games, the Tennessee-Chattanooga product received a respectable Pro Football Focus grade of 66.7.
Levin’s pass-blocking was the real strength of his game, with his PFF grade coming in at 75.7 over those last three weeks, and 81.6 for the entire year.
In total, the Georgia native allowed three hurries, one sack, and zero quarterback hits on 129 pass-blocking snaps. The Titans should bring him back as a depth option for 2023.
-Shaun Calderon
Mario Edwards Jr.
The Florida State product didn’t have a flashy season or anything of that nature, but he was a relatively reliable backup anytime he entered the game.
Mario Edwards Jr. finished with a 72.6 grade against the run, per PFF. He also tallied three sacks, four tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits through 13 games.
Assuming another contract agreement with Edwards wouldn’t be unreasonable, the Titans should consider bringing back the 28-year-old defender and letting him be part of next year’s rotation.
-Shaun Calderon
DE DeMarcus Walker
Demarcus Walker was one of the more pleasant surprises of the 2022 season.
Despite playing fewer than 40 percent do the defensive snaps, the Florida State product finished first on the team in tackles for loss (10), second in quarterback hits (16), third in sacks (seven), and fifth in pressures (15).
There’s a chance that Walker could get a real payday after this year, but as long as he stays within the budget, Tennessee should be very interested in bringing back the veteran defender.
-Shaun Calderon
RG Nate Davis
While Tennessee’s offensive line struggled mightily as a whole, Davis played well individually, giving up three sacks and 14 pressures in 12 games, while also posting a run-blocking grade 69.8.
Davis is a quality starting offensive lineman, but the concern here is with injuries, as Davis has missed eight games the past two years, including five in 2022.
Granted, not a horrible injury history, but any injury history is a concern for the Titans, a team that has been the most injured the past two seasons.
Regardless, the Titans should be interested in bringing him back as long as the price is right. Spotrac estimates that to be a three-year deal that pays Davis $7.4 million annually, which is fine from where I’m sitting.
-Mike Moraitis
LB David Long
Long has been an impact player for the Titans since becoming a full-time starter. The West Virginia product has played a large role in Tennessee’s elite run defense the past two seasons, and he’s gotten better in coverage.
The problem for Long has been health, as he’s missed 12 games the past two years, including seven in 2021 and five in 2022. If not for that, he would probably be in for a larger pay day.
Despite the injury concerns, Long is a good player who the Titans should be interested in reuniting with next season. Spotrac believes he’ll fetch around $4.9 million annually, which I think is a bit low, even with the injury issues.
But if that’s all it takes for the Titans to bring him back (or something close to it), by all means.
LS Morgan Cox
Before arriving in Nashville in 2021, the Titans had some long snapper issues in 2020.
Thankfully those issues are a thing of the past. Cox has been every bit of the Pro Bowler and All-Pro he was before coming here. In fact, he received his fifth Pro Bowl nod in 2022.
It’ll once again take a shade over $1 million to get Cox back for 2023 and the Titans should pay it.
-Mike Moraitis
DL Teair Tart
Tart has developed into a quality nose tackle over three seasons, including over the last two in which he’s been a full-time starter. His ability to stuff the run is no doubt his best asset.
Tart is a restricted free agent, so the Titans can match any offer that comes his way. It shouldn’t take too much to re-sign Tart, but he’ll definitely fetch more than the $895,000 he made in 2022.
Figure it’ll take somewhere in the range of $2-$4 million to bring him back. Sign me up at that price.
-Mike Moraitis
