In a recent list from The Ringer ranking the top 100 players set to hit free agency this offseason, four Tennessee Titans made the cut.
According to The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia, linebacker David Long (No. 27), left tackle Taylor Lewan (No. 51), right guard Nate Davis (No. 62) and tight end Austin Hooper (No. 79) were all listed.
Of course, Lewan is now a former Titan after the team cut him recently, but we’ll include him anyway. There is also a possibility Lewan returns to Nashville, something the team hasn’t closed the door on.
Here’s what Kapadia had to say about each of the Titans he listed:
LB David Long
Long is a tough player to project. There will be teams enamored of his versatile skill set. He set career highs last year with 86 tackles and seven tackles for loss. The issue has been durability. Long has just 26 starts in four NFL seasons and has missed 12 regular-season games over the past two years because of injuries.
LT Taylor Lewan
Lewan is a nearly impossible player to slot because we don’t know how healthy he is or whether he even wants to continue playing. Retirement could be the move for Lewan after the Titans released him last month. His 2022 season was limited to two games because of a knee injury related to his torn ACL in 2020, and Lewan has appeared in just 20 games over the past three seasons. If he wants to keep playing, Lewan would likely be looking at a one-year deal somewhere.
RG Nate Davis
He’s been up and down in four seasons with the Titans. Davis has started 54 games, but he’s missed eight due to injury in the past two seasons. Davis’s ability to pass protect is still a question, as he allowed eight sacks last year—tied for second most among all guards, per PFF. Mark Glowinski got a three-year, $18.3 million deal from the Giants last offseason. Davis could be in the market for a similar deal.
TE Austin Hooper
The Browns released Hooper last March, and Hooper signed with the Titans on a one-year, $6 million deal. He caught 41 balls for 444 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Hooper should interest teams in the market for a short-term solution at pass-catching tight end.
Predictions for each
Long: His injury issues the past few years will bring Long’s price down, which will enable Tennessee to re-sign him.
Lewan: I think Lewan has a better chance of retiring than playing for another team. Ultimately, I think he goes the former route.
Davis: I originally thought there was at least a decent chance Davis is brought back, but one comment from Jim Wyatt changed my mind. The Charlotte product won’t be re-signed.
Hooper: The Titans need another tight end to pair with Chig, and I think Hooper is perfect for that role. Tennessee finds a way to keep him in Nashville.
