The Tennessee Titans enter the 2022 offseason with plenty of question marks along the offensive line, especially after the group allowed 47 sacks last season, the seventh-most in the NFL.
Left guard Rodger Saffold and left tackle Taylor Lewan have both been considered potential cut candidates, with Saffold being more likely.
The former struggled with pass protection and injury in 2021, and is set to turn 34 in June. Lewan also saw some struggles in both areas in his first year back from a torn ACL, but his $14.6 million salary for 2022 seems very reasonable when you consider it ranks 11th in the NFL among left tackles.
At center, Ben Jones is set to hit the open market, as is the case with right tackle David Quessenberry, who led the NFL in sacks allowed last season with 11. Jones is definitely someone Tennessee should bring back.
Right guard Nate Davis might be the most secure going into the offseason, as he’s under contract. However, he wasn’t too great either in 2021 and is in the final year of his rookie deal in 2022, making his future a bit murky.
Knowing that big decisions are coming upfront, Titans general manager Jon Robinson was asked about the future of this group while down at the 2022 NFL Combine this week, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
“That group has been together for a long time, and they know each other,” Robinson said. “There’s something to be said when you have that type of continuity with your front. … Those are some of the decisions we’re having to work through, with Ben, and trying to keep him, and looking at all the positions on our football team with decisions we’re going to have to make.”
While the continuity the Titans have had upfront is no doubt a plus, it didn’t help the group in pass protection, where it struggled and no doubt made things more difficult for Ryan Tannehill.
So far this offseason, we’ve predicted that Saffold will get cut, but Jones and Quessenberry will be re-signed, with the latter having to fight to keep his starting right tackle job in a potential competition with Dillon Radunz. Preferably, Quessenberry serves as depth in 2022.
We also have Lewan returning, but the Titans would definitely be wise to explore adding his potential future replacement in the 2022 NFL draft, and the same can be said if the Titans decide to keep Saffold.
Tennessee might already have an in-house solution for him in Aaron Brewer; however, neither Radunz nor Brewer are sure bets to improve the group’s pass protection.
Chances are if the Titans do add an offensive lineman or two this offseason, they’ll come via the draft, as finding a starting-caliber offensive lineman who excels in pass protection won’t be easy, or cheap.
