The Tennessee Titans have made some key additions to their roster over the first week-plus of free agency, but there are still big needs left to address in the second wave.
As a result, experts who are compiling power rankings after the first wave of free agency aren’t impressed, which has led to some bad rankings.
Tied for the worst of the bunch is the ranking the Titans received from Dan Hanzus of NFL.com, who has Tennessee at No. 28 on his list, six spots lower than where they were for his last power rankings.
Here’s Hanzus’ write-up:
The Titans began free agency by putting their focus on an offensive line in need of four new starters. Former Eagles swing tackle Andre Dillard was the first big move, signed to a rich deal to serve as the likely successor to Taylor Lewan on the left side in Tennessee. Daniel Brunskill, previously of the 49ers, could land one of the starting guard positions. New general manager Ran Carthon also overhauled the middle of his defense with moves for former Jaguars outside linebacker Arden Key and ex-Niners ‘backer Azeez Al-Shaair. The big question that looms in Nashville: Does a new season begin with both Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill on the roster? For now, signs point to yes.
I know the Titans have a lot of questions to answer, but that ranking feels a bit too harsh. Now, the rest of the round-up.
Josh Schrock, NBC Sports: 28
28. Tennessee Titans: I wonder how Caleb Williams feels about Nashville.
Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated: 24
Arden Key and Andre Dillard showed what new GM Ran Carthon is hoping to accomplish. The Titans are adding value players with high upside at a nonegregious price tag. I wonder whether Carthon, a former NFL player who was privy to the secret sauce in San Francisco, will be more aligned with Mike Vrabel, another former player, as to how they want to build long term.
Dalton Miller, Pro Football Network: 25
Arden Key is a great move for the Tennessee Titans. A foursome of Harold Landry, Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry, and Key on passing downs is a terrifying proposition for opposing offensive linemen. Letting David Long walk for as little as they did was a head-tilting decision given how he played a season ago, but at the end of the day, a $5 million linebacker is not what makes or breaks a roster.
What Andre Dillard has done to earn $10 million annually, not even Sherlock Holmes could figure out. But the former first-round pick is a phenomenal athlete who has been able to sit behind some of the best offensive linemen in the NFL for years now.
theScore: 25
Tennessee doesn’t look anything like the teams that won back-to-back AFC South titles in 2020 and 2021. In fact, the Titans seem destined for a full rebuild with Derrick Henry reportedly being shopped, Kevin Byard refusing to reduce his salary, and Ryan Tannehill potentially being released.
