The Tennessee Titans’ new front office has many tasks ahead in the coming months. With free agency and the NFL draft, there will be many decisions on how to rebuild a team that went 3-14 in 2024.
With free agency around the corner, it will be intriguing to see what type of influence new general manager Mike Borgonzi will have coming over from Kansas City. Will they be aggressive or will they be more conservative? No one can say for sure at this point.
Even with that unknown, outside outlets from presenting their thoughts on the direction of the franchise or preclude them from making free agent predictions.
That includes the Bleacher Report, who believes the Titans are a perfect fit for one of the top free agents soon to be on the market: Guard Trey Smith.
Interior Offensive Line: Trey Smith
While Stanley may play a position that is traditionally more valued, Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith might be the most coveted offensive lineman scheduled for free agency.
He’s been one of the biggest catalysts of Kansas City’s Super Bowl-bound rushing attack this season and could hit free agency amid a boom in the interior-line market.
Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson recently reset that market with a $21 million-per-season contract.
Smith is an elite run-blocker and didn’t allow a single sack in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, while starting all 17 games. He won’t turn 26 until June and has a legitimate chance to top Dickerson’s deal in free agency. If he doesn’t, he should come close.
The Chiefs should be eager to retain Smith, though that may not be feasible financially. Kansas City is projected to have just $16.3 million in cap space, while he carries a projected market value of $19.7 million annually.
The projected tag value for offensive linemen is $23 million.
The prediction here is that Smith reaches the open market and finds a new deal with a cap-rich team. The Tennessee Titans figure to be a prime landing spot for a few reasons.
For one, Tennessee has $50.3 million in projected cap space and recently hired Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi to be its general manager.
Second, the Titans are expected to find a new quarterback in 2025 and need to protect him. Pairing Smith with 2023 first-round pick Peter Skoronski at guard would give Tennessee a strong foundation along its offensive interior.
It’s also worth noting that Smith played his college ball with the Tennessee Volunteers, making a partnership with the Titans a homecoming of sorts for the 2024 Pro Bowler.
Prediction: Tennessee Titans
The Titans offensive line was a mess in 2024. Guard Dillon Radunz never truly settled in at right guard and is an unrestricted free agent. But the interior of the unit was less of an issue than the right tackle position, and it is hard to tell exactly how Radunz fits because of the hole on his outside shoulder. Smith would definitely be an upgrade and help solidify the unit.
With roughly seven weeks until free agency begins on March 12, there will be a lot of talk and speculation in that time. There is no doubt rebuilding the offensive line will be front and center in most of those discussions.
