NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Kamerion Wimbley was the Titans' big-name answer to missing out on Peyton Manning in 2012.
Late owner Bud Adams sidetracked the initial free-agency plan, which included pursuit of Mario Williams, and made everyone focus on Manning. Williams went from Houston to Buffalo.
When the Titans lost out, there wasn’t a lot left on the market in terms of splash.
They overpaid Wimbley, selling that he would help give the pass rush a jolt.
He never did, taking a pay cut along the way and failing to do much even in 2014, after the team moved to a 3-4 that was more favorable to his game. Wimbley announced his retirement on Thursday.
The Titans will start free-agent acquisition Brian Orakpo at right outside linebacker and Derrick Morgan at left outside linebacker. They will play the bulk of the snaps, provided they are healthy, but Orakpo has had multiple pectoral tears that have cost him significant time.
Depth at the position is crucial in the 3-4. The third and fourth guys now are, in no particular order, Atlanta waiver claim Jonathan Massaquoi and sixth-round draft pick Deiontrez Mount out of Louisville.
I hope both have more upside than Wimbley would have had. But having five guys, with one who’s played a lot, is a lot better than four.
After that, the Titans have a couple fringe guys: Kaelin Burnett played in five games last season; Dontay Moch played in three. They also have Chaz Sutton.
The Titans' list of undrafted free-agent signees includes Maryland linebacker Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil, according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.
