The Tennessee Titans have been among the more active teams in free agency over the past three years, ranking tied for 12th in the NFL in total signings and 11th in total contract value. Here’s a look at how those decisions have panned out on the field:
Total signings: 31* (T-12th in NFL)
Total contract value: $261,465,000 (11th in NFL)
Three-year W-L: 14-34
Biggest hit: Outside linebacker Brian Orakpo has started every game in his two seasons with the Titans. With Tennessee, he has 17.5 sacks, including 10.5 in 2016. The Titans signed him from Washington looking for a consistent pass-rush presence to pair with Derrick Morgan, who re-signed in 2015. Orakpo had pectoral injury issues in Washington and missed 24 games in his final three seasons there. But he has stayed healthy with his second team and provided just the sort of steady leadership the team sought when it signed him. Runner-up here is receiver Rishard Matthews, who tied for the team lead with 65 catches in 2016, his first year with the Titans.
Biggest miss: Cornerback Perrish Cox jumped from San Francisco to Tennessee in 2015, and things were OK for a while. But he dropped off late in his first season. He allowed New York Jets running back Bilal Powell to waltz across the goal line at the end of a 16-yard touchdown pass at MetLife Stadium in a startling loaf. His second year also featured a drop-off as the season progressed. He was cut with a quarter of the season remaining and the Titans still in the thick of an AFC South Division race. Mike Mularkey cited a loss of confidence as the basis for the move. But when a team struggling at corner decides to cut a starter at that stage of the season, it’s a killer indictment.
Sneaky-good move: Tight end Anthony Fasano didn’t look to be a big-deal signing in 2015, but a veteran with experience with three other organizations has turned out to be a big cog. In 2016, after Craig Stevens retired late in training camp, Fasano would up cast as the team’s primary blocking tight end. Pro Football Focus rated his work as the best in the NFL, and that was significant for the third-ranked rushing attack in the league. Fasano is now a free agent again, and while the Titans need to get younger at tight end, they’d be wise to re-sign him as he’s an effective player and a great locker-room presence.
Verdict: While they have signed a lot of guys over the past three years, a high percentage were role players on short deals. Orakpo, Matthews, Fasano, center Ben Jones, kicker Ryan Succop and linebacker Wesley Woodyard rate as significant additions. And Derrick Morgan was a good re-signing. But overall, that’s not a great hit rate based on the quantity of incoming players. A good share of the players represented here were brought in by former general manager Ruston Webster. The hit rate improved in the first year with Jon Robinson making personnel decisions, so there is cause for optimism.
*Signings made during free agency period beginning in March.
