A Reimagined Titans Offensive Line Using Free Agents and Draft Picks
NASHVILLE — Imagine a Tennessee Titans offensive line with Peter Skoronski flanked by first-round draft pick from Notre Dame Joe Alt, second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson, Miami Dolphins center Connor Williams, Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith, and Cincinnati Bengals tackle Jonah Williams.
According to overthecap.com, the Titans have over $67 million in cap space to sign free agents starting in March when the signing window opens.
The NFL Draft in April also provides big chances for the Titans to reinforce one of the weakest offensive lines in football.
AllTitans.com is conducting an exercise in wishful thinking by using available tools and intelligence about talent to assemble the 2024 Titans O-line.
Pro Football Focus, an analytics platform that measures and grades the performance of every NFL Player, has listed the best free-agent offensive linemen available and their potential landing spots.
As for the draft, multiple media outlets report on the evaluations of incoming college players and project their NFL teams for months leading up to the April 25-27 draft weekend.
Skroronski had a solid rookie season despite switching from tackle to guard after his college career at Northwestern as an All-American left tackle. With a new coaching staff, things could change, but it seems Skoronski is solidified at left guard.
"Yes, he came in, he was an All-American left tackle in college, but I think — and we talked about this with Peter the other day — at this league, there are bigger, longer players, and the length presents a problem," Carthon said. "Now, moving forward, who knows? We may give Peter a look. Peter's a player that I would never bet against and say that he couldn't do something or he couldn't play. But we thought, at the time when we drafted him, that we could put Peter at guard and he'd be a mainstay."
Titans coach Brian Callahan and his father, offensive line coach Bill Callahan, will have several options to improve in the trenches to protect quarterback Will Levis better.
Several mock drafts have the Titans taking Alt with the seventh pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in April. A lot was written about the Titans' offensive line woes last season. But there's a new regime in town, so let's look at some players the Titans could consider in free agency or the NFL Draft to rebuild the offensive line.
We've established Skronski as the left guard. One of the most glaring areas of need for the Titans is at the tackle positions. It's hard to find great tackles in free agency, but Smith is one of the best, even at 33 years old and 14 seasons in the league. PFF projects Smith could sign a one-year contract for $10 million.
If the Titans want someone more long-term to build around a young quarterback, they could go to 26-year-old Jonah Williams from the Bengals. Williams struggled a bit in his move from left to right tackle after the team brought in Orlando Brown Jr. Williams would have the advantage of being intimately familiar with Callahan from their days with Callahan as his offensive coordinator.
A move back to left tackle and a PFF projected four-year deal at $16 million per season could be enough to sign him.
Now that we have the left side done let's imagine the right Powers-Jackson at guard. If he's available at pick 38 in the second round, he could be a look for the Titans. If not, the Titans will have plenty of options in the draft, like Jordan Morgan from Arizona and Patrick Paul from Houston.
Keep in mind if the Titans take Alt in the first round it'd potentially be a lot to ask for them to go with linemen for the first two picks. The Titans have seven picks in the draft and could wait until the fourth round or later. Kiran Amegadjie, Yale, Matt Goncalves, Pitt, and Dominick Puni, Kansas, are potential third to fifth-round picks, according to several draft boards. If the Titans wait a little bit longer, they could look at Julian Pearl, Illinois, or Anthony Belton, NC State.
Robert Hunt of the Miami Dolphins and Mechi Becton from the New York Jets are other NFL free agent linemen PFF believe could work for the Titans.
Center Aaron Brewer is one of the Titans' 24 free agents. PFF believes the Titans could sign Connor Williams from the Dolphins if the Titans part ways with Brewer.
As it goes, these lists will evolve, and we'll keep you posted through the draft and into the regular season.
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