NFL Free Agency Preview: Need Offensive Tackles? ESPN Top 50 Has 4 Players for Titans to Consider
NASHVILLE — Fair or unfair, the Tennessee Titans' offensive line was the weakest link last season on a team that struggled to score points.
Only five NFL teams scored fewer than Tennessee's 18 points a game.
According to Pro Football Network (PFN), the Tennessee Titans had the league's worst offensive line in 2023, with PFN pointing a finger at the left-tackle tandem of Andre Dillard and Jaelyn Duncan, who surrendered 29 of the 64 sacks of quarterbacks Will Levis and Ryan Tannehill.
As a first step to addressing the problem, new Titans coach Brian Callahan has hired his father Bill, long regarded as one of the game's great teachers of offensive line play.
The next step likely will be bringing in new talent through the NFL Draft and possibly free agency.
The Titans have the No. 7 pick in April's college draft and most experts see Tennessee taking one of the two best offensive tackles available: Notre Dame's Joe Alt or Penn State's Olu Fashanu.
But if the Titans want reinforcements with NFL game experience, teams can sign free agents beginning on March 13 and Tennessee has more than $70 million in salary cap space to consider investing in more help.
ESPN's Top 50 Free Agents list includes four tackles: Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys; Jonah Williams, Cincinnati Bengals; and Mike Onwenu and Trent Brown of the New England Patriots. We'll explore the profile of each player.
Here are the statistical profiles of each player, with the data provided by Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys
Smith has missed 33 games over the past four years playing perhaps the most physically demanding position in the NFL. He is also 33 years old and would be entering his 14th season.
However, when he's healthy, Smith is one of the best offensive linemen in the history of the game:
- 5-time All-Pro, including second team in 2023;
- and 8-time Pro Bowler.
Smith ranks 20th overall among ESPN's top 50 free agents and he is the highest-rated top offensive tackle.
PFF graded Smith at 83.7 last season, fourth-best in the NFL. Smith is dominant in pass protection with an 89.1 percent win rate and is vital in the run game with a 78.8% run block win rate.
"Smith is on the back nine of his career and can be expected to miss a game or two in any given season, but he's been a remarkable value for Dallas going on a decade at this point," Pro Football Focus said. "The Cowboys shouldn't let him take a snap in another uniform if he wants to keep playing.
"Smith's 847 snaps played in 2023 were his most since 2019, and his 3.6% pressure rate allowed was third-lowest among tackles across the league."
PFF projects that Smith could sign a one-year contract for $10 million.
Mike Onwenu, New England Patriots
Onwenu, at 6-feet-3 and 350 pounds, can play guard or tackle.
Onwenu, No. 26 of ESPN's top 50 free agents, has consistently received high grades from Pro Football Focus. In 2022, he ranked as the fourth-best interior protector. That rating dipped to 29th in 2023, but PFF still thinks highly of him.
"Onwenu is not the quickest player off the line, given his massive frame, but has the strength to wall off backside pursuit defenders in the run game with a solid base and heavy hands when called upon," PFF said.
PFF projects that Onwenu, who is 26, could sign a four-year contract with an average salary of $14.5 million.
Jonah Williams, Cincinnati Bengals
Williams, 26, had above-average ratings according to PFF while playing more than 2,400 snaps at left tackle in 2021 and 2022.
He moved from left to right tackle in 2023 after the Bengals signed Orlando Brown Jr. and had a significant drop in production.
Nevertheless, ESPN rates Williams at 30th overall among all free agents and PFF predicts that he could sign a four-year deal at $16 million per season.
Trent Brown, New England Patriots
Brown, who turns 31 in April, had one of his best seasons in 2023 despite playing in only 11 games.
He was the 10th highest-graded offensive tackle for Pro Football Focus. He also earned incentives by maintaining his weight — Brown is 6-feet-8 and 370 pounds.
PFF projects that Brown could sign a two-year deal with an average annual salary of $7.5 million.
Related Titans stories
- FREE-AGENT CORNERBACKS: The Tennessee Titans have the salary cap space to invest in reinforcements for their weak pass defense. Chicago's Jaylon Johnson and Kansas City's L’Jarius Sneed are the highest-ranked cornerbacks on ESPN's Top 50 free agent list, which also includes Tennessee's Sean Murphy-Bunting. CLICK HERE
- FREE-AGENT RECEIVERS: The Tennessee Titans' passing offense ranked in the NFL's bottom third or worse for passing yards and touchdown receptions. ESPN's top 50 free agents include wide receivers such as Tee Higgins, Mike Evans, and Michael Pittman Jr. CLICK HERE
