Ballhawks Wanted: Identifying Defensive Back Help for Titans in Free Agency, NFL Draft

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans' first important move toward improving their pass coverage was hiring defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, who has a track record for building stingy defenses. That said, he will need better players.

The NFL free-agent market and the annual draft can stir the imagination.

Picture Roger McCreary on one side of the Titans' defensive backfield with L'Jarius Sneed from the Kansas City Chiefs on the other, covering the opposing team's best deep threats.

All-Pro safety Antonio Winfield Jr. would look good in a Titans uniform covering a big tight end or slot receiver, with Elijah Molden playing centerfield.

When the free agent signing period begins in March, the Tennessee Titans will have more than $67 million in their salary cap to spend on new players, as per Overthecap.com.

Moreover, the Titans can retool the defensive backfield by making the most of the National Football League Draft scheduled in late April.

AllTitans.com is creating a hypothetical lineup of the 2024 Titans' defensive secondary based on available data and tools.

Pro Football Focus (PFF), an analytics platform that measures and grades the performance of every NFL player, has listed the best free-agent defensive backs.

Tennessee's pass defense was poor last season. The Titans ranked 19th in opponent yards per pass (7.3), 29th in opponent completion percentage (67.8%), and last in interceptions (6).

McCreary and Molden could return as starters. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting is a pending free agent. Let's examine some options the Titans could identify in free agency or the draft.

There are two high-value free-agent cornerbacks who would require a substantial investment.

Jaylon Johnson had an outstanding season for the Chicago Bears and was the highest-graded cornerback in the NFL, according to PFF. Johnson is versatile enough to thrive in both press and off-man alignments, and he has excellent backfield vision, which enables him to move swiftly toward the ball in zone schemes. Johnson is a physical corner that performs best in split-safety systems commonly used in today's game. PFF projects Johnson to sign a one-year deal at $18.8 million.
Sneed is coming off a Super Bowl win with the Chiefs and proved himself as one of the better corners in the league. PFF projects a 3-year contract with an average salary of $17.5 million.

"Sneed has the traits to match up on the perimeter or play a disruptive role as a slot defender, using his 6-foot-1 frame to challenge receivers," ESPN reporters said. "He is a scheme-versatile corner who can fit in both man and zone systems. Over his four-year career, Sneed has 10 picks and 6.5 sacks — and he had nine pass breakups in 2023."

Two safeties rank in the top 20 of Pro Football Focus's best available free agents, but the expectation is that both Antonio Winfield Jr. and the Patriots' Kyle Dugger could be franchise-tagged and thus unavailable. According to PFF, the sticker price for each player is about $16 million for one season.

Another option at safety might be Xavier McKinney from the New York Giants. He is a versatile safety, capable of providing coverage in different areas of the field. His post range is highly sought after by NFL teams and he possesses excellent ball skills that enable him to create turnovers. McKinney has recorded three interceptions this season, bringing his total to nine picks and 14 pass breakups in four seasons.

If the Titans choose to spend some of their salary cap space on a wide receiver and/or offensive linemen, there are highly-regarded college defensive backs who could be available in the second round and later. Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter is a potential star. Max Melton from Rutgers is an option projected in the later rounds.

In the free-agent market, other available cornerbacks include Kendall Fuller, Chidobe Awuzie, Stephon Gilmore, Kenny Moore, and Steven Nelson. At the safety position, there are Xavier McKinney, Kamren Curl, Geno Stone, Julian Blackmon, and Jordan Whitehead.

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