The Tennessee Titans can be maintaining an eye fixed out for gamers who can enhance their roster forward of the 2022 marketing campaign, however ought to the cornerback place be one in all their focuses?
In keeping with Ethan Useloff of The thirty third Workforce, the Titans are one in all 5 groups who “want an improve” on the cornerback place forward of 2022.
Tennessee had a turbulent yr from their cornerbacks, seeing the place group permit the fifth-most receiving yards. The Titans had hassle slowing down opposing groups’ aerial assaults as a complete, conceding the eighth-most whole passing yards. Specializing in the corners, accidents plagued the group all through the 2021 marketing campaign, starting with Caleb Farley.
The 2021 first-round draft choice was on the sector for simply 34 protection snaps unfold throughout three video games. The previous Virginia Tech Hokie has dealt along with his justifiable share of accidents, particularly with his again, shoulder, and knee previously yr.
Kristian Fulton, Farley’s exterior cornerback counterpart, has confronted the same hurdle throughout his NFL profession. Fulton has performed in simply over half of Tennessee’s video games throughout his two years within the league, coping with a number of accidents all through the span. Every of the defensive backs on this duo are every 23 years outdated, and youth is a pattern among the many place group.
The Titans sport Elijah Molden, Roger McCreary, Chris Jackson, Chris Williamson, and Theo Jackson as different contributors of their cornerback room, and every was drafted within the 2020 NFL Draft or extra just lately. Having nearly all of one place encompass gamers who’re youthful and inexperienced might be problematic because the season progresses.
Whereas the Titans ought to at all times be trying to enhance at each place, their cornerback scenario isn’t as massive of a priority because the huge receivers room, which stays the most important problem in Nashville proper now.
Even when the Titans had been to discover free company for an additional possibility on the place, it’s not just like the open market is brimming with ensures.
The highest fear for Tennessee’s cornerbacks group is Caleb Farley. The 2021 first-round decide is projected to take over a beginning position in 2022, however he’s coming off a torn ACL and the jury continues to be very a lot out on him.
That stated, there may be additionally the potential for Farley to turn out to be an elite nook. Lest we neglect he was among the finest cornerback prospects within the 2021 NFL draft and will have been first off the board if not for damage issues.
If issues go south with Farley, the Titans have an insurance coverage coverage in 2022 second-round decide Roger McCreary, however there’s no telling what he’ll be capable to contribute in his first season or if he’ll even work out in any respect.
On the optimistic aspect, Kristian Fulton is coming off a marketing campaign wherein he turned among the finest younger cornerbacks within the NFL, though he does include damage issues after lacking 14 video games in his first two years Assuming he stays wholesome, Fulton can be even higher in Yr 3.
Additionally of be aware, Elijah Molden was arguably the best rookie defensive back (and one of many higher ones general) within the league from Week 3 on and his outlook is as optimistic as they arrive.
Tennessee’s cornerbacks have loads of assist round them as nicely, with an elite security duo in Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker deep, and a pass-rush that ought to be elite in 2022 after tallying the ninth-most sacks in 2021.
Certain, the Titans have their justifiable share of query marks at cornerback, however we imagine this unit is underrated general and goes to shock lots of people in 2022.