The Tennessee Titans have question marks at multiple position groups on defense ahead of the 2024 season, and the defensive line is one of them.
Not only did Tennessee lose Denico Autry, who was their best pass-rusher last season, they didn’t adequately replace him, whether that be with a draft pick or a free-agent signing.
Tennessee did sign Sebastian Joseph-Day and draft T’Vondre Sweat to help Jeffery Simmons out, but they are interior defenders, not edge rushers.
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Adding to that, neither one is guaranteed to make a big impact. Joseph-Day is on his fourth team in six seasons and Sweat is a total wild card because he’s a rookie.
Along the edge, the Titans have Harold Landry and Arden Key, but the depth behind those two is non-existent, barring someone coming out of nowhere to step up. Key is best suited as a rotational player, also.
As a result of all the question marks, Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson ranked the Titans’ defensive line as the No. 21 unit in the NFL, which actually isn’t terrible considering the circumstances.
Here’s what he wrote:
Jeffery Simmons is an outstanding player on the interior, but he lacks the help around him. Arden Key and Harold Landry are solid players who will rack up pressures but aren’t true difference-makers, each posting a PFF grade under 70.0 in 2023.
Mammoth rookie defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat is an exciting prospect, as his tape flashes special potential, but he is still an unknown.
The good news is, the Titans have ample cap space to add upfront if they want (they should).
Unfortunately, the interior defensive line market is extremely thin, as you’d expect at this time of year. However, there are still some good edge rushers out there, like Emmanuel Ogbah, Yannick Ngakoue and Carl Lawson.
Any of those three would be a welcomed addition and an upgrade for Tennessee.