The Tennessee Titans carry massive financial luxury once NFL free agency 2024 officially begins.
Ahead of the league’s legal tampering period on Monday, March 11, the Titans have approximately $80 million in salary cap space to work with. This gives Tennessee and new head coach Brian Callahan lots to work with money-wise in improving their results from 2023.
Will they become big spenders? Count on Darnell Mooney helping bolster the wide receiving room and the team finding Derrick Henry’s replacement as part of our predictions for 2024.
Tennessee Titans Free Agency Predictions
Darnell Mooney Becomes WR Addition for Will Levis
Mooney may not be a high-caliber name compared to Tee Higgins or Mike Evans. But with Higgins being franchise-tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals and Evans re-signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Titans will have to think of other strong options to address the wide receiver room.
Mooney ranks outside of PFN’s top five free-agent wide receivers for 2024, but he also has a previous connection on the Titans’ staff that could sway this move.
Wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert was with Mooney’s Chicago Bears from 2022 to 2023. He’s since been named to the same role under Callahan. While Mooney hasn’t delivered multiple 1,000-yard seasons, he does have a 1,055-yard campaign from 2021 on his resume. He’s also had to navigate through an unstable quarterback room in the Windy City that went through past first-rounders Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields.
Mooney’s short-area quickness and ability to blow the top off defenses can speak to a team needing to build around Will Levis moving forward. Mooney could also enter a WR room that’ll keep De’Andre Hopkins — which looks like a strong possibility as Hopkins denies wanting to part ways with Tennessee.
Derrick Henry’s Replacement? A Power Back To Assist Tyjae Spears
While there’s the allure of possibly dashing to a Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs to replace Derrick Henry, the Titans sound high on youngster Tyjae Spears.
The 2023 rookie, though, isn’t a power back in the mold of Henry. Tennessee needs someone close to that element.
And that’s where Gus Edwards becomes the replacement for that role.
While not considered a high-intrigue free agent name compared to Barkley, Jacobs, Tony Pollard, and Austin Ekeler, Edwards did hit paydirt 13 times for the AFC runner-up Baltimore Ravens.
Callahan would know the impact of Edwards very well — having seen him twice a year during the new head coach’s time with the Bengals. Edwards brings a power and nose for the end zone that can take pressure off Spears.
On Defense, Titans Address Needed Safety Help With C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Callahan is installing his imprint on the offense. New defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is seeking his guys to run his style of attack.
Free agent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson knows this scheme well — and presents a major free agency addition for a position of need in Music City.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Top 100 Free Agent Rankings
Gardner-Johnson was with Wilson when the new DC was the defensive backs coach during the Philadelphia Eagles’ run to the 2022 season’s NFC title. That was also the year CJGJ snatched an NFL-high six interceptions.
Wilson needs an experienced and versatile defender to lead the example for his defense. At 26, Gardner-Johnson looks perfect for the role. His name also surfaces as the Titans have Terrell Edmunds and K’Von Wallace hitting free agency.
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