Tennessee Titans: 3 Free-Agency Moves I Expect Us to Make Before the NFL Draft

The Titans have never been known to make huge splashes in free agency. Bud Adams, has always believed that free agents should be supplemental pieces to the players you draft.

In fact, this year has been one of the most memorable in my mind as far as signing starting quality free agents (Babineaux, Griffin, Hutchinson, and Wimbley), and I would expect that we are almost done making moves. However, as draft day approaches, I can't help but think there are some free-agent moves that just make sense.

1. Re-sign Dave Ball: Dave Ball is not the missing piece to our defensive end puzzle, but he is a great locker room guy that sets the tempo for the defensive line. Like Kyle Van Den Bosch before him, Dave Ball isn't a special athlete, but he uses leverage, good technique and a huge motor to make his way to the quarterback or ball carrier.

Also, with only two defensive ends on the roster, why not bring in a guy who can be a leader on the defensive line and who is already familiar with the system? He has quietly been successful in Nashville (all 15.5 sacks of his career have come from his four years there), and if he decides that he doesn't think he is a concussion risk then I could see him inking a three-year $6 million deal.

2. Asante Samuel will be a Titan: So many conflicting reports have come out about this that I think it is safe to say no one knows whether or not a deal is in place, or if the Titans have no interest. That said, this deal makes a lot of sense for the Titans especially if they can trade a fourth-round pick in 2012 or a conditional third rounder in 2013 based purely on performance. 

In fact, the only CB to allow less catches per attempt was Revis Island himself. So while die hard Finnegan fans may not want to admit it, we could have a better defensive backfield this year than we have in over half a decade.

3. The Titans will sign a DE known for his pass rushing prowess: Even if Dave Ball is on the roster there are only three defensive ends, and none have ever proven to be the prototypical pass-rusher. I think Wimbley has a great chance to be a 10+ sack guy as a full-time DE in the Titans system, but a team needs more than one pass-rushing presence on a team.

Here are the names of some free agents that fit the bill: Andre Carter, Raheem Brock, Wallace Gilberry, Dave Tollefson, Jarvis Moss, Vonnie Holliday. None of those guys are superstars nor should they be. Those players are situational ends that can bring pressure and get your defense off the field in third and long situations.

The reason I think all of this makes sense, is because the Titans should be looking to fill their needs before the draft like the smart teams do. Then they can rely on their excellent scouts and Webster/Reinfeldt to make decisions purely based on who the best player available is. A smart Titans fan might ask why I don't think the Titans will pick up a center or right guard in free agency? Well prior to Hutchinson, the Titans rarely grab quality free-agent offensive linemen and it would shock me if they did it twice in the same offseason.