NFL Free Agency: Why the Tennessee Titans Will Sign Brandon Lloyd

Brandon Lloyd's 2010 season was one of the most surprising breakouts in NFL history. His 77/1,448/11 line with the Denver Broncos stunned the league. At age 29, he almost doubled his previous career high in single-season yards. 

Despite being traded from the Broncos to the Rams early last season. Lloyd had another 70-catch season in 2011. The Rams traded a fifth-round pick to the Broncos to get Lloyd, but he's going to at least test the free-agent waters.

Enter the Tennessee Titans. They were one of the interested parties last fall when the Broncos made Lloyd available. It was a logical choice then, with Kenny Britt tearing his ACL in the third week of the season. Lloyd was a pending free agent who wasn't going to sign an immediate extension, so trading a draft pick for a 12-week rental, even a low pick, did not make sense.

It makes sense now. Lloyd's age is not an issue. He will be 31 when the season starts and has a few years left to show off his skills. When talking free agents, there's always the question of tread left on the tire. Lloyd was so underused in his first seven seasons, including eight catches in the entire 2009 season with Denver, that he's fresh.

While the Titans' WR depth chart seems stronger than ever, there are issues. This is Britt's post-ACL season. He can't immediately be the player he was in 2011 when the 2012 season begins.  Nate Washington finished last year's campaign with his first career 1,000-yard season. That was his seventh NFL season, and moving back to WR2 means a repeat is unlikely.

Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins are depth players. Williams had a hot streak last year with five touchdowns in an eight-game stretch. He'd often disappear. Hawkins set a career high last year in his fourth season with 47 catches. His 10.0 yards per catch average shows that he's a possession guy.

The Titans wouldn't sign Lloyd for the best case scenario. If Britt has a setback or Washington gets nicked up as he was all last year, having a steady veteran presence available would be a huge help. If there are no injury concerns, imagine the Titans putting out a four-wide set with Britt and Lloyd wide, Washington on one slot and Jared Cook in the other. 

Signing Lloyd means another thing to the Titans players and fan base. The front office wants to win now. If they want one last glorious run for Matt Hasselbeck or to surround Jake Locker with the maximum offensive firepower, Lloyd would be ideal.

If last year showed one thing, it's that the Titans can be a passing team. They need one more guy, a player who can take the top off a defense, as scouts always say. There are plenty of good prospects in the draft, but in a win-now scenario. Lloyd is the Tennessee Titans' best shot.