Peyton Manning Rumors: 4 Predictions for the Titans' Offseason If Manning Signs

According to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, there does not appear to be a clear leader in the fight for Peyton Manning:

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One NFL source close to the situation said that as of Saturday night, Manning had not separated the three teams — Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans — vying to sign him.

There was no leader. There was no trailer. The Broncos, 49ers and Titans all had as much chance as the others.

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According to Clay Travis of 104.5 The Zone, in Nashville, however, the Titans seem to be the front-runners:

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Titans have now been Manning leader since Wednesday and source says nothing since has happened to change that.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravisBGID) March 18, 2012"

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That said, here are four predictions for Tennessee if Manning becomes a Titan.

They Will Release Matt Hasselbeck

Right now, Matt Hasselback is 36 years old and will be turning 37 early next season.

Although Hasselbeck is a three-time Pro Bowl selection, he's still not on Manning's level.

Also, Hasselbeck's contract isn't up until after the 2013 season, but there's no reason to have him and Manning on the same team.

Let Manning influence Jake Locker and prepare for the long-term future. Hasselbeck will no doubt find another home, as he can still dice up a defense fairly well.

With Manning in Tennessee, we can expect Hasselbeck's release, because he's a proven NFL starting quarterback and sitting the bench just isn't going to happen.

The Seattle Seahawks made a big mistake by parting ways and the Titans got a reliable pickup in Hasselbeck. Now with the chance to upgrade, however, Hasselbeck will have to finish his career elsewhere.

They Will Sign a Veteran Running Back

The Titans will sign a proven veteran running back who can be a dominant No. 2 ball-carrier to complement Chris Johnson.

Whether it's Brandon Jacobs, Cedric Benson or Ryan Grant, the Titans need that secondary back who is well-established and presents a rushing threat, thus allowing the play-action pass to remain a threat.

Jacobs is coming off a second Super Bowl win with the New York Giants, and he brings a lot of legit postseason experience and success.

Benson, on the other hand, gained over 1,000 rushing yards for the third consecutive season and is looking for another opportunity to prove he can be a solid contributor.

Both are ground-and-pound punishers that would benefit in short-yard and goal line situations, as well as provide the luxury of running two-back sets with Johnson.

As for Grant, he's simply looking for a second chance to play the game. While in Green Bay, Grant compiled 1,200 yards in 2008 and 2009, but had 2010 cut short early on and he was not the featured back in 2011.

Any of these three would be of great assistance to the Titans rushing attack, because as great as Johnson has developed, two-back systems give an offense a distinct advantage.

They Will Focus on Defense Early in Draft

In 2011, the Tennessee defense recorded just 29 sacks and 11 interceptions. They ranked No. 24 against the run and No. 18 in total defense.

Defense was certainly a weak area, especially since the rushing offense began slow along with the slew of injuries. So, in the first few rounds of the 2012 draft, the Titans need to consider some defensive studs to rebuild quickly.

Notable prospects such as Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe (will improve the rush defense and control the interior line) or South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore (underrating playmaker, reliable tackler) would suffice in Round 1.

In Round 2, Tennessee could look at a guy like Virginia Tech's Jayron Hosley (big playmaker at changing the field position after picks) or Clemson's Brandon Thompson (provides a solid pass rush to complement Karl Klug and Akeem Ayers).

Either way, Tennessee needs to upgrade along the defensive line and secondary in the first couple of rounds.

By Round 3, other worthy defenders include Oklahoma State safety Markelle Martin, who can roll down to help against the run—or a 6'2," 210-pound cornerback like Montana's Trumaine Johnson will suffice.

Adding depth and talent defensively just needs to be addressed, because Tennessee's AFC South rivals are all going to be improved next season.

They Will Draft a Receiver in Round 4

The Titans have some solid talent at receiver right now.

Provided he can return to 100 percent, Kenny Britt is Tennessee's best target and Nate Washington is a solid No. 2 slot man.

Other role players like Damien Williams and Lavelle Hawkins also contributed well, but that can also be attributed to Britt's injury.

After addressing the defense, however, selecting a receiver like Wisconsin's Nick Toon or Arizona's Juron Criner is a good fit in Round 4.

Both have great size to be a No. 2 target, which also bodes well for downfield blocking in the running game. Toon is the better run-blocker and is more of a possession receiver, but is nonetheless reliable.

Criner is great at getting yards after the catch and can also line up in the slot if needed. Each guy has abilities to improve the Titans receiving corps, but in different ways.

Just as long as Tennessee goes after Toon or Criner or another comparable receiver, then Manning's job just got easier.

And against stout defenses like Jacksonville and Houston, having those big, reliable receivers over the middle is crucial.

John Rozum on Twitter.