One trade, cut and signing the Tennessee Titans should make

It’s safe to say when the 2023 season began, not many could have predicted the Tennessee Titans would fire head coach Mike Vrabel and replace him with offensive guru Brian Callahan. 

Now, Callahan and second-year general manager Ran Carthon will begin turning the roster over and collecting players who fit their new-age vision. Here are three moves the Titans should make that could help them avoid finishing last in the AFC South again:

TRADE: 2024 second-rounder, 2025 third-rounder for Denver Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy

Yes, the Titans don’t have a third-round pick this year, so the optics of trading their second-round pick away aren't the best. But when you consider that Jeudy – only 24 and with four NFL seasons under his belt – is already better than any receiver the Titans could select in Round 2 and could step in and start right away, the deal makes much more sense.

Jeudy will earn $12.98 million next season on his fifth-year option and when it comes time to re-sign him, he figures to be much cheaper than if the Titans were to trade for and extend Tee Higgins this year or try to sign a receiver from next year’s free-agent class, such as Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, Nico Collins or Diontae Johnson. Jeudy would make an excellent No. 2 receiver opposite DeAndre Hopkins in 2024 and take some of the pressure off Treylon Burks. He could possibly transition into a No. 1 role in 2025.

CUT: OT Andre Dillard

With the second-most cap space in the NFL ($80.69 million), the Titans don’t need to create any monetary room. However, if there’s a player on the roster who deserves to be cut, regardless of the reason, it’s Dillard, who may have been the worst left tackle in the NFL in 2023. 

Playing 562 snaps at left tackle, Dillard allowed 41 pressures, 20 hurries, nine QB hits and a league-high 12 sacks. He was Pro Football Focus’ 108th-graded tackle last season (there were several backups graded higher than him) and he is nowhere near worth the $10.67M he’s due in 2024. Designating him as a post-June 1 cut would save the Titans $6.48M and free up a roster spot for either a free-agent addition or perhaps Notre Dame’s Joe Alt or Penn State’s Olu Fashanu in the draft.

SIGNING: CB Kendall Fuller

Tennessee’s secondary was a mess this season and both Sean Murphy-Bunting and Kristian Fulton will be free agents in two weeks. While it’s possible Murphy-Bunting is retained (he had a solid season), Fulton regressed tremendously and it’s clear an upgrade at cornerback is needed. Fuller is 29 years old, but the Titans don’t need him to be a long-term answer at the position. 

He could step into a starting role immediately while helping to mentor the team’s group of youthful corners, including Caleb Farley (25), Roger McCreary (24) and Eric Garror (23). It’s possible the Titans also select a cornerback at some point in April’s draft, so pairing Fuller with Murphy-Bunting, who is 26, gives the team a reliable 1-2 punch at corner while allowing younger players to develop and step into larger roles a year or two down the line.