Titans To Be Players in Free Agency

Added on Mar 13, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

With free agency only hours away, all 32 NFL teams are reviewing cap figures, scheduling visits and refining strategies on how to best improve their chances of winning in 2012. One team planning to make a significant splash is the Tennessee Titans. Peyton Manning is stealing all the headlines, but he isn’t the only big ticket free agent on the Titans radar. If things go according to plan, they will land more than one big fish.

Owner Bud Adams has made his intentions clear regarding Manning. He wants the ex-Colt to be under center in 2012. Manning is expected to meet with head coach Mike Munchak on Wednesday, although Miami, Denver and Arizona remain key players in the sweepstakes.

Should the Titans coax Manning into signing, last year’s starter Matt Hasselbeck, who will earn $5.5 million next season, could be cut. Last April’s first-round pick Jake Locker would then be the team’s primary backup. Despite a dearth of receiving talent, Hasselbeck was surprisingly effective in 2011, throwing for 3,571 yards, 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson is also on the Titans want list. The hope is the addition of Hutchinson will bolster the pursuit of Manning, as well as improving a rush attack that frequently stalled in 2011. Nate Washington is coming off a career year, Kenny Britt is expected to be ready for training camp after recovering from a torn ACL suffered last September and tight end Jared Cook is an emerging talent. Whether this is enough to lure Manning remains to be seen.

On defense, Tennessee has an eye on Texans end Mario Williams to improve a pass rush that recorded only 28 sacks in 2011. To put that in perspective, Jared Allen led the league with 22. Williams, who missed 11 games with a torn pectoral, has several suitors, so he won’t come cheap.

The Titans also must find a replacement for free agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan. The former Pro Bowler has started 77 of the last 80 regular season games, but will reportedly not be offered a new contract.

Source: ESPN.com