The Titans lost tight end Jonnu Smith to the Patriots in free agency, and they have not done much to replace him. The club re-signed both Anthony Firkser and Geoff Swaim, and at present, those two reside at the top of Tennessee’s TE depth chart.
Jim Wyatt of the team’s official website believes that the Titans will make another addition to their tight end group, though he does not speculate as to who that addition might be. He does not believe that a reunion with old friend Delanie Walker, who recently auditioned for the 49ers, is in the cards.
Although Firkser is officially a tight end, he spent most of his time in 2020 lined up as a slot receiver, reeling in 39 catches for 387 yards (both career highs) and a touchdown. Still, the Titans do love to have two TEs on the field at once, so look for him and Swaim to get considerable playing time, with Firkser perhaps being moved around the formation to create favorable matchups.
As such, it makes sense that the club would look to add another TE, since the next man up behind Firkser and Swaim is 2020 UDFA Jared Pinkney, who spent most of his rookie campaign on the Falcons’ taxi squad. Pinkney did have a successful collegiate career at Vanderbilt and might have been a Day 2 draft pick if he had turned pro in 2019, but his return to college hurt his stock, which led to his being undrafted last year. He will likely need some more seasoning before he becomes a reliable player at the professional level.
At this point in the offseason, there are not many quality free agents available. Tyler Eifert and Trey Burton may be the most notable FAs if Tennessee is, in fact, interested in making an addition. Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz could also be on the move, either via trade or release.
Of course, the Titans continue to be connected to a trade for Falcons star wideout Julio Jones.
Tennessee probably makes the most sense for Ertz and a mid day 3 pick going back to Philly seems like all they’d really get since it would essentially be a salary dump for them
No probably more like a 4th or 5th for em. I think, sheets their is plenty of players still unsigned.
Tennessee picking in the latter half of the 5th would be a mid day 3 pick.
I would guess a conditional 5th Round that could become a 4th round if he meets certain criteria
Titans acquire Julio…..
Ha, take Evan Engram off the Giants’ hand. That way I won’t have to watch him tip catchable balls up in the air to give the opposing teams a chance to intercept it.
After the Julio trade, Ertz doesn’t seem to be on the move to Tennessee. It would be a logical connection otherwise, but my guess is that the other high end TE prospect of that draft-Tyler Eifert-is more likely. Wentz and Reich certainly make Ertz intriguing as a possibility, but Tennessee also likes their TEs to block in some capacity at least. Firkser lines up wide already, but if they are looking to supersede his snaps as a slot receiver, Ertz makes sense. If not, then he doesn’t, because lining up as a TE in Nashville means doing some blocking, and Firkser already can give them what they’d get from Ertz in that capacity.