Titans Considering Defensive Addition; Preston Smith On Team’s Radar?

Roster cuts following training camp and the preseason represents a time when a number of roster moves are made in the NFL. At or around that time, the Titans could be a team to watch closely.

Tennessee is “open” to making at least one defensive addition late in free agency, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Specifically, making one of more moves at corner or along the edge could be in play. If a pass rush signing is sought out, Fowler names Preston Smith as potential target.

Smith was traded from the Packers to the Steelers midway through last season. The move ended his Green Bay tenure (which dated back to 2019) but did not yield much in the way of production with his new team. In eight Pittsburgh games to close out the campaign, Smith notched only two sacks (bringing his season total to just 4.5).

That figure falls well short of Smith’s best campaigns. To no surprise, the 32-year-old was released by the Steelers in a cost-shedding move after the season. Little interest has been shown since then, although the Bills were named as a potential suitor before free agency. Buffalo instead signed Joey Bosa on the open market.

The Titans released Harold Landry in March. That move ended his seven-year tenure in Nashville, which included six seasons of action. Landry spent much of that time as the team’s top edge rusher, collecting at least nine sacks on four occasions. Replacing his production will be a key concern for the Titans moving forward. Second-round rookie Oluafemi Oladejo will play a role in that effort, but a veteran presence along the edge would also be a welcomed addition.

Tennessee entered Monday with over $29MM in cap space, so finances will not be an issue if Smith is indeed offered a deal. In any case, the Titans could afford moves at other positions as well prior to the start of the campaign.

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