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6 areas Tennessee Titans still must improve, and the top free agents left at each position

The Tennessee Titans shouldn't be anywhere close to done making moves in NFL free agency with the caliber of players still available and the needs the team still has to address.

After adding seven players in the first week of the league year, headlined by receiver Calvin Ridley and running back Tony Pollard, the Titans are still in need of a handful of starters and depth pieces at valuable positions.

Here are six holes the Titans still need to fill this offseason, and some of the best options available at each spot.

Offensive tackle

Arguably the Titans' biggest need, and one that feels most likely to be filled through the NFL draft. Notre Dame's Joe Alt and Penn State's Olu Fashanu are the best fits if the Titans hold onto their pick at No. 7. But this year's draft class is particularly deep at tackle, so the Titans can find value if they trade back in the first round or wait until the second round at pick No. 38.

That said, there are a surprising number of experienced tackles still on the market. New England's Trent Brown is the biggest name, but injuries have derailed four of his last five seasons. Younger players like Yosh Nijman and Josh Jones looking for starting jobs, as well as veterans like Donovan Smith and Andrus Peat looking to extend their careers are also available. None of these players profile as long-term solutions, but they could be short-term answers as the Titans try to transition into a new era on the offensive line.

Cornerback

The Titans added Chidobe Awuzie from Cincinnati last week to pair with returning starter Roger McCreary. McCreary's best work came in the slot last year, so it'd behoove the Titans to find another outside option. Whether that means pursuing veterans like Stephon Gilmore, Steven Nelson or Akhello Witherspoon or targeting someone like Rock Ya-Sin who has experience playing under defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, there are options available.

Safety

Big names like Justin Simmons, Julian Blackmon and Micah Hyde remain unsigned. The Titans desperately need depth in the secondary, and signing any of those players would free the team up to use Elijah Molden as a rotational piece at corner and safety instead of an every-down safety. There's also the option to re-sign Terrell Edmunds or K'Von Wallace, the latter of whom also has played for Wilson.

Defensive line/pass rush

Depth on the defensive front is lacking. After Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry and Arden Key, there isn't much left. Finding quality help at defensive tackle might be a bit of a challenge with the market drying up. But the Titans should be able to find a veteran lineman who can occasionally bump inside like Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, Mike Danna or Jerry Hughes or buy higher on former top draft picks like Chase Young, Derek Barnett and Jadeveon Clowney.

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Wide receiver

Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins are as good of a one-two punch as the Titans could find. But there's still space to improve the room. Speed threats D.J. Chark and Quez Watkins make sense as third options, and former Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd is still available as someone who's played in Brian Callahan's system for the last five years and will be able to fit the Titans' new schemes seamlessly.

Inside linebacker

Kenneth Murray is signed as Azeez Al-Shaair's replacement, and Jack Gibbens is back on an exclusive rights free agent deal. Otis Reese, who played fairly well toward the end of 2023, is back as well. The Titans could use some extra help in the middle, but the market isn't as flush with talent as it was a week ago. Veterans Shaquille Leonard and Zach Cunningham (a former Titan) are available, as is former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons. But after that, options are pretty limited.

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Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Top free agents available: Tennessee Titans positions of need