Another look at potential Titans free agent targets

We’ve heard some encouragement on the labor front recently, so maybe a deal will get done and free agency will begin in the near future.

CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco ranked his top 50 free agents, noting that it’s starting to look like four years will now be enough to qualify for unrestricted free agency.

In the last two months, I’ve written about potential free agents the Titans should be interested in at five positions – strong safety, defensive end, middle linebacker, interior line and fullback – and a lot of those guys are also in Prisco’s top 50.

Here’s how Prisco ranks these guys, and my comments, after the jump.

Strong Safety
31. Quintin Mikell, Eagles
42. Dawan Landry, Ravens

I’d rather have Landry than Mikell, but would be happy with either and would also be glad to get Danieal Manning.

Defensive End
2. Charles Johnson, Panthers
4. Ray Edwards, Vikings
39. Mathias Kiwanuka, Giants

I wanted Edwards a year ago and still do.  I haven’t seen enough of Johnson yet to make me want him more than Edwards, but a lot of people have written he’s the best free agent 4-3 DE.  If healthy, Kiwanuka could be a steal and contribute for a few years.

Middle Linebacker
15. Paul Posluszny, Bills
18. Stephen Tulloch, Titans
37. Kevin Burnett, Chargers
38. Barrett Ruud, Buccaneers

I’d love some Posluszny, even if he is a tad small for what Jerry Gray says he wants.

Interior line
13. Marshal Yanda, Ravens
26. Davin Joseph, Buccaneers
36. Justin Blalock, Falcons
45. Harvey Dahl, Falcons

Prisco notes that Yanda can also play tackle, where the money is, which may be the reason why he ranks Yanda this high.

Players I thought the Titans should consider who didn’t make Prisco’s top 50:
S Danieal Manning, Bears
MLB Stewart Bradley, Eagles
MLB Kirk Morrison, Jaguars
G Carl Nicks, Saints
G Daryn Colledge, Packers
G Deuce Lutui, Cardinals
C Lyle Sendlein, Cardinals
G Leroy Harris, Titans
FB Vonta Leach, Texans
FB Le’Ron McClain, Ravens
FB John Kuhn, Packers
FB Marcel Reece, Raiders
FB Mike Tolbert, Chargers

Nicks will be a restricted free agent, which is probably why Prisco didn’t include him.  Prisco didn’t have any fullbacks on his list.

Guys in Prisco’s top 50, at positions of need, who I didn’t write about:
11. S Michael Huff – Although he did play strong safety his first two years in the league, he’s really more of a free safety, which is one reason why I didn’t include him in my list of potential targets.  Another reason is that run support isn’t Huff’s strong suit.

18. DE Jason Babin – He doesn’t seem like a great fit in Jerry Gray’s and Tracy Rocker’s new scheme, and I don’t expect him back.  Babin should fit well in Jim Washburn’s scheme which he took to Philadelphia and the Eagles will probably offer him more than the Titans will (if the Titans make him an offer at all.)

Of the notable Titans free agents to be (Tulloch, Babin, Ahmard Hall and Leroy Harris), Hall is the free agent I expect is most likely to be back in two-tone blue this season.  Other teams will probably overpay to get Babin and Tulloch.  David Ball seems to be the most likely non-starter free agent who will be back with the Titans.  Sorry, Donnie Nickey.