There’s been a lot of action in free agency since the NFL league year opened on Wednesday. Some big names have changed uniforms ultimately altering the upcoming fantasy season. From the exodus of players from the Super Bowl champion Broncos, to the sudden improvements to teams like the Texans and the Raiders, this offseason has been exciting to say the least.
Fresh on the heels of the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the free agency period is just the next step of many in which NFL teams across America try to climb the mountain to reach the ultimate title of Super Bowl Champions. The next big event on the offseason calendar is the NFL draft, which starts April, 28th.
One of the teams hoping to improve upon last year’s 3 and 13 season is the Tennessee Titans. The main question in Titans camp is “What can we do to help our franchise quarterback be successful in the future?”
Improve the running game? Check. The Titans traded for DeMarco Murray who was unhappy with his stint in Philadelphia after being the league’s leading rusher in Dallas just two years ago. This addition gives Tennessee their first legitimate rusher since CJ 2K.
Better protection? Check. Tennessee signed Center Ben Jones, a free agent who was a starter for Houston last year. Jones should add stability to a line which allowed 54 sacks a year ago.
Add playmakers to throw the ball to? Check. The newest Wide Receiver on the Titans’ roster is former Dolphin Rishard Mathews. Mathews is coming off his best year as a pro and will bolster a stout receiving corps including Kendall Wright, Harry Douglas, Justin Hunter, and Dorial Green-Beckham. Mariota will also continue to lean on dynamic TE Delanie Walker.
Add veteran leadership at the quarterback position? Check. Tennessee also signed veteran Matt Cassel at one of the most underrated positions in the league, backup QB. Cassel has bounced around the league since his most productive season in New England in 2008, however that experience at backup quarterback will help in Mariota’s development as an NFL play caller. It should also give Marcus added confidence when running out of the pocket because he won’t have to worry as much about being knocked out of a game for a few plays if he decides to extend a play with his legs.
All of these free agent additions along with their number one position in the upcoming draft, make for an offseason of optimism for Tennessee fans as well as fantasy owners looking for Mariota to develop into a potential QB1 in fantasy drafts. I’m looking forward to a great fantasy year from all of the Titans’ offensive playmakers, especially Marcus Mariota. As he proved in his time at Oregon, if you surround Mariota with talent and keep him upright in the pocket, he can be an electrifying player at the most important position in football.
Make sure to look for next week’s Fantasy Scrambler for more free agency action and how it will affect fantasy in the weeks leading up to the draft. Keep on Scramblin’ and follow me on Twitter @MaahsScrambler.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!