Recently cut ex-Titans: Worth a look?

With the NFL offseason finally in full swing thanks to the end of the NFL lockout, it’s been a pretty hectic week for the Tennessee Titans.

While the Titans have been making their share of moves, other NFL teams have been equally busy, as they hustle and bustle in preparation for the upcoming season.

Familiar faces have surprisingly hit the unemployment lines as they search for new NFL cities to call their homes. Ex-Titans such as Derrick Mason, Jacob Bell, Antwan Odom and Alge Crumpler are now ripe for the taking as they look to continue their careers in new venues.

Are any of the newly-released former Titans worthy of a reunion in Tennessee?

Derrick Mason WR

Of the guys jettisoned during the infamous salary cap purge several years ago, I’ve always viewed D-Mase as the one that got away.

Several years have passed and to this day, the Titans have been without a legitimate #1 WR since Mason was catching 70-90 passes a year from Steve McNair. Despite being well into his thirties, (37 to be exact) Mase is still more than capable of hauling in 60-70 grabs while serving as a reliable target in a team’s passing game.

Currently, Justin Gage is the veteran presence alongside a young group of Titan wideouts. No disrespect to Gage, but I’d take Mason’s production and reliability over #12’s susceptibility to injuries as of late in a heartbeat.

Jim Wyatt recently mentioned the possibility of the Titans being interested in bringing Mason home, so I’m a tad bit excited about this reunion possibly becoming a reality.

Jacob Bell OG

I was a bit surprised to see Bell’s name on the cut list yesterday. Originally a 5th round draft pick selected by the Titans in 2004, Bell left the confines of Nashville for the financially greener pastures of St. Louis in 2008.

At the time, the loss of Bell had more the do with his desire to test the free-agent market than the Titans wanting to rid of him. Even now, he’s coming off a 2010 campaign where he started all 16 games and was a solid presence on the Rams interior line.

Considering the Titans may be in the running for some help on their interior line, bringing back Bell would make a ton of sense.

Antwan Odom DE

Like Bell, Odom departed Nashville at the opening of free agency in 2008. Also similar to Bell, Odom’s departure was due to the market bestowing upon him a higher price-tag than the Titans were willing to pay. 

Despite showing some signs of being an extremely productive pass-rusher in Cincinnati, Odom was ultimately released due to his inability to stay healthy. 

At 6’5″ 275 lbs, Odom fits the mold of the bigger DEs the Titans are looking for in 2011. If he’s healthy, Odom could be a bargain-basement priced acquisition with some upside. 

Of course, considering his recent inability to avoid the training room, that’s one huge IF. 

Alge Crumpler TE

No longer the dynamic receiving threat that he was during his younger days in Atlanta, Crumpler’s tenure in Tennessee was known for his leadership abiliites and excellent in-line blocking, two traits the Tennessee Titans are searching for at the TE position. 

I’d have no problem whatsoever with the Titans pursuing Crumpler to serve as the team’s #3 TE behind youngsters Craig Stevens and Jared Cook. 

Thoughts on any of the ex-Titans coming back to Tennessee? As always, feel free to leave your always welcomed commentary below.