Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Jameel McClain (53) defends during the fourth quarter. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Tennessee Titans need to make some upgrades on the front seven, and it’s honestly the perfect time for the Titans to need another defensive end and significant linebacker help, as the Titans are gearing up for their first year with Ray Horton as the defensive coordinator. The former Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals DC likes to run a hybrid 3-4 defense, so he can shop for his groceries on the free agent market. Arthur Jones and Karlos Dansby seem to be their top targets on the defensive line and at linebacker, and future-released OLB LaMarr Woodley is also a potential addition as a 3-4 OLB edge rusher.
According to the Nashville Tennessean’s Jim Wyatt, the Titans are also interested in former Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Jameel McClain and veteran edge rusher Shaun Phillips, who is an impending free agent from the Denver Broncos. Phillips can still get to the quarterback and would be a solid add for the Titans, but I wonder if he is just as much of a backup plan as McClain would be at ILB.
I could see the Titans going after a top linebacker and signing McClain on top of that, but I think it’s more likely that top free agent ILB Karlos Dansby is their biggest priority with McClain as a backup plan. Although McClain was released by the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, that was to make room to re-sign guys like Eugene Monroe, Dennis Pitta, and Daryl Smith. Plus, the Ravens also have talented second-year pro Arthur Brown chomping at the bit, so McClain was a luxury piece. He is a quality starter at the position, and both he and Phillips are veterans that Titans fans should watch for in the coming week or two.