Shaun Phillips meeting with Tennessee Titans today

Nov 17, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end Shaun Phillips (90) in the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Free agent defensive end Shaun Phillips is visiting with the Titans today, per Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. Phillips was Denver’s best pass rusher last season with Von Miller suspended and then injured. Before his lone 2013 season with the Broncos, Phillips spent his first 10 seasons with the Chargers.

Even though he had a productive season with 10 sacks, Phillips never seemed all that likely to return to Denver. His chances of being re-signed by the Broncos went from unlikely to not-at-all after the team signed DeMarcus Ware a day after he was released by the Cowboys.

Phillips is another aging pass rusher in what’s been a crowded market, but in Tennessee, there is a need and a fit. The Titans ranked near the bottom of the league last season with only 36 sacks, and that was with blitz-happy Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator. With Ray Horton in place as the new DC in Tennessee, Phillips would be a fit as an end in the 3-4 scheme he used in Cleveland.

From the recent deals we’ve seen with Jared Allen and Julius Peppers, Phillips is looking at a four-year deal for his next contract. Even though he is 31, Phillips’s 2013 season was good enough where he should have enough negotiating leverage to avoid back to back short-term deals.