Tennessee Titans: 5 Realistic free agent targets for 2020
By John Laird
5. Demar Dotson, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The front office is dealt with a lot of tough decisions to make in the coming days, including what to do with former first-round pick Jack Conklin. Conklin’s fifth-year option was declined last summer, allowing the former All-Pro to test the market.
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With the Titans recently inking Taylor Lewan, Rodger Saffold,and Ben Jones to new deals, Robinson may be hesitant to pay top dollar for another offensive lineman when players like Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry are also scheduled to be free agents. On top of that, Dennis Kelly‘s contract is also up. Kelly has served as the back-up/swing tackle the last several years and has been relatively solid in the role.
While he isn’t a “prime free agent”, Demar Dotson could at least serve as insurance at the position at a more team-friendly rate. Dotson has been with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since his rookie season in 2009 and has only missed two games the past two seasons.
Robinson was the Director of Player Personnel in Tampa Bay from 2013-2016 and Dotson was signed to an extension in 2013. It’s unclear if Robinson still feels the same about the 10-year veteran but the pairing makes sense given the massive hole that’s going to be left by Conklin’s likely departure.
Dotson may not be the team’s preference as the starting right tackle but there are certainly worst options out there as the team’s backup/swing tackle. The team could elect to re-sign Kelly, draft or even sign another tackle in free agency. But Vrabel and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith loved to trot out a sixth offensive lineman as much if not more then any other team in the NFL and having a reliable veteran in that position is ideal.