Tennessee Titans: Top five team needs heading into the 2020 NFL Draft

Nickelback

No, not the band. A “nickel” or slot corner is another position that will need to be addressed due to a presumptive loss during free agency. While he has not signed elsewhere quite yet, Logan Ryan is arguably the highest sought after free agent on the market, likely getting a payday that the Tennessee Titans, again, cannot afford.

With Malcolm Butler and Adoree Jackson on the outside, Ryan on the inside and Kenny Vaccaro and Kevin Byard roaming deep at safety, the Tennessee Titans had one of the best secondaries in the NFL last season.

If the Titans are able to bring back Ryan, this position would drop off this list before the 2020 NFL Draft. But with Ryan being as good as he has been, a departure would leave yet another pair of big shoes to fill.

The former Patriot has been outstanding in his three seasons in Nashville, with 2019 being his best year to date. Ryan did a little bit of everything on the defensive side of the ball for the Tennessee Titans this past season, racking up 113 total tackles, four tackles for loss, eight QB hits, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions and 18 pass deflections.

That kind of production will not be easily replicated. The fact that he has not signed yet is very surprising to me. The Titans would clearly have to accept a lower level of play for a couple of seasons out of a rookie before they can expect anywhere near that level of production.

There are quite a few very talented cornerback prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft that are expected to go in the second or third round. If the Tennessee Titans are unable to bring back Ryan or land a sufficient replacement in free agency, I’d expect them to take a chance on a corner on day two of the 2020 NFL Draft.