The Tennessee Titans definitely need a back that can complement the skill set of Derrick Henry. It’s one of the few missing pieces for an offense that is pretty close to being dynamic, at least from a talent standpoint. I anticipate they’ll address this position in the draft, but Marc Sessler of NFL.com is having some fun just speculating…
The Titans require edge-rushing help, but I’d expect that to come through the draft. Assuming DeMarco Murray is history, I’m giving Tennessee a player to pair with Derrick Henry. McKinnon runs tough for his size and operates as a major asset in the passing game. He’d give this attack a burst of much-needed speed.
I know just yesterday I was cursing Titans fans for swooning over every potential free agent available, and here I am writing an article about a free agent we should be pulling for. But, this one makes a lot of sense and shouldn’t break the bank.
Will McKinnon come cheap? Nah, not necessarily. The guy’s got a pretty strong case for a decent payday. In the right scheme, he could become a standout starter, and rumors are swirling that he’s going to want something around $4 million a year. Is he worth it? I don’t know. 10 Titans would be making more in 2018 than McKinnon would at that price (11 if you count Murray), so it’s not like a contract of that caliber would set some sort of weird precedent in the locker room.
More so, it’s about what McKinnon brings to the table on the field. He fits that “play-maker” role coming out of the backfield. The four-year pro had 570 rushing yards, 421 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns in 2017. All were career highs, including a whopping 51 receptions. That’s pretty strong balance as a running back, and it’s just what the Titans need.
Henry and Murray were never going to effectively line up as a receiver and create any sort of anxiety in opposing defenses. They’re natural ball carriers. But, with McKinnon, the Titans would have a change-of-pace type of player that could line up all over the field. He had 11 catches in the NFC Championship. When’s the last time a Titans running back had that many receptions?
Ultimately, if the Titans elect to pass on McKinnon, there’s still plenty of options in 2018’s deep running back class. Namely, I like John Kelly. But, McKinnon fits a need, and the Titans shouldn’t have to overpay to get him. We’ll see.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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