PALM BEACH, Fla. – So what about Dan Moore’s 12 sacks allowed in his final year with the Steelers? How did Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (pictured) get away so cheaply? Does Nicholas Petit-Frere actually have the potential to be on the roster in the fall? Will Corey Levin play if Lloyd Cushenberry hasn’t fully healed? Was Chido Awuzie’s release all about health?
I had a chance to ask Titans’ brass these player questions at the NFL owners meetings.
Here are thoughts from Mike Borgonzi, Chad Brinker and Brian Callahan on these players:
Dan Moore:
Borgonzi admits that the Titans’ new $20.5 million a year left tackle needs some polish but said the position is hard to find.
“He played against some pretty good pass rushers in that division [the AFC North],” Borgonzi said. “The way we see Dan is, he’s four-year starter, he’s young, he’s durable, there is some technical stuff that we think we can
clean up with him, some of the pass protection stuff. We felt like we got a young guy who’s durable, who’s played a lot of football. Left tackle is a tough spot to find, even in the draft. We feel good that he will come in here, continue to improve.
“Even the character piece, -- with all the research we did, coming out of college too, and the people that we called in Pittsburgh -- this guy is going to be great for the room. He’s a leader. So that part was important for us too.”
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine:
The Titans have Calvin Ridley as their top receiver and not much else. They signed Van Jefferson, who’s one of three receivers to average less than 1 yard per route run in both 2023 and 2024.
Otherwise they have Bryce Oliver and now James Proche.
I understand the ceiling on Westbrook-Ikhine. He doesn’t get separation. His touchdown production last year – nine touchdowns in 32 catches -- was crazy and the odds of him duplicating it are long.
He got $3.2 million guaranteed in a two-year, $5.99 million deal from the Dolphins. I heard the Titans were at just under $3 million for a year.
“He was on our radar, we made an offer to him,” Brinker said. “We were trying to bring him back, we wanted him to be part of our football team. AS you know, that’s the risk you take when you get to free agency. Other teams get in volved, there are other opportunities maybe players want to look at and in that case it just didn’t work out.”
Nicholas Petit-Frere:
The Titans got a hugely disappointing 2024 season out of 2022’s third-round pick out of Ohio State. He was the starter at right tackle for 10 games, but he was replaced twice. It would have been more often and permanent had the team had a viable alternative.
It would seem like he'd go the way of Dennis Daley and Andre Dillard.
But Borgonzi sees the potential for NFP to win a role in his fourth season.
“I see him competing in camp for one of those spots,” the GM said. “Maybe it’s the swing tackle role at this point. But he’ll be in there competing.”
The Titans gave Jaguars' free-agent Blake Hance a one-year $1.32 million deal with $425,000 guaranteed and he looks like a swing tackle candidate too.
Petit-Frere is due a base salary of $3.406 million and would cost only $239,129 in salary cap dead money to cut.
Corey Levin:
Opening day will mark almost exactly 10 months since Lloyd Cushenberry ruptured his Achilles tendon, and 10 months is the average timetable for a return from such an injury.
The Titans re-signed Corey Levin, who’s been on and off the team for years, starting six games and appearing in 71 over five seasons.
“I think that Levin has proven he’s capable of playing in a relief spot,” Brian Callahan said. “He’s performed well when asked to perform. The hope is that Cush is ready to roll for the opener. Achilles with bigger players is always a little trickier. Because of the load that they put on. So we’ll be cautious. We won’t rush him back. The hope is to get him back for the opener.
“If not, we’ve got confidence in Corey, and we’re still building the roster, still building depth. If somebody shows 
up that is better than Corey or plays better than him during camp, then so be it.”
Chidobe Awuzie:
The Titans cut Chidobe Awuzie on March 15, leaving the Titans five deep at corner with L'Jarius Sneed, Jarvis Brownlee and Roger McCreary as starters and Darrell Baker as the fourth.
Awuzie was part of the big free-agent class of 2024, signing for three years, $25.5 million and $17.5 million guaranteed.
He played only eight games because of groin issues and the Titans swallowed $12.5 million against the cap while saving $1.5 million in accounting.
“Certainly, I think durability was a part of it,” Borgonzi said. “A little younger, a little faster at the position.”
