For a team that went all in on Peyton Manning, largely at the behest of owner Bud Adams, and lost, the Tennessee Titans recovered pretty nicely.
The Titans' biggest need in free agency was not at the quarterback position, though snagging an elite player like Manning at the position was something that could not have been turned away.
Instead, the Titans filled the biggest gap on the roster, one day after Manning went to Denver, by signing Kamerion Wimbley to serve as a pass-rushing defensive end.
In order to land Wimbley, who was released just a few days prior by the Oakland Raiders, the Titans put together a five-year, $35 million package, dropping a $9 million signing bonus into the deal and including $13.5 million of guaranteed money in the first two years of the deal.
The Titans wasted no time in pursuing Wimbley once the Raiders dumped him. Tennessee had missed out on the possibilities of pursuing Mario Williams and John Abraham because they were tied up in the wait on Manning.
"I got a call from the Titans and spoke with (player personnel director) Lake Dawson and he said they were interested in me," he told TitanInsider. "I asked him how they saw my role, and he said they wanted me to be a defensive end because they needed someone to rush the passer, and I got excited about that because I played mostly end in college. Then when I came here and met with the coaches, they told me the same thing. We all had the same vibe."
The chance to be a full-time defensive end was appealing to Wimbley, who had been mostly a 3-4 linebacker with the Raiders, and prior to that the Cleveland Browns.
Wimbley was primarily a defensive end in college at Florida State and played a rush end spot in sub-packages for the Raiders, but the Titans are confident his 42.5 career sacks will translate just as easily with his hand down as it did from an upright position off the edge.
"Kamerion has been a very productive player in this league and is a good pro," Titans coach Mike Munchak said. "On passing downs over the last few years, he has played with his hand down in Oakland and he will be playing full-time at defensive end for us. I feel like he is coming into the best years of his career and his skills will help us pressure the passer."
Wimbley is ready for the challenge.
"It just depended upon the situation and what team we were playing again. But in sub-packages and nickel situations," he said, "I was usually in a three-point stance and rushing the passer. Now, I'll get the opportunity to do that on first and second downs here."
With the addition of Wimbley, the Titans have the pass rusher that opposing offenses should have to account for, but the job there is not done. Tennessee still has only two ends of any consequence on the roster in Wimbley and 2010 first-round pick Derrick Morgan, whom Tennessee hopes is finally healthy after battling injuries for much of his time with the Titans.
NOTES, QUOTES
-Owner Bud Adams was the one who had insisted the Titans try to land Peyton Manning and even offered him a contract "for life." But after losing out to Denver, the 89-year-old Adams issued a statement acknowledging the efforts of his coach Mike Munchak and the front office.
"I want to thank the whole organization for their efforts in trying to sign Peyton and also to Peyton for the time he put into the process," Adams said on the day the Titans lost out on Manning. "Peyton called me this morning to inform me of his decision and obviously I am disappointed, because I thought we would be a perfect fit. Now that we move forward, I want our fans to know that our expectations haven't changed - winning a championship is still the goal. I like our quarterback situation moving forward and we will continue to build the team through free agency and the draft with that goal in mind."
-The biggest place for the Titans to have to mend fences regarding Manning, was of course, at quarterback where 2011 starter Matt Hasselbeck and quarterback of the future Jake Locker were left to twist in the wind while the Titans pursued Manning to no avail.
"I also want to commend Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker. They were thrown into a very difficult situation. Matt was very good for us last year; and at some point, we expect Jake to be our future franchise quarterback," Adams said.
In terms of that, Locker sounded as if he was willing to forgive and forget and get ready for the 2012 season.
"I'm just looking forward to continuing to learn from Matt and having an opportunity to compete for a job," Locker told TitanInsider.
-The Titans lost another key free agent off their defense, one they wanted to keep. Jason Jones, who still had a return to the Titans on his list, instead signed with the Seattle Seahawks, getting a $4.5 million contract that is fully guaranteed for 2012. Jones was moved to defensive end by the Titans last season after spending his first three years at defensive tackle, where he was a more productive player. Jones posted 15.5 sacks as a Titan in four seasons, but just 3.5 as an end in 2011.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Coming off of last year, I decided to take the one-year deal, and then if I go out and produce, I'll be ready for that long-term deal next season." - DT Jason Jones, on taking a one-year deal in Seattle and leaving Tennessee where he was miscast as a defensive end last year.
TEAM NEEDS
1. Cornerback: Cortland Finnegan's departure as a free agent leaves Tennessee with just two experienced cornerbacks in Alterraun Verner and Jason McCourty. There is nothing but inexperience behind those two with neither Tommie Campbell nor Chris Hawkins having played a lot other than special teams. A draft pick who impresses or a free agent could help.
2. Defensive end: The Titans benefited in a big way when the Oakland Raiders released Kamerion Wimbley late last week. The Titans acted quickly, signing Wimbley to a five-year, $35 million deal, but still need numbers at the position with only two true ends - Wimbley and Derrick Morgan - on the roster.
3. Linebacker: Tennessee likes young linebackers Akeem Ayers and Colin McCarthy, but would like one more younger linebacker to complement those two and compete with veteran Will Witherspoon for a starting role on the weak side.
