Titans free agents Arthur Smith might want on the Falcons

We don’t know who will be on Arthur Smith’s coaching staff yet, but we do know who will be hitting free agency for the Tennessee Titans this spring. The simple fact that those players played for or at least on the same team Smith coached means speculation about an influx of ex-Titans to Atlanta is a very reasonable thing to speculate about. Let’s do so today.

A tip of my cap to my old friend Aaron Freeman, who saved me several minutes by collecting all the Titans 2021 free agents of interest into one tweet.

Out of the list above, here are the likeliest candidates to join Atlanta, in my humble opinion. Get ready to be largely underwhelmed, given that the Falcons aren’t going to be sitting on a massive amount of cap space and because there’s only a small handful of standouts in this class for Tennessee. I’ve added two players who didn’t make Aaron’s list but deserves consideration, and we’ll hit them first.

RB D’Onta Foreman

Foreman is a legitimately intriguing addition for the Falcons backfield, even if I wouldn’t expect him to necessarily have a prominent role in it. Foreman put up 95 yards on 22 carries in a very limited role in Tennessee last year, and showed flashes in 2017 as a rookie back. He’s bounced around since then due to injury and the Texans cutting him for what they called poor work habits, but he’ll only be 25 years old in 2021, runs with power, and will be affordable. With only Ito Smith, Qadree Ollison, and Tony Brooks-James under contract, it would not be surprising to see the team add Foreman to the mix alongside a draft pick.

OG Jamil Douglas

The former Falcon would be affordable depth for a team with very little in the way of depth on the interior. That’s not particularly exciting, but it’s true.

TE Geoff Swaim

We’d all love to see Jonnu Smith in Atlanta, given his productivity and talent, but I have a feeling teams like the Patriots, Jaguars and Jets who are starved for pass catching options at the position will put more money and muscle behind trying to get him. Swaim, however, seems like a strong candidate to join.

The blocking tight end caught 9 balls for 83 yards and a touchdown last year and played 33% of the offensive snaps, as well as 34% of the special teams snaps. He was useful for opening holes for Derrick Henry and almost certainly would be called upon to serve a similar role in Atlanta, with Hurst likely dominating snaps and targets. Given the intersection of skill, cost, and familiarity with Smith, both Swaim and MyCole Pruitt are worth keeping an eye on.

OL Ty Sambrailo

You all missed this man, didn’t you?

Sambrailo played 39% of the snaps and started 5 games for the Titans in 2020, grading out with a respectable 65.9 grade from Pro Football Focus. The Falcons don’t have many reserve offensive linemen under contract—though they should make re-signing Matt Gono a priority—and Sambrailo’s familiarity with Smith and his proven ability to do fine work in his offense bode well for his chances of hopping back over to Atlanta. We can only hope Smith has an unlikely touchdown pass cooked up for him.

DL Jaedeveon Clowney

It’s probably a longshot, but I’m including him because I remain fond of Clowney and his value in the open market may not be what it once was.

The past two seasons, Clowney has had three sacks combined. He played in just 8 games in 2020 after playing in just 13 in 2019, and he only managed 12 pressures (per Pro Football Reference) in those 8 games. He’s still a force agains the run and still a capable pass rusher, but he hasn’t produced at an elite level since 2018.

He’s still just 28 years old and would be a terrific addition to a team starved for defensive line help. If the right defensive coordinator comes in and Clowney’s next contract doesn’t break the bank, he should be a target.

DL Jack Crawford

He’s perfectly capable of playing defensive end and rotating inside and was a fan favorite during his days in Atlanta. The versatility, his solid work as a pass rusher, and his possible connections to Smith’s incoming defensive staff might make him a budget depth signing for this Falcons team.

CB Desmond King

The Falcons are hurting for reserve cornerbacks. We’re not sure who is going to be running Arthur Smith’s defense, but if it’s anyone from the current staff in Tennessee, King could be in play as a reserve who could compete for a starting role. He has starting experience from his days with the Chargers, has handled punt returns in the past, and likely won’t break the bank as an addition. Very little is settled after A.J. Terrell on this depth chart, so King might find Atlanta an attractive landing spot for that reason, too.

Who would you add if you were Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith?