Tennessee Titans: Top free agency, NFL draft needs for 2017

Tennessee Titans breakdown: Free agency, draft shopping list

As they wade through free agency and prepare to evaluate draft prospects at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine (March 1-6), the Tennessee Titans must decide which players to keep as they seek to improve upon their 9-7 record from last season.

The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com evaluated the Titans' roster and created a shopping list to use in free agency and to reference during the Combine.

The Titans are on the rise, and they have the luxury of owning the Rams' first-round pick (fifth overall) in the April draft. The passing offense needs help, so expect a move to upgrade the receiving corps.

The pass defense also will be a priority, with cornerbacks high on the wish list.

THE BREAKDOWN

2016 finish: 2nd in AFC South (9-7)

STATISTICS

TOTAL OFFENSE: 358.0 (11th)

RUSHING: 136.7 (3rd)

PASSING: 221.3 (25th)

TOTAL DEFENSE: 357.5 (20th)

RUSHING: 88.3 (2nd)

PASSING: 269.2 (30th)

NEEDS, SHOPPING LIST

TOP THREE NEEDS

CORNERBACK

The Titans were a mix of slowing veterans and unproven youngsters at cornerback. Look for them to draft at least one, possibly more, depending on free agency.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

A.J. Bouye, Houston (26 in August, $1.67M)

Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams (27, $13.95M)

Logan Ryan, New England (26, $693K)

Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo (27 in September, $3.02M)

Brandon Carr, Dallas (31 in May, $10M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/10 Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State, 6-0, 195, 4.47, 1 (underclassman)

2/15 Teez Tabor, Florida, 6-0, 201, 4.50, 1 (underclassman)

3/21 Marlon Humphrey, Alabama, 6-1, 196, 4.49, 1 (underclassman)

4/23 Sidney Jones, Washington, 6-0, 181, 4.49, 1 (underclassman)

5/34 Desmond King, Iowa, 5-11, 206, 4.53, 1-2

SAFETY

Other than rookie Kevin Byard, no one from last season's safety rotation should feel overly safe. Free agency and the draft are both options.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

Eric Berry, Kansas City (29 in December, $10.8M)

Barry Church, Dallas (29, $2.2M)

T.J. McDonald, L.A. Rams (26, $732K)

Chris Conte, Tampa Bay (28, $3M)

Quintin Demps, Houston (32 in June, $1.5M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht, Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/4 Malik Hooker, Ohio State, 6-2, 205, 4.47, 1 (underclassman)

2/6 Jamal Adams (SS), LSU, 6-0, 211, 4.54, 1 (underclassman)

3/13 Jabrill Peppers (SS), Michigan, 6-0, 205, 4.52, 1 (underclassman)

4/43 Budda Baker, Washington, 5-10, 192, 4.52, 2 (underclassman)

5/55 Obi Melifonwu (SS), Connecticut, 6-4, 219, 4.58, 2

WIDE RECEIVER

Quarterback Marcus Mariota's complete return to health and success would be helped by a reliable No. 1 receiver, and the team would benefit if it found a kick returner in the process.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

DeSean Jackson, Washington (31 in December, $6M)

Alshon Jeffery, Chicago (27, $14.6M)

Pierre Garcon, Washington (31 in August, $8.5M)

Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland (28 in June, $1.67M)

Anquan Boldin, Detroit (37 in October, $2.75M)

Cordarrelle Patterson (KOR), Minnesota (26 in March, $1.8M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/8 Mike Williams, Clemson, 6-3, 225, 1 (underclassman)

2/16 Corey Davis, Western Michigan, 6-3, 213, 1

3/19 John Ross, Washington, 5-11, 190, 1 (underclassman)

4/37 Curtis Samuel, Ohio State, 5-11, 200, 1-2 (underclassman)

5/42 Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma, 5-11, 175, 2

UFA KEEPERS

TE Anthony Fasano (33 in April, $2.625M)

ROSTER REVIEW

DEPTH CHART

Starters and backups are listed according to their status at the end of the season, but players who were starters before being injured are included.

* Indicates player who ended 2016 season on reserve.

& Indicates player released since the Super Bowl.

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- *Marcus Mariota. Backups -- Matt Cassel (UFA), Alex Tanney.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- DeMarco Murray. Backups -- Derrick Henry, FB Jalston Fowler, Antonio Andrews, David Fluellen.

TIGHT ENDS: Starters -- Delanie Walker, Anthony Fasano (UFA). Backups -- Phillip Supernaw, Jace Amaro, Jerome Cunningham, Tim Semisch.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe. Backups -- Kendall Wright (UFA), Harry Douglas, Tre McBride, Marc Mariani (UFA), Jonathan Krause, K.J. Maye.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Taylor Lewan, LG Quinton Spain, C Ben Jones, RG Josh Kline, RT Jack Conklin. Backups -- C/G Brian Schwenke (UFA), G Sebastian Tretola, *G Chance Warmack (UFA), T Dennis Kelly, *T/G Byron Bell (UFA), T Tyler Marz, G Karim Barton.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- DLE DaQuan Jones, NT Al Woods, DRE Jurrell Casey. Backups -- *DE Karl Klug (UFA), DE Angelo Blackson, *DE Mehdi Abdesmad, NT Antwaun Woods, NT Austin Johnson.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- LOLB Derrick Morgan, LILB Wesley Woodyard, RILB Avery Williamson, ROLB Brian Orakpo. Backups -- ILB Sean Spence (UFA), ILB Nate Palmer (UFA), OLB David Bass (UFA), OLB Aaron Wallace, *OLB Kevin Dodd, ILB Justin Staples.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Brice McCain, RCB Jason McCourty, SS Da'Norris Searcy, FS Kevin Byard. Backups -- CB LeShaun Sims, S Daimion Stafford (UFA), S Rashad Johnson (UFA), CB Valentino Blake (UFA), CB Kalan Reed, S Curtis Riley, CB D'Joun Smith.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Ryan Succop, P Brett Kern, KOR/PR Marc Mariani (UFA), LS Beau Brinkley.