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The Titans need help at outside linebacker, or EDGE defender as it is being called these days, and a lot of it. One guy that could really help them is Brandon Graham of the Philadelphia Eagles. He has a similar career path to that of Derrick Morgan. Graham was drafted to play 4-3 defensive end, but transitioned mainly to outside linebacker after Chip Kelly took over.
Pro Football Focus had him ranked as the 4th best edge defender heading into free agency. Two of the guys ahead of him, Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul, were given the franchise tag. That means that Graham is the second best defender that will actually hit the market. He had a +22.8 overall grade from PFF last year. Here is some of what they had to say about him:
Few players have made more of their playing time in the last five years than Brandon Graham. Injuries limited Graham in the first two years of his career, but since then Graham has been one of the league’s most productive pass rushers on a per-snap basis. In 2012 he posted the highest Pass Rushing Productivity mark among edge defenders (17.3), in 2013 he finished 12th (11.9) and last season he led the league for the second time in three years (17.7).
The Titans should be at his door right when the "legal tampering period" starts this weekend. They have a big selling point now in Dick LeBeau. He knows what it takes to put a guy in the right position to maximize his potential. Players know that.
The Titans need to add Graham and at least one other guy that can come off the edge when free agency opens.
