Titans free agent spotlight: CB Desmond King

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a closer look at the Titans’ free agent class. One by one, we’ll provide some basic details on the player before making an argument for both sides — why the Titans should, or shouldn’t re-sign that player. We’ll also offer our final verdict and a prediction to go along with it.

Name: Desmond King II

Position: cornerback

Age: 26

Why the Titans should keep King: The Titans traded for King on November 2nd after a horrendous start on defense, specifically at the cornerback position. With Adoree Jackson out injured, the team lacked depth at the position and players such as Johnathan Joseph and Chris Jackson really struggled as they were forced into more action than the team foresaw.

Joseph specifically struggled badly on a weekly basis, and he was released from the team altogether when King was acquired. This defense still struggled down the stretch, but there’s no denying that King improved the nickelback position. He played exclusively in the slot, and put in more good performances than bad ones. The Titans gave up very little to get him (A Day 3 pick), and he fit in almost immediately. Depending on the terms of the deal, bringing King back could make a lot of sense.

Why the Titans should let King walk: The forgotten man in all this is Kristian Fulton. A second round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Fulton was pegged to start in the slot with Jackson and Malcolm Butler on the outside. Fulton struggled with injury throughout camp and failed to hold down the nickel position like the team thought he would when they drafted him. Fulton’s early season struggles (mostly due to injury) where one of the reasons the team felt like they had to trade for King in the first place.

But 2021 is a new season, and Fulton is a talented player that the team felt lucky to land in the second round of last year’s draft. This team needs to spend its money wisely this offseason, and prioritizing other free agents while giving Fulton another chance to solidify himself as a starter in his sophomore season could be a smart play.

Final verdict: The team would probably like to bring King back depending on the terms. You can never have too many good cornerbacks. This team saw first hand what a lack of depth at the position could do after a few players go down with injury.

Prediction: King plays his football elsewhere in 2021.

What are your thoughts? Should the Titans re-sign King? Leave your opinion in the comments.