Titans not getting bang for buck from free agents

The Titans were among the more aggressive teams during the early portion of free agency in March, signing a six-pack of players over a two-week period.

Tennessee didn't necessarily pursue the biggest names on the market, but the Titans still doled out approximately $58 million to sign the likes of running back Dexter McCluster, defensive end Al Woods, quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, linebacker Wesley Woodyard, tackle Michael Oher and linebacker Shaun Phillips.

The thought was those veterans would help the Titans' new coaching staff and boost the team after last year's 7-9 finish.

But as the Titans stumble into their bye weekend with a 2-6 mark, the impact of the free-agent class has been less than expected. There have been highlights — such as Woodyard leading the team in tackles and Whitehurst guiding the Titans to one of their wins — but overall, the Titans aren't getting the bang for the buck they envisioned from this group.

Here's a closer look at what the Titans paid for their six offseason free-agent signings and how those players have performed through eight games:

RB Dexter McCluster (three years, $9 million) — The thought was that McCluster would play a role in the Titans' offense similar to what Danny Woodhead did last year in Ken Whisenhunt's offense in San Diego. It hasn't panned out to date.

The Titans have increased McCluster's rushing role from recent years, but it's not paying dividends — he's averaging just 3.2 yards on 24 carries. In the passing game, McCluster has just 16 catches after averaging about 50 per season over the past three years in Kansas City. He has been on the field for only 28 percent of the Titans' offensive snaps, per Football Outsiders, whereas Woodhead was on the field for 44 percent of the Chargers' snaps last year.

McCluster is also averaging only 7.3 yards per punt return, a noticeable drop from the 11.8 he averaged en route to the Pro Bowl last year in Kansas City. He has one punt return over 20 yards, compared with 11 of those last year.

DE Al Woods (two years, $4 million) — Signed to provide size and depth to the team's defensive line, Woods has done about what's been expected of him. He's averaging less than 20 snaps per game, but his 16 tackles through eight contests put him on pace for a career year in that category. You'd have a hard time recalling any highlight plays for Woods in the season's first eight games, but he has done a solid job in the team's rotation.

QB Charlie Whitehurst (two years, $4.25 million) — Signed because Whisenhunt liked him more than Ryan Fitzpatrick for the Titans' system, Whitehurst has done a respectable job when called upon this season. In two of Whitehurst's three starts this year, he has given the Titans a chance to win, which is what a team looks for from a backup quarterback. In another relief appearance, Whitehurst performed well against Cleveland. Overall, Whitehurst has completed 60 percent of his passes, posted five touchdowns versus two interceptions, and produced a quarterback rating of 93.2 — all numbers that are good for a backup.

LB Wesley Woodyard (four years, $15.75 million) — Woodyard was brought here to add leadership and experience in the 3-4 defense, and he has delivered on both accounts. Voted a captain during the preseason, Woodyard played nearly every defensive snap during the Titans' first four games. His snaps have been cut by about a third since then, and the Titans have used rookie Avery Williamson as the defensive signal-caller, but Woodyard has still been productive. His 72 tackles lead the Titans and put him on pace for a career high. He has a pair of interceptions as well.

T Michael Oher (four years, $20 million) — It's difficult to find any set of numbers that flatter Oher, who was the most expensive of the Titans' free-agent additions. Pro Football Focus, for instance, has him graded 69th out of the league's 72 tackles who've played at least 25 percent of their team's snaps. He grades out worst in the league at run-blocking, per PFF, which probably explains some of the reason the Titans are averaging just 2.75 yards per rush over right tackle — the third-worst figure in the league. As for pass protection, Oher has surrendered four sacks and 19 hurries, which again rank him near the bottom of the league among tackles. He has committed five penalties, which is tied for third-highest on the Titans.

LB Shaun Phillips (two years, $5 million) — The Titans expected more of a pass-rushing threat from Phillips, who had piled up 19.5 sacks over his previous two seasons. He hasn't come through in that regard so far, with just one sack and seven quarterback hurries (per PFF) in his first eight games. Phillips has been OK otherwise, as he's on pace to top 40 tackles despite playing less than half the team's defensive snaps. But the lack of pressure on the quarterback raises the question of how much the 33-year-old has left in the tank.

Reach John Glennon at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @glennonsports.

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