The Tennessee Titans’ offensive line faced plenty of adversity during the 2020 campaign but was still able to put together a stellar performance that helped Derrick Henry become the eighth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards.
Tennessee’s group upfront dealt with several injuries over the course of the season, but none bigger than left tackle Taylor Lewan, who suffered a torn ACL during the Week 6 win over the Houston Texans.
And, even Lewan’s first replacement, Ty Sambrailo, suffered a season-ending injury that left the job up to David Quessenberry, who performed admirably in his stead.
Despite all the aforementioned injuries that also included nagging ones to guys like left guard Rodger Saffold, right tackle Dennis Kelly and center Ben Jones, the Titans finished with one of the highest-graded run-blocking offensive lines in the NFL last season, per Pro Football Focus.
Only the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts had units with a better grade.
Highest-graded run-blocking teams this season
1. Browns
2. 49ers
3. Colts
4. Titans pic.twitter.com/blcFHMpLf3— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) February 11, 2021
Perhaps more impressively, the Titans’ offensive line cut the team’s sacks allowed by more than half from 2019 to 2020, as Tennessee went from surrendering 58 to 25.
The good news for the Titans is that their Week 1 starting group from last season is set to return in 2021, as all five members are under contract.
However, with the emergence of 2020 UDFA Aaron Brewer, who can play both center and guard, and with the Titans being strapped for cash this offseason, our John Lowell listed Saffold and Jones as potential cap casualties of the Titans.
Of course, there’s no chance that both will be cut, but it wouldn’t shock us to see one of them get the boot considering Tennessee’s current financial situation. Neither deserves such a fate, though.
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