NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans' roster in 2016 will include a slew of players with a big financial incentive to play their best.

The team has 18 guys -- including five of the nine players the Titans have signed this offseason -- who have either signed a one-year deal or are heading into the final year of their deals.

The five who signed one-year deals: Tight end Craig Stevens, inside linebacker Sean Spence, offensive lineman Byron Bell, cornerback Antwon Blake and backup quarterback Matt Cassel.

Outside of Stevens, who'll be 32 when the season ends, they are prove-it deals. Play well and you can expect to do better in a year, earning a longer contract with the Titans or another team.

Thirteen more veterans are heading into a contract year:

Walker is the clear priority among this group, and I expect the Titans will work to extend him, probably over the summer.

The next best guy is Wright, and he'll have to show what he can do in the new system in order to be a guy the Titans definitely want to keep.

Beyond that, right now it would be a stretch to say any of the other guys have to be back. It's their job to play to a level that makes it so they are needed in 2017, and beyond.