NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Hooper didn’t make himself sound like a hot property when he was introduced to Titans’ media Monday.

Asked why he joined the Titans, he said, “an offer helps.” Ultimately he said he chose between two.

© Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Limited interest served Tennessee, which snatched him up for a year at $6 million.

In signing him just a few days after he was released in a cap move by the Cleveland Browns, the Titans conceded a 2021 failure at tight end.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The biggest element of the Titans’ trade for veteran receiver Robert Woods is that the team should not have to rely on a rookie receiver as a top-two option at the start of the 2022 season.

Tennessee is still sure to draft a wideout and concentrate on weaponry in late April. Julio Jones is gone, a post-June 1-designated cut after what proved a disastrous trade for a now super-delicate future Hall of Famer.

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And so after A.J. Brown the team’s top options started with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, a nice option whose absolute max on his very best day is as a No. 3 on a low-quantity passing day when Brown and the No. 2 and a tight end are very active. [Unlocked]

The Titans’ start to the pre-free agency period has been roughly what I expected.

They signed a couple of bit-part players, made another notable but expected salary-cap move in Janoris Jenkins, re-signed their second-most important guy heading to market and head into the official start of free agency Wednesday afternoon with remaining money issues.

A.J. Moore/ © Jenna Watson/IndyStar, Indianapolis Star via Imagn Content Services, LLC

The one thing I had not considered was that their biggest cut would surface with one of their biggest AFC obstacles. We will explore Rodger Saffold’s fate below.

NASHVILLE – Around the game, we hear important people say not just that football is family but that family is first.

Covering football is hardly like playing or coaching it in terms of time commitment and lifestyle, but there are certainly similarities.

I’m not looking for sympathy here – none of us do – I’m just sharing that for someone whose extended family lives nowhere near where near I do, I’ve not seen anyone but my wife and son for Thanksgiving during my adult life. And sometimes they leave.

It’s the life I chose.

But there is a limit somewhere, and I’ve found it this week. [Unlocked]

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans have some positional strength going into the 2022 season but there are areas of need that need upgrading.

Starting quarterback, running back, left tackle, right guard and one wide receiver spot are solid on the offensive side of the ball.

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In a perfect world the Titans would like to upgrade Ryan Tannehill for a franchise-type quarterback but with Tannehill’s cap number that is not possible in 2022.

NASHVILLE – With a five-year contract agreement and $52.5 million guaranteed, Harold Landry is officially a pillar of the Tennessee Titans.

The durable edge rusher who produced 13.5 sacks in 18 games in 2021 is just the fifth Jon Robinson draft pick to get a second contract and the seventh drafted Titan under the GM’s leadership to get a second deal.

Pool photo/ Donald Page, Tennessee Titans

Landry is just the second of eight eligible first- or second-round picks to get a second deal.

Let’s look at each of those and take a look at how things have panned out so far.

NASHVILLE – When the Titans didn’t franchise tag Harold Landry by the deadline Tuesday afternoon, I wrote they were either close to a long-term deal or he was a goner.

Courtesy Tennessee Titans

The two sides were in fact on the verge of that long-term deal, as NFL Network and ESPN are reporting he’s got a five-year, $87.5 million agreement with $52.5 million guaranteed.

That dwarfs the five-year, $82.5 million deal with $35 million guaranteed the team gave Steelers free-agent Bud Dupree last season. [Unlocked]

NASHVILLE – The Titans' failure to franchise tag Harold Landry tells us one of two things:

1) They are confident they will reach a long-term deal with him by early next week.

2) They are moving on from him.

Courtesy Tennessee Titans

The second scenario is much more likely  

It would have cost the Titans $18.702 million, money they would have had to have freed up under the cap by March 16. Per Over the Cap, they are $7.867 million over the cap right now. [Unlocked]