NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- My biggest take-aways from the pre-draft media availability with John Robinson and Mike Vrabel Thursday.
A.J. Brown: Robinson met with A.J. Brown when he was at the team facility “a couple weeks ago” and the team has had some discussions with his reps. He does not foresee a trade. Standard fare.
Brown is not happy with things.
The Titans are as tight against the cap as anyone in the league. That changes on June 1 when the $9.5 million from cutting Julio Jones becomes available and can cover what’s sure to be a relatively low first-year cap number for Brown in a new deal. (Harold Landry’s new first-year number is just over $5 million.)
As we discussed on Thursday’s OutKick 360, Brown talked in detail with Deebo Samuel in a video recorded by Samuel's mother and posted on Instagram Live. In that Brown said the Titans wouldn't go beyond "20" -- $20 million a year. (See video below.)
I believe Brown is worth between $20 and $24 million a year -- which puts him between Stefon Diggs ($24 million) and D.J. Moore (a bit above $20 million).
Stacking and tinkering: Here’s Robinson on what the final stages of draft prep look like for the Titans:
What #Titans’ draft prep looks like at this stage. pic.twitter.com/gFZ34gm5ku
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) April 21, 2022
My sense is this sort of thinking is increasing around the league, particularly for teams who are drafting lower in the first round. While they do all they can to have a sense of other teams’ needs and likes to set themselves up for trades, ultimately, it’s bit like a game.
They have to be ready for anything and able to adapt. Know Plan A, B, C and D for every possible scenario, because you can’t count on anything ahead of you panning out according to you how you might draw it up.
So Robinson and the Titans are looking at their own stuff and making their own decisions about Guy X vs. Guy Y at a position and then the value of that guy versus a guy at another position.
What they are not doing is spending a lot of time on a crapshoot prediction of what other teams will do.
Offensive line: Surprise. We got no clarity on Dillon Radunz's position from Robinson after Mike Vrabel offered none back at the combine.
The GM talked about getting the best five guys on the field.
Remember when it was simpler and the Titans signed Rodger Saffold as a premier left guard, plugged him in at left guard, and got three very solid years of left guard play out of him during which there were not questions about left guard. They just signed Ben Jones to a third contract, to be the center. They drafted Nate Davis to be the right guard.
These other positions aren’t a mystery out of some desire to have some wonderous versatility. Of course, they want some moveable pieces for when players get hurt. But first, you want guys who can lock down positions, and they have two spots without that because they don’t know what Radunz is.
Tyler Vrabel: Don’t expect Vrabel’s son, Tyler, an offensive lineman out of Boston College who’s expected to be a priority free agent, to become a member of the Titans.
“I don’t think that’s good for anybody,” Mike Vrabel said.
He said he’ll let 31 other teams scout him and he’s looking forward to seeing what the next chapter holds for his son.
Mike Vrabel waved off the idea he's got any special insight into a guard who could be in play for the Titans with their first-round pick, No. 26. But Tyler Vrabel roomed with Zion Johnson for two years at BC.
You are not authorised to post comments.