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Tennessee Titans News & Rumors

This Date In Transactions History: Titans Extend GM Jon Robinson

March 27th, 2021 at 10:43am CST by Ben Levine

Three years ago, the Titans organization showed their faith in general manager Jon Robinson. Fast forward to today, and ownership must be happy that they committed to the executive.

On March 27, 2018, the team announced that they had signed general manager Robinson to a contract extension that would last through the 2022 season.

At the time of the signing, Robinson’s numbers didn’t necessarily pop off the page. The Titans went 18-14 during his first two years at the helm, and the team collected a lone playoff victory. Context is important, though. Tennessee had compiled only five wins in the two years that preceded Robinson’s hiring, and the executive had done an excellent job of rebuilding the roster and guiding the Titans towards back-to-back winning seasons. Many of his veteran signings may have gone unheralded at the time, but additions like DeMarco Murray, Rishard Matthews, and Logan Ryan (along with draft pick Kevin Byard) were big reasons why the team returned to the playoffs in 2017.

A few months before signing his extension, Robinson may have made his biggest move of all: he hired Mike Vrabel to be his new head coach. While the team missed the playoffs during Vrabel’s first season in Tennessee, they still finished with nine wins. Following a 2019 campaign that saw the Titans make it to the AFC Championship Game, they collected 11 wins in 2020, their most victories since 2008.

While Vrabel’s hiring obviously played a huge role in Tennessee’s organizational turnaround, that success should also be attributed to Robinson. Besides adding a new head coach, the executive has continued to make big moves. He inked cornerback Malcolm Butler during the 2018 offseason, with the defensive back providing 36 starts in three years with the team. The Titans made a trade for Ryan Tannehill in 2019 and watched as the quarterback evolved into a Pro Bowler, and the team saw one of Robinson’s first draft picks, running back Derrick Henry, emerge as one of the top running backs in the NFL.

While the likes of Corey Davis, Adam Humphries, and Jonnu Smith left town this offseason, Robinson decided to reinvest on the defense, adding pass rusher Bud Dupree and cornerback Janoris Jenkins. Will these moves help the Titans take another step forward in 2021? Obviously, time will tell. However, one thing’s certain: assuming the wheels don’t suddenly fall off in Tennessee, their 45-year-old general manager will likely be inking another extension before long.

Latest On FA OL Isaiah Wilson

March 24th, 2021 at 6:57pm CST by Ben Levine

Things aren’t looking up for Isaiah Wilson. We learned today that the embattled lineman was arrested back in January following “a high-speed car chase” in Georgia (via ESPN’s Turron Davenport).

According to the police report, an officer witnessed a car driving at speeds of 123 mph, leading to a pursuit. The chase was eventually called off when speeds exceeded 140 mph. The car ultimately crashed, and after observing Wilson emerge from the car’s sunroof, an ICE officer placed the player under arrest. A female was also in the vehicle and was arrested after police found a metal grinder filled with marijuana.

Per Davenport, Wilson was charged with “felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, speeding in a construction zone, reckless driving, reckless conduct, possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana, and possession and use of drug-related objects.”

The 29th overall pick of last year’s draft, Wilson was traded from the Titans to Miami earlier this month. It didn’t take him long to fall out of favor with his new team, as he allegedly “refused team efforts to help him to get his life on track.” The Dolphins decided to cut bait with the lineman this past weekend, and the 22-year0old passed through waivers unclaimed. According to Davenport, the Dolphins were aware of Wilson’s arrest prior to making the trade.

The offensive lineman from Georgia appeared in just one game as a rookie, playing only three offensive snaps, and was also suspended at one point for a violation of team rules. Considering his age and draft pedigree, Wilson will probably get a final chance from another organization, but continued off-the-field issues won’t help his case.

Sammy Watkins To Visit Colts, Titans And Texans Interested

March 22nd, 2021 at 5:29pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

We heard earlier today that Sammy Watkins was on his way to visit the Ravens, but Baltimore is going to face competition for his services. Watkins will visit the Colts on Wednesday after the Ravens, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Additionally, Schefter reports that Watkins has drawn interest from the Titans and Texans. It’s a sudden flurry of attention for Watkins, who we hadn’t heard much about prior to today. There was reportedly some mutual interest between Watkins and the Chiefs in spending one more year together back in February, but then at the beginning of this month Kansas City GM Brett Veach indicated it’d be hard to work financially.

The Colts make plenty of sense as a destination, since right now it’s very uncertain whether free agent T.Y. Hilton will be back in 2021. Indy has youngsters Michael Pittman Jr. and Parris Campbell under contract, but the receiver room could use some help. The Titans just lost Corey Davis to the Jets, and need a new number two behind A.J. Brown.

The Texans just lost Will Fuller, so all of these teams are natural fits. Watkins has never quite lived up to his potential, but if he can stay healthy he can really help a team. He had 37 catches for 421 yards and two touchdowns across ten games in a secondary role for the Chiefs last year.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/22/21

March 22nd, 2021 at 11:49am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Los Angeles Chargers

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Tennessee Titans

Titans To Sign Josh Reynolds

March 22nd, 2021 at 9:42am CST by Zachary Links

The Titans have agreed to sign former Rams wide receiver Josh Reynolds on a one-year deal, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (on Twitter). Exact terms of the deal are not yet known. 

Reynolds, a 2017 fourth-round pick, spent his entire career with the Rams up until today. He’s coming off of a career year with 52 grabs for 618 yards, plus two touchdowns. In the three previous seasons combined, he had 61 catches for 832 yards. Reynolds found his footing as the Rams’ No. 3 receiver — now, he’ll be tasked with replacing former first-round pick Corey Davis in Nashville. Or, at least, replacing some of Davis’ production in support of A.J. Brown.

The Rams were not expected to retain Reynolds, especially given their numbers crunch. Currently, the Rams project to use 2020 second-rounder Van Jefferson as the No. 3WR behind Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp.

Titans To Sign OLB Bud Dupree

March 18th, 2021 at 9:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Thursday, 9:35pm: Dupree got a whopping five-year deal from Titans worth $82MM, including $34MM guaranteed (via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe on Twitter).

Monday, 7:39pm: The Titans’ pursuit of Dupree will produce a contract agreement. Dupree will sign with Tennessee, Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com report (on Twitter). While the terms are not fully known, Rapoport tweets the former Steelers sack artist will receive $16.5MM annually on a multiyear deal.

7:14pm: In need of pass-rushing help, the Titans have identified a target. They are going after longtime Steelers edge defender Dupree, with NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reporting (via Twitter) Tennessee is making a strong push for the five-year vet.

The edge rusher market, deeper than in recent years, is moving fast. Leonard Floyd, Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue have chosen teams. The Titans are trying to close out a deal to take another outside pressure artist off the board.

The Browns are also in the mix for Dupree, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (on Twitter). However, some in the Steelers organization expect Dupree to end up with the Titans.

Dupree’s deal will be interesting; he is still rehabbing from the ACL tear he suffered late in the regular season. The Steelers are not expected to re-sign the former first-round pick. They used their franchise tag on Dupree last season, and he has become a key part of a pass rush that has led the NFL in sacks from 2017-20. Dupree broke through in his initial contract year, registering 11.5 sacks in 2019. The Steelers saw the Kentucky alum post eight sacks in 11 games, but the knee injury will affect his market.

Missing out on J.J. Watt, the Browns may need to strike quickly on the edge rusher front. They have been rumored for weeks to be prepared to sign a big-name bookend for Myles Garrett. While the Browns have been connected to Von Miller, with the Broncos’ option decision on the future Hall of Famer still undetermined, but the free agent group is thinning.

Tennessee posted one of the worst third-down defensive efforts in modern NFL history last season, and GM Jon Robinson’s additions of Jadeveon Clowney and Vic Beasley failed. Dupree would represent a gamble, given his injury and inconsistency, but the Titans need to add help here to team with Harold Landry. Tennessee already agreed to terms with D-lineman Denico Autry; a Dupree add as well would help Landry and Jeffrey Simmons considerably.

Titans To Sign CB Kevin Johnson

March 18th, 2021 at 5:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Kevin Johnson is heading back to the AFC South. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the veteran cornerback will be signing a one-year deal with the Titans.

The 16th-overall pick of the 2015 draft spent the first four seasons of his career in Houston. After starting 10 games as a rookie, Johnson settled into more of a backup role during his final three seasons with the team. He also struggled to stay on the field following that 16-game rookie campaign; he missed 10 games in 2016 with a broken foot, four games in 2017 with a sprained MCL, and 15 games in 2018 with a concussion suffered during Week 1.

Following that 2018 season, Johnson was released by the Texans, who had previously picked up his fifth-year option. He caught on with the Bills and proceeded to appear in all 16 games. That performance earned him another one-year deal last offseason, this time with the Browns. He finished the 2020 campaign having appeared in 13 games (six starts), compiling 35 tackles, one forced fumble, and three passes defended. He also started Cleveland’s playoff loss to the Chiefs.

The Titans have worked on revamping their cornerbacks corps this offseason. The team already added Janoris Jenkins, with 2020 second-round pick Kristian Fulton being one of the lone holdovers from last year’s squad.

Titans To Re-Sign T Ty Sambrailo

March 18th, 2021 at 4:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Titans have seen their right tackle plans change considerably over the past year. They will retain a veteran with experience at this spot, however.

Ty Sambrailo reached an agreement to stay with Tennessee, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). Sambrailo played in 10 Titans games, making five starts, last season.

The journeyman blocker’s return may be more impactful now. The Titans have traded would-be Jack Conklin successor Isaiah Wilson to the Dolphins, and they released Dennis Kelly — their 16-game right tackle starter last season — earlier this week. Sambrailo has played most of his career at right tackle, but he was called upon to play left tackle last season after Taylor Lewan‘s injury.

A former second-round Broncos pick who was initially tabbed to be their Week 1 left tackle starter in Peyton Manning‘s final season, Sambrailo has spent most of his career with the Falcons. He joined the Titans last year, doing so after he spent four seasons as the Falcons’ swing tackle.

It is not certain the Titans will ask Sambrailo to start, but the 28-year-old blocker may be counted on given the franchise’s developments at right tackle.

Titans To Sign LS Morgan Cox

March 17th, 2021 at 4:56pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

It’s been a busy past couple of days, but we’ve still got to make some time for our beloved long snappers. Most snappers might find themselves in our ‘minor moves‘ posts, but not this one.

The Titans will be signing long snapper Morgan Cox, a source tells Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Cox is more notable than your typical specialist since his peers regard him as one of the league’s best. Not only did he make the Pro Bowl this past year, he was also a first-team All-Pro for the Ravens.

It’s a homecoming for Cox, who grew up in Tennessee and played for the Volunteers in college. He signed with Baltimore as an UDFA in 2010, and spent the next 11 seasons with the team. He’s a Super Bowl XLVII champion, and has made the Pro Bowl in four of the past six seasons.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/21

March 17th, 2021 at 4:55pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s “minor” moves:

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

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