Lions, Titans Interested In Kenyan Drake
Days away from the trade deadline, interest in Kenyan Drake has picked up. The Lions and Titans are two known suitors for the Dolphins’ contract-year running back, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. “Several” teams have shown interest, however.
But Miami has not seen a strong offer yet, with Jackson adding the team wants at least a fourth-round pick for Drake. The best known proposal the Dolphins have received was a conditional sixth-round selection, per Jackson, with another team offering an undisclosed late 2021 choice.
The Dolphins received a fourth-rounder for Jay Ajayi before the 2017 deadline, but Drake’s value has undoubtedly plummeted because of the latest Dolphin edition’s status. Miami’s bottom-tier offensive line has struggled this season, and Drake is averaging a career-low 3.7 yards per carry. The former third-round pick posted 4.8- and 4.5-yard averages in 2017 and ’18, respectively. Drake, 25, has not rushed for 50 yards in a game this season, but he surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage in a part-time role last year and has just 333 carries under his belt.
Detroit jumps out as a potential destination. Having lost Kerryon Johnson to another injury, the Lions are down to sixth-round rookie Ty Johnson as their starter. Not out of contention, Detroit has Johnson, passing-down back J.D. McKissic and ex-Packers and Giants backups Tra Carson and Paul Perkins, respectively. This would make sense for Drake, and the Dolphins may be willing to gamble on a better offer coming early next week.
The Titans boast a stronger backfield, with Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis in the second year of their partnership. It’s less clear where Drake would fit in with Tennessee, which has Henry in a contract year as well. Both of those backs are healthy, set to play alongside ex-Dolphins starter Ryan Tannehill on Sunday.
Extension talks having stalled, and the Dolphins being in full-scale rebuilding mode, led to Drake becoming available. He is not especially interested in a long-term Dolphins pact, per Jackson. It still appears likely Miami will move him before Tuesday afternoon’s deadline. The Dolphins have used Mark Walton more often this season, and banking on a late-round compensatory pick may not be realistic for a team that is expected to be active on the 2020 free agent market.
Titans Designate K Ryan Succop For Return
The Titans have designated kicker Ryan Succop to return from injured reserve, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link).
Tennessee placed Succop on IR with a knee injury just after initial 53-man rosters were set, meaning he’s eligible to return to game action in Week 9. With Succop sidelined, the Titans first turned to Cairo Santos at kicker, but he was cut after posting a dismal 44.4% field goal conversion rate through five games. Former Bears kicker Cody Parkey has taken over for Tennessee’s past two contests, hitting one field goal and going two-for-three in extra points.
Succop, 33, has made 83.6% of his career field goal attempts. Last season, he converted 26-of-30 tries, including three-of-four from 50+ yards, but missed three extra points. The ex-South Carolina Gamecock last year linked a $20MM extension that will keep with the Titans through the 2022 campaign.
2019 NFL Cap Space, By Team
With eight days to go before the 2019 trade deadline, here’s a look at the cap space possessed by each team, via ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter):
1. Colts: $43.5M
2. Browns: $32.9M
3. Dolphins: $28M
4. Bills: $24.7M
5. Cowboys: $24M
6. Titans: $23.7
7. Chiefs: $23.1M
8. Raiders: $22.4M
9. Eagles: $22.2M
10. Texans: $21.6M
11. Lions: $18.9M
12. Bears: $17M
13. 49ers: $14.4M
14. Panthers: $14.2M
15. Bengals: $13.6M
16. Redskins: $13.5M
17. Jaguars: $10.3M
18. Broncos: $10M
19. Packers: $9.5M
20. Seahawks: $7.8M
21. Buccaneers: $6.5M
22. Jets: $6.1M
23. Rams: $4.6M
24. Cardinals: $4.1M
25. Chargers: $4.1M
26. Steelers: $3.4M
27. Patriots: $2.5M
28. Giants: $2.2M
29. Ravens: $2.1M
30. Saints: $1.9M
31. Falcons: $1.7M
32. Vikings: $623K
Titans Activate Rookie DL Jeffery Simmons
Incredibly, Jeffery Simmons could make his NFL debut as soon as this weekend. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the first-rounder has been activated from the reserve/non-football injury list.
The Mississippi State-developed interior defender was viewed as a potential top-10 pick before suffering a torn ACL during pre-draft training. The Titans still made the lineman the 19th-overall pick with the understanding that he’d likely sit out his entire rookie campaign. That apparently won’t be the case; Rapoport notes that while the team will naturally be cautious with their investment, Simmons clearly proved in practice that he was ready to play.
Players have returned from ACL tears in playoff games in time for Week 1 of the following season, so a Simmons debut at some point over the next few weeks seems likely. That may also depend on Tennessee’s playoff prospects, which do not look especially promising after Sunday’s shutout loss.
Simmons registered 32.5 tackles for loss in three seasons at Mississippi State. The Titans are hoping he brings that pass-rushing prowess to the NFL.
The Titans weren’t finished making moves. Rapoport tweets that the team will also be promoting linebacker Derick Roberson from the practice squad. Earlier today, the team cut veteran defensive lineman Brent Urban.
Titans Cut DE Brent Urban
Brent Urban‘s tenure with the Titans has already come to an end. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Tennessee has cut the veteran defensive end.
The 28-year-old joined the Titans this past offseason after having spent the first five seasons of his career with the Ravens. However, Urban struggled to establish a role with his new team, and he ended up appearing in only four of the Titans’ six games this season. The defensive lineman hasn’t compiled any stats in 2019.
While Urban didn’t work out in Tennessee, he’s not far removed from some productive seasons in Baltimore. He actually had one of the best seasons of his career in 2018, compiling 27 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and two passes defended. Considering his special teams prowess, this probably isn’t the last we’ve heard of Urban.
Considering Urban’s limited role on defense, this move won’t have a major impact on the Titans’ depth chart. The organization could look to promote rookie defensive end Amani Bledsoe from the practice squad to take the open roster spot, although that’s just my speculation. They could also turn to practice squad linebackers Jamal Davis II or Derick Roberson. Today’s move could also be an indication that first-rounder Jeffery Simmons is ready to make his NFL debut.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/16/19
Here is the latest from the workout circuit:
Chicago Bears
- DL Daryle Banfield, DL Fadol Brown, C Anthony Fabiano, DL P.J. Johnson, T Kyle Murphy, C Keegan Render, DL Jay-Tee Tiuli (per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, on Twitter)
Cincinnati Bengals
- DE Nate Orchard, DT Anthony Zettel (via the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, on Twitter)
Cleveland Browns
- LB Marquis Flowers (per Wilson, on Twitter)
Green Bay Packers
- S Chris Johnson, RB David Williams (per Wilson, on Twitter)
Houston Texans
- T Chris Clark, T Kyle Murphy (per Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com, on Twitter)
Indianapolis Colts
- DB Trae Elston, S Mike Tyson, DB Isaiah Wharton (via Wilson, on Twitter)
Kansas City Chiefs
- DT Justin Ellis, DL Mike Pennel (per Wilson, on Twitter)
New England Patriots
- K Nick Folk, K Greg Joseph, K Austin MacGinnis, K/P Austin Rehkow, K Giorgio Tavecchio (per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
New Orleans Saints
- RB Travaris Cadet (via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, on Twitter)
New York Jets
- C Ryan Crozier, DL Corbin Kaufusi, C James Murray (per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News and Wilson, Twitter links)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RB Tony Brooks-James, RB Darrin Hall (via Wilson, on Twitter)
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Andrew Dowell (visit), LB Brady Sheldon, LB Sutton Smith, LB Pita Taumoepenu (via Balzer, Twitter links)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LB Keishawn Bierria, DB Jordan Brown, C Anthony Fabiano, LB Robert McCray, WR Eli Rogers, RB Aca’Cedric Ware, LB Kyle Wilson (per Jenna Laine and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
Tennessee Titans
- LB Nigel Harris (per Wilson, on Twitter)
Washington Redskins
- FB Tommy Bohanon, FB Michael Burton, FB Derrick Coleman, RB Josh Ferguson, FB Tre Madden, FB Elijah Wellman (according to Wilson and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Twitter links)
Titans To Start Ryan Tannehill In Week 7
The Titans’ Week 6 switch at quarterback will carry over to their Week 7 game. Ryan Tannehill will start against the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Mike Vrabel benched Marcus Mariota against the Broncos, and the former No. 2 overall pick will stay as the backup for at least one more game. This is obviously a key move for a Titans team that has Mariota in a contract year. Mariota, 25, and Jameis Winston are the first quarterbacks to play a season on a fifth-year option; neither has done much to justify an extension in 2019.
Mariota threw three touchdown passes against the Falcons’ bottom-end defense in Week 4 but has struggled for the better part of the past three seasons. After throwing 26 TD passes in 2016, the Oregon alum has just 21 in his past 35 games. He posted a 50.6 QBR figure in 2018 but exits the Titans’ starting lineup with a 30.8 number — 29th out of 30 qualified quarterbacks.
Tannehill will return to a starting lineup for the first time since Week 17 of last season. The former Dolphins first-rounder, taken three years before the Titans’ Mariota investment, came to Tennessee via trade. Speculated to be a threat to Mariota’s job upon arrival, Tannehill will attempt to stop a Titans skid. The Titans have scored just seven points since their Week 4 win in Atlanta.
Tannehil, 31, fared better than Mariota in Denver, completing 13 of 16 passes for 144 yards in Tennessee’s shutout loss. He did not live up to the Dolphins’ expectations, seeing knee problems play a key role in his Miami exit, but will have another chance to prove himself. The Dolphins agreed to adjust Tannehill’s contract, as a result making this a contract year for the longtime starter. Tannehill is now in a contract year as well.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/15/19
A look at the latest NFL practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Carson Meier
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Denzel Rice
- Released: S A.J. Howard
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Jordan Veasy
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Fadol Brown
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Gehrig Dieter
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Stephen Anderson, C Cole Toner
- Placed on practice squad IR: RB Detrez Newsome
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Nsimba Webster
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Davion Davis
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Tyler Gauthier, WR Devin Ross
- Released: K Younghoe Koo, TE Jason Vander Laan
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Jon Hilliman
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: RB James Butler, WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams
- Released: RB Damarea Crockett, DE Quinton Bell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: RB De’Angelo Henderson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Tony Brooks-James, T Christian DiLauro
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Deontay Burnett
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Brian Allen, S Adrian Colbert, TE Tyrone Swoopes, T Chad Wheeler
- Released: LB Malik Carney, CB Parry Nickerson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: LB Demone Harris, RB Darius Jackson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Nigel Harris
- Released: LB Ukeme Eligwe
Washington Redskins
- Signed: TE Wes Saxton, DB Maurice Smith
- Released: TE Drew Belcher, T Victor Salako
Simmons To Make Titans Practice Debut
The Titans will see their first-round pick in practice for the first time soon. Jeffery Simmons will practice with the team this week, the Titans announced on their website.
Residing on the Titans’ NFI list, the rookie defensive lineman has been recovering from the ACL tear he suffered in February. NFI players can begin practicing with their teams after Week 6 while remaining off teams’ 53-man rosters.
Simmons’ debut would seem a ways away, given this injury’s timetable, but it’s nonetheless promising for the Titans to see him in on-field workouts. He traveled with the Titans to Denver this past weekend. Players have returned from ACL tears in playoff games in time for Week 1 of the following season, so a Simmons debut in the second half of this season would not be out of the question. That may also depend on Tennessee’s playoff prospects, which do not look especially promising after Sunday’s shutout loss.
The Titans will understandably want to be cautious with such a high-priority investment, so a full redshirt season — which was rumored in the offseason — should still be considered in play.
The Mississippi State-developed interior defender was viewed a potential top-10 pick before the injury and still went off the board 19th in a stacked class of defensive linemen. He registered 32.5 tackles for loss in three seasons.
Vrabel Non-Committal On Starting QB Moving Forward
- Speaking of quarterbacks getting benched, the Titans yanked Marcus Mariota from their loss to the Broncos, replacing him with Ryan Tannehill. After the game head coach Mike Vrabel was tight-lipped about his plans moving forward, and didn’t say who would start next week. Tannehill also told the media he didn’t know if he’d be under center in Week 7 against the Chargers, so stay tuned as we should have an update in the next day or two. Mariota had thrown for just 63 yards on 18 attempts with two interceptions before getting pulled. He’s in the final year of his rookie deal so even if he retains the starting job moving forward, it’s highly possible we witnessed the beginning of the end of the Mariota era in Tennessee today.