Titans Owner Signed Off On Simmons Pick
In addition to a torn ACL, Mississipi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons gave many teams pause in the 2019 NFL Draft due to an assault of a woman while he was in high school. The Titans eventually made him the No. 19 pick in the draft, a selection that was cleared by team owner Amy Adams Strunk, Pro Football Talk’s Darin Gantt writes. 
“Jon [Robinson] and Mike [Vrabel] came to me months ago, and we discussed since then,” Strunk said, via Erik Bacharach, of the Nashville Tennessean. “We watched the video together, and it begins with trust from Mike and Jon that I was able to get comfortable. They were both very respectful that I needed to be comfortable, because at the end of the day, I have the final decision.
“We all can look back on our lives in high school and wish we’d done things differently. You can talk, ‘I’m sorry,’ but the best thing is, is that he’s lived the life of, ‘I’m truly sorry and I’m going to be a good man.’ And so that made it really easy for me to become comfortable with Jeffery. And we’re getting a great football player, that goes without saying, but we’re getting a great man. Our locker room is so important, and we only have good men in there. And this young man is a good man.”
The incident, which happened in 2016 and involved Simmons striking a woman multiple times on the ground, happened while the defensive tackle was in high school, before he enrolled at Mississippi State. Due to the incident, many teams reportedly took the talented tackle completely off their draft boards. Simmons was touched by the remarks of his new team’s owner.
“I mean, coming from a woman, . . . like I said, I made that mistake,” Simmons said. “I regret it. Just to hear her say all that, I’m grateful. Key word she said was trust. [I’ll] tell her in front of you guys that she can trust me. I won’t let her down. I won’t let either one of you guys [Robinson and Vrabel] down. I’m grateful.”
Though one of the most talented defenders in the draft, Simmons could miss his entire rookie season with that torn ACL.
Jets Trade No. 116 To Titans
The Jets have made their second trade of the day. They’re sending No. 116 to the Titans, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter). Tennessee will send the Jets No. 121 and No. 157.
The Titans have used the pick own Iowa safety Amani Hooker. The 2019 first-team All-Big Ten selection has been touted for his strength and intelligence, so he could have an opportunity to contribute as a backup strong safety right away.
With Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro slotted in as starters, Hooker will have to compete with Johnathan Cyprien and Dane Cruikshank for backup reps.
Titans To Sign DL Brent Urban
The Titans have agreed to sign Brent Urban, according to a team announcement. It’s a one-year deal, tweets Paul Kuharksy. The deal comes roughly ten days after Urban first visited with the team. Better late than never, as they say.
The Titans are clearly committed to boosting the defensive line after drafting defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in the first round and adding Urban. At 6’7 and 300 pounds, Urban gives the Titans size and experience up front.
Last year, Urban started 16 games for the Ravens and finished with 27 tackles and a half sack. Across four pro seasons, he has appeared in 41 games with 52 tackles in total. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but he did grade out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 49 ranked interior defender in 2018 thanks to his solid run defense.
Titans Meet With DT Damion Square
The Titans recently hosted free agent defensive tackle Damion Square, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Square, 30, has spent most of the past five seasons with the Chargers, appearing in 49 games with the club since 2014. An undrafted free agent who began his pro tenure with stints in Philadelphia and Kansas City, Square set a career-high in starts (11), tackles (31), and sacks (three) in 2018. A better run-stuffer than a pass-rusher, Square played on roughly half of Los Angeles’ snaps a year ago but graded as a bottom-three interior defender, per Pro Football Focus.
Tennessee is currently projected to start Jurrell Casey, DaQuan Jones, and Austin Johnson along its three-man front, so Square — if signed — would offer depth. Square’s last deal with the Chargers was a two-year, $4MM pact, and it’s difficult to imagine he could wrangle much more from the Titans this time around.
NFL Draft Rumors: Ravens, Bush, Titans
Here’s a look at the latest NFL Draft buzz as players take their final visits:
- Michigan linebacker Devin Bush will visit the Ravens on Wednesday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Baltimore holds the No. 22 overall pick, but they may have to trade up if they want to land him. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is a surefire first-rounder after putting up 85 tackles, 10 sacks, and 18.5 tackles for loss over the past two years.
- Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown and Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell will take their last pre-draft visits to the Titans on Wednesday, according to Rapoport (on Twitter). Both players could be on the radar for Tennessee’s No. 19 overall selection.
- Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver will meet with the Bills, Rapoport hears. They’re far from the only team interested in Oliver, however, and the rival Jets are apparently among the clubs keen on him. The Jets would be reaching if they took Oliver at No. 3 overall, but they’ve been vocal about their desire to trade down. Meanwhile, the Bills could conceivably entertain the Houston product at No. 9 overall.
Titans To Meet With DE Brent Urban
Ravens free agent defensive lineman Brent Urban will visit the Titans on Tuesday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Urban missed the bulk of the 2017 season thanks to a Lisfranc injury, but he bounced back in 2018 and started in all 16 of Baltimore’s games.
Urban’s 0.5 sacks and 27 tackles didn’t jump off the page in 2018, but he did grade out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 49 ranked interior defender thanks to his solid run defense. The incumbent Ravens haven’t closed the door to bringing him back, but we haven’t heard much on that front since Eric DeCosta spoke on the matter late last month.
“Right player, right price,” DeCosta said of Urban. “The market is a fluid process, and we’re going to try and build the best def. we can. I certainly think Brent is a good player. I’m surprised that he hasn’t signed with another team.”
If Urban does not return to Baltimore, he’ll be the fifth defensive starter to leave the club, following safety Eric Weddle and linebackers C.J. Mosley, Za’Darius Smith, and Terrell Suggs out the door.
Draft Notes: Packers, Dillard, White, Fins
Midway through a rather notable offseason, given the recent behind-the-curtain look at their previous power structure, the Packers are investigating some high-end quarterback prospects. They are obviously set at sports’ marquee position, but with Aaron Rodgers set to turn 36 by season’s end, Green Bay is at a similar point compared to when it last made a major quarterback investment. The Packers will host Drew Lock on a visit Tuesday, Terez Paylor of Yahoo.com reports (on Twitter). They also tried to set up a summit with Daniel Jones, but the parties’ schedules did not line up, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds (via Twitter). The Packers took Rodgers when Brett Favre was 36 and sat him for three years. While Green Bay pulling the trigger on a passer would be rather surprising, especially given Rodgers’ contract status, the team does have two first-round picks this year.
Here is the latest from the draft world, staying on the subject of quarterbacks:
- Lock will also meet with the Chargers, per Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com (on Twitter). Teams have ramped up their signal-caller-related preparation, in the event Kyler Murray does not go No. 1, according to Robinson, who notes some teams believe this year’s passers could slide a bit should Murray not be the Cardinals’ choice atop the draft. Some modest steam picked up on this notion earlier Monday.
- The Dolphins, who already met with Jones, will head to the Duke campus to work out the former Blue Devil starter, Rapoport reports (on Twitter). Teams only have a few more days to host prospects on “30” visits but can still work them out after that deadline passes. Miami will also host Michigan linebacker Devin Bush and Florida tackle Jawaan Taylor, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
- Devin White‘s stock has risen during the pre-draft process, to the point he may be the rare off-ball linebacker to be picked in the top five. One of the teams holding such a selection, the Raiders, brought in White for a visit, Rapoport tweets. The Buccaneers, who hold pick No. 5, have been closely connected to the LSU ‘backer. The Raiders have the No. 4 overall pick. Oakland, which also holds the Nos. 24 and 27 selections, will meet with tight end Noah Fant, on Monday as well, Rapoport tweets. The Raiders lost their starting tight end of the past two seasons, Jared Cook, in free agency.
- For weeks, the Jets have been viewed as a team that would love to trade down. They are meeting with a prospect Tuesday that would support the fact this is a consideration. Ed Oliver will visit the Jets, per Schefter (on Twitter). While the defensive tackle is a surefire first-round talent, he has not been mocked as a player who would be a consideration at No. 3 overall.
- The Titans are visiting with defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, per Rapoport (on Twitter). This is the Notre Dame-developed defender’s second known visit, the first having come with the Saints recently. Tillery remains in rehab after surgery to repair a torn shoulder labrum.
- Not much has surfaced about which teams are researching an Andre Dillard pick. That has changed. The Washington State tackle prospect is visiting the Falcons on Monday and will meet with the Chargers later this week, Schefter tweets. Additionally, Schefter adds the first-round offensive line hopeful has already visited or worked out for a host of teams — the Giants, Jets, Dolphins, Ravens, Titans, Panthers, Vikings, Jaguars, Bills, Texans, Bengals, Packers, Redskins.
Titans To Host Miles Sanders
- Penn State running back Miles Sanders has been vaulting up draft boards (he currently ranks one spot behind Collier at No. 46 on Jeremiah’s list), and he has a busy schedule ahead of him. Sanders is scheduled to work out for/meet with the Bears, Eagles, Steelers, Ravens, Bills, Cowboys, Falcons, Titans, Bengals, Panthers, Buccaneers, and Colts. In 2018, Sanders’ only season as a starter, he posted 1,274 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 220 attempts.
Titans To Meet With Jaylon Ferguson
- Staying on the subject of draft-eligible ends, Jaylon Ferguson‘s extensive April tour of NFL cities continues. Among the teams on his reported 22-visit tour: the Bills, Giants, Colts, Eagles, Cowboys, Titans and Rams, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Ferguson met with the Bills on Monday; he will head southeast for his Giants powwow next. His visits with the Colts and Eagles are on tap for this week, with the Cowboys, Titans and Rams meetings are slated for next week. The Bucs and Bengals were already on the Louisiana Tech-produced pass rusher’s docket.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/8/19
Here are Monday’s minor moves, with more Alliance of American Football players finding NFL homes:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Thomas Duarte (AAF), T Brandon Greene (AAF), WR Rashad Ross (AAF)
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Shakir Soto (AAF)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Tyrone Holmes (AAF)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DE Karter Schult (AAF)
New York Jets
- Signed: WR/KR Valentine Holmes (International Player Pathway Program signee)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR Demornay Pierson-El (AAF)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: QB Luis Perez (AAF)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DT Winston Craig (AAF), LB J.T. Jones (AAF), CB Kameron Kelly (AAF)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Keith Towbridge (AAF), QB Logan Woodside (AAF)
Washington Redskins
- Signed: G Salesi Uhatafe (AAF)