Blaine Gabbert Meets With Titans
Free agent quarterback Blaine Gabbert has taken a visit with the Titans, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Tennessee is in the market for a backup quarterback after releasing Matt Cassel earlier this month. While starter Marcus Mariota has been healthy for 15 regular season games in each of the past two seasons, he’s a mobile quarterback who may be more susceptible to injuries, so rostering a quality No. 2 signal-caller is critical for the Titans.
Mariota fractured his fibula during the 2016 campaign, and dealt with hamstring issues in 2017, but each ailment only cost Mariota one contest (the former due to the timing of the injury). Aside from Mariota, the only other quarterback on the Titans’ roster is 2017 undrafted free agent Tyler Ferguson, who has never attempted an NFL pass.
Gabbert, of course, was a top-10 selection in the 2010 draft, and while he’s never lived up to that billing, he’s carved out an NFL career that is now entering its seventh year. In 2017, Gabbert suited up for the Cardinals and ultimately started five games when injuries struck Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton. During that time, the 28-year-old Gabbert completed 55.6% of his passes for 1,006 yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions.
AFC Contract Details: Butler, Johnson, Bridgewater
Here are figures on some of the recent contracts signed around the NFL, with all links going to Twitter unless noted otherwise.
- Malcolm Butler, CB (Titans): Five years, $61.25MM. $10MM signing bonus. $3.5MM and $10.5MM guaranteed base salaries for full guarantee of $24MM (max value $25.1MM). $11MM 2020 salary becomes guaranteed on fifth day of league year (via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).
- Trumaine Johnson, CB (Jets): $20MM signing bonus. Base salaries of $6MM (2018), $8MM (2019), $11MM (2020), $13MM (2021), $14.5MM (2022) (via Calvin Watkins of Newsday.com).
- Teddy Bridgewater, QB (Jets): $5MM base salary, $500K signing bonus, $500K workout bonus. $9MM in incentives include $250K/game he plays at least half the snaps, $250K for 2500 yards, $500K for 2751 yards, $1.25M for 3001 yards, $250K for 10 touchdowns, $500K for 16 touchdowns, $1.25M for 21 touchdowns, $2.5M for half the snaps and playoffs (via Albert Breer of The MMQB).
- Donte Moncrief, WR (Jaguars): $5.6MM base salary, $4MM salary, $9.6MM fully guaranteed. $2MM worth of incentives (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Jon Bostic, LB (Steelers): Two years, worth up to $4MM. $1.4MM signing bonus (via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler).
- Zach Fulton, C (Texans): $13MM guaranteed, $5MM roster bonus. Base salaries of $1.5MM (2018, guaranteed), $6.5MM (2019, guaranteed), $6.5MM (2020), $6.5MM (2021). $31K per-game bonus, $200K workout base (via Wilson).
Suh Leaves Titans Visit Without Deal
Ndamukong Suh may be ready to make a decision between two teams, or he could have plans to open the door for others.
Either way, the ninth-year defensive tackle has now left his Titans visit without a deal, Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com tweets. Suh departed his Saints summit for Nashville, Tenn., earlier this weekend and will now contemplate his options.
Those have been the only two teams Suh has visited, but as arguably the top free agent remaining, the 31-year-old defensive tackle could see more teams get into the mix. Suh said he wants to visit the Seahawks, but nothing has been scheduled between the sides at this time.
The door is not believed to be closed on a Saints agreement, but they and the Titans have now made their pitches, with neither securing an agreement while Suh was in their respective buildings.
The Titans have released both Karl Klug and Sylvester Williams and would have a surefire opening for Suh. But a Suh contract will not come cheap.
Latest On Ndamukong Suh
Free agent DT Ndamukong Suh left New Orleans without a contract and met with the Titans last night, per Jordan Schultz of Yahoo! Sports, who adds that his dinner with Tennessee brass went well past midnight (Twitter links). Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets that the door is not closed on a Suh-Saints marriage, as the visit with New Orleans was always intended to be a feeling-out session rather than an all-out recruiting mission. Indeed, as Schultz notes in a separate tweet, Suh has expressed his desire to take his time and evaluate his numerous options with his family.
Nonetheless, the fact that the Titans have parted with Karl Klug and Sylvester Williams over the past several days could be a sign that they are optimistic about landing Suh when he comes to Nashville. Of course, if Suh really does plan to take his time and visit other, as-yet-unnamed clubs — which we heard when the Tennessee visit was reported earlier this week — then it could take awhile before we know where Suh will be suiting up in 2018.
Florida Football Insiders, in a purely speculative piece, also names the Patriots as a potential landing spot for the three-time All-Pro. The Pats have a little bit of money to spend, and if they can acquire Suh on a one-year pact — much like they did with Darrelle Revis in 2014 — they may jump on the opportunity. FFI suggests that a one-year, “prove-it” contract might be in Suh’s best interest, and if he goes that route, New England could certainly get involved.
The Seahawks and Cowboys have also expressed interest in Suh, and Schultz tweets that Suh and Seattle head coach Pete Carroll have had two positive telephone conversations this week. The two men share a great deal of mutual respect, and Suh wants to visit the Seahawks.
The 31-year-old Suh may be getting older, but he’s still plenty productive. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 interior defensive lineman in the NFL in 2017, and he finished the season with 48 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Titans Release DT Sylvester Williams
Sylvester Williams‘s stint with the Titans has ended after one season. Paul Kuharsky tweets that Tennessee will release the defensive tackle. The reporter notes that the move will save the team $3.67MM while leaving $666K in dead cap.
Despite the move, Williams is still optimistic about his future in the NFL.
“I believe in myself,” Williams told ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe (Twitter link). “My best football is ahead of me.”
Williams signed a three-year deal with the Titans last offseason. The former first-round pick never lived up to his expectations during his time with the Broncos, and it was more of the same during his tenure in Tennessee. The 29-year-old finished the 2017 season with 20 tackles and zero sacks in 15 games (11 starts). Despite his underwhelming numbers, Williams was still rated as a middle-of-the-road interior defender by Pro Football Focus, ranking 67th among 122 candidates.
The move leaves the Titans with only one defensive tackle on their roster in Antwaun Woods.
AFC Notes: Kaepernick, Texans, Titans
When Colin Kaepernick‘s choice to work out in Houston this week raised some eyebrows in the football world. We now know why he was in town. Texans owner Bob McNair was deposed on Friday in Kaepernick’s collusion lawsuit against the NFL and Kaepernick sat in on the deposition, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).
Kaepernick, who was ranked as one of my ten best available quarterbacks before the start of free agency, has yet to receive any bites from teams as he continues his legal proceedings against the NFL.
Here’s more from the AFC:
- The Titans are after Ndamukong Suh and that could lead to a shakeup on the defensive line, as veteran NFL reporter Paul Kuharsky notes (on Twitter). The nose tackle is set to carry a $5MM base salary in 2018 and $2.5MM of that sum becomes fully guaranteed on Sunday. Williams would not only be redundant in the event of Suh signing – he’d also be taking of cap space that may need to be allocated for the former Dolphin.
- Free agent offensive tackle Matt Tobin met with the Patriots on Friday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Broncos are working on re-signing free agent offensive lineman Billy Turner, sources tell Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter).
Titans Release DL Karl Klug
The Titans announced that they have released defensive lineman Karl Klug. Klug, one of the longest tenured players on the Titans’ roster, had been with the team since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in 2011. 
“I really appreciate all that Karl gave to this team in his seven seasons with the Titans. He is a tireless worker, and his passion for football showed in how he prepared for and played the game. I know all of us who worked with him here wish him and his family the best moving forward,” Titans GM Jon Robinson said in a press release.
Klug’s NFL career started strong with seven sacks in his rookie campaign. The production didn’t stay at that level, however, and his role on the team has fluctuated over the years. In the last four seasons, Klug has started just two games.
This year, Klug was slated to count for $2.484MM against the Titans’ cap. None of that money was guaranteed, however, so there will be no dead money for Tennessee. Klug will turn 30 on Mar. 31.
This week, the Titans re-signed a pair of their own defensive linemen in DaQuan Jones and David King. They’re also interested in signing Ndamukong Suh.
Contract Details: Lotulelei, Bradham, Lewis
Let’s take a look at the details from the latest contracts signed in the NFL:
- Star Lotulelei, DT (Bills): Five years, $50MM. $18.5MM guaranteed. $33.5MM over first three seasons (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com).
- Nigel Bradham, LB (Eagles): Five years, $40MM. $14MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus. Eagles have team options for 2020-22 seasons (Twitter link via Sheil Kapadia of the Athletic).
- Dion Lewis, RB (Titans): Four years, $19.8MM. $4.25MM guaranteed. $2.25MM signing bonus. Max value of $22.3MM (Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).
- Kareem Martin, LB (Giants): Three years, $15MM. $7.25MM guaranteed. $3MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Patrick Omameh, G (Giants): Three years, $15MM. $5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com).
- Keith Tandy, S (Buccaneers): Two years, $2.74MM. $600K guaranteed (Twitter link via Howard Balzer).
- Kenny Wiggins, OL (Lions): Two years, $5MM. $750K guaranteed. $750K signing bonus (story via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
- Kevin Huber, P (Bengals): Three years, $7.95MM. $1.55MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Wilson).
Titans To Meet With Ndamukong Suh
The Titans plan to host free agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). We learned earlier today that the 31-year-old was set to meet with the Saints, and Rapoport notes that Suh is expected to take more visits, as well.
Suh was released on Wednesday, clearing the way for teams to sign him. The defensive tackle was in the midst of a six-year, $114MM contract before he was let go by Miami. The free agent has already generated plenty of interest on the open market. Besides the Titans and Saints, the Cowboys and Seahawks have also expressed interested in Suh.
The 31-year-old may be getting older, but he’s still plenty productive. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 interior defensive lineman in the NFL in 2017. The 31-year-old had a another impressive campaign numbers-wise, as he finished the season with 48 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Suh would presumably slide into the team’s starting lineup, displacing projected starter Sylvester Williams. The team could use some depth at the position, as Antwaun Woods is the only other defensive tackle on the roster.
Contract Details: McCarron, Green, Jones, Bushrod, Davis
Let’s take a look at the details from the latest contracts signed in the NFL, with all links going to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
- A.J. McCarron, QB (Bills): Two years, $10MM. $3MM in 2018, $7MM in 2019. $1.1MM of ’19 salary guaranteed for injury. 2019 salary fully guaranteed on Day 5 of 2019 league year. Bills would incur $2MM dead-money charge by cutting McCarron after one season (via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
- DaQuan Jones, DE (Titans): Three years, $21MM, $14MM fully guaranteed at signing. $6MM base salary for 2019 fully guaranteed (per Caplan).
- Virgil Green, TE (Chargers): Three years, $8.6MM, $5.9MM fully guaranteed, which covers the first two years of this deal (per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, on Twitter).
- Cody Davis, S (Jaguars): Two years, $5MM, $2.5MM fully guaranteed. Deal contains option bonus due 22 days before the start of the 2019 league year (via Caplan).
- Jermon Bushrod, OL (Saints): One-year deal (via Herbie Teope of NOLA.com)