Titans, Taylor Lewan Agree To $80MM Deal
Taylor Lewan will be a member of the Titans for years to come. On Friday, the two sides agreed to a five-year, $80MM deal, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The deal includes $50MM in guarantees and makes him the highest-paid offensive lineman in history. 
The left tackle stayed away from the club earlier this summer, but he reported to camp this week. Ultimately, Lewan was able to get what he wanted without a costly holdout.
Lewan, who just turned 27, was set to play out the the 2018 season at a cost of $9.341MM before potentially hitting the open market. Now, he’s under contract through 2023 at a much higher rate.
Lewan’s $16MM/year average tops Nate Solder‘s four-year, $62MM free agent deal signed with the Giants back in March. It’s a hefty price to pay, but kicking the can down the road via the franchise tag wasn’t really a viable option for the Titans. Next year’s franchise tag for offensive linemen may cost nearly $15MM and the 20% increase for a second tag would have meant a $17.5-$18MM payout for 2020. In that scenario, the Titans would have been left with no leverage in extension talks (a third tag would be far too expensive) after having shelled out about $33MM.
A first-round pick in 2014, Lewan has been a full-time starter since the 2015 campaign. Overall, he’s appeared in 58 games and made 53 starts for Tennessee. Lewan graded out as the seventh-best tackle in the NFL in 2016 and placed 16th last year, according to Pro Football Focus.
Titans, Taylor Lewan Exchange Offers
Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan reported to training camp today after skipping minicamp earlier this year, and his agent exchanged contract proposals with Tennessee, according to Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com.
While there has been “progress” on a new deal for Lewan, the two sides haven’t yet reached an accord, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). But Titans general manager Jon Robinson admitted talks have “ramped up” over the past day, tweets Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com, so an extension could conceivably be on the horizon.
Lewan, who turned 27 years old earlier this week, is signed through the 2018 season at a cost of $9.341MM after the Titans exercised his fifth-year option. Given his age and production, any new contract will likely need to pay him near top-of-the-market value. For left tackles, that means $15MM+ per year, especially after Nate Solder reset the positional market by landing $15.5MM annually from the Giants in March.
A first-round pick in 2014, Lewan has been a full-time starter since the 2015 campaign. Overall, he’s appeared in 58 games and made 53 starts for Tennessee. Lewan graded out as the seventh-best tackle in the NFL in 2016 and placed 16th last year, according to Pro Football Focus.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/25/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DB Terrance Parks
Buffalo Bills
- Released: DL Tenny Palepoi
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Cam Serigne
- Released: DT Drew Iddings
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Mark Chapman
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Adonis Jennings, Kyle Lewis
Indianpolis Colts
- Signed: S Shamarko Thomas
- Waived: CB Juante Baldwin
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: OL Donavon Clark
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Aaron Lacombe, WR Khadarel Lott, WR JoJo Natson
- Waived: WR LaQuvionte Gonzalez, WR Ricky Jeune
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Izaah Lunsford
- Waived: TE Kyle Carter, P Taylor Symmank
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived/injured: DB Trey Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Josh Liddell, T Jerry Ugokwe
- Waived/Injured: DT Channing Ward
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DE Claude Pelon
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DB Prince Charles Iworah
- Waived/Injured: RB Keith Marshall
Titans’ Taylor Lewan To Report To Camp
Titans tackle Taylor Lewan skipped minicamp in an effort to pressure the team for a new deal, but he won’t skip training camp on Wednesday, Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com hears (on Twitter). There’s no word on whether a new deal is close, but it’s a promising sign. 
[RELATED – Extension Candidate: Taylor Lewan]
Lewan may be looking for a deal that puts him near top of the heap for all left tackles, and he specifically referenced Nate Solder‘s new contract when discussing his own situation in late May. Lewan, the former No. 11 overall pick in the 2014 draft, is presently set to earn $9.341MM in 2018 before becoming eligible for free agency. Solder’s new contract with the Giants, meanwhile, will pay him an average of $15.5MM per year.
Lewan graded out as the seventh-best tackle in the NFL in 2016 and placed 16th last year, according to Pro Football Focus. The 27-year-old has proven that he is among the best left tackles in today’s game and he’s in line for a massive payday as he enters his prime years.
Earlier this year, Lewan indicated that he’d be willing to negotiate during the season if nothing gets done this offseason. So, in theory, the two sides could move forward on the current deal with the hope of completing an extension in the fall.
Titans Release LB Kevin Dodd
The Titans have released outside linebacker Kevin Dodd, according to an announcement from the team. Dodd did not report to the team on Sunday for training camp and the Titans have decided that they’re better off without him. 
A second-round draft pick by the Titans in the 2016 NFL Draft, Dodd appeared in 18 games for the Titans over the past two seasons. Between 2016 and 2017, Dodd recorded just 20 tackles and only started in one game.
Dodd’s pro career got off on the wrong foot (no pun intended) when he injured his foot during the offseason prior to his rookie year. The injury required Dodd to undergo two surgeries, which may explain why he hasn’t done much in the NFL. In college, Dodd was a force to be reckoned with as he recorded 12 sacks and 26.5 tackles for a loss at Clemson.
The release wasn’t totally unexpected given Dodd’s lack of production and the team’s edge rushing depth. This year, the Titans drafted Boston College’s Harold Landry in the second round to play behind edge rushers Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo. Besides them, outside ‘backers such as Aaron Wallace, Josh Carraway, and Gimel President are on hand and fighting for roster spots.
Titans Place Jack Conklin On PUP List
As expected, the Titans placed Jack Conklin on the PUP list at the outset of training camp. The third-year right tackle tore an ACL in Tennessee’s divisional-round loss to New England in mid-January. Given that barely six months have passed, this could be expected. Mike Vrabel said this was a possibility as his team concluded minicamp, and Conklin confirmed this was a methodical process.
Here’s the latest from the Titans, along with some of their top rivals.
- Tennessee also placed tight end Phillip Supernaw on the PUP list while also slotting second-round pick Rashaan Evans and free agent wideout addition Michael Campanaro on the non-football illness list. The Titans’ rookies and quarterbacks opened camp Sunday, and each of these players is eligible to be reinstated for full work by the time full practices begin Thursday.
- Titans linebacker Kevin Dodd wound up on the reserve/did not report list.
Titans Place Kevin Dodd On DNR List
The Titans have placed outside linebacker Kevin Dodd on the reserve/did not report list to begin training camp, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Dodd, a second-round pick in the 2016 draft, has already had an odd offseason, as he declined to attend voluntary organized team activities earlier this year. While the word preceding OTAs is “voluntary,” it’s nearly unheard of for a player still on his rookie contract to skip those workout sessions. Now that Dodd hasn’t reported for the start of Titans camp, it’s fair to wonder if another shoe will soon drop.
Dodd was already on thin ice on Tennessee’s roster, as the Titans drafted Boston College’s Harold Landry in the second round to play behind edge rushers Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo. If the 26-year-old Dodd doesn’t end up making Tennessee’s 53-man squad, other outside ‘backers such as Aaron Wallace, Josh Carraway, and Gimel President should be given additional opportunities.
Despite his draft status, Dodd has only appeared in 18 games and made one start over two years with the Titans. Health issues limited Dodd in 2016, and he was placed on injured reserve in December following a nagging foot injury.
Titans Could Stage Left Guard Battle
- The Titans could be setting up a position battle at left guard, as Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com writes. Quinton Spain started 14 games a season ago and is back under contract after inking a second-round restricted free agent tender, but Tennessee also signed Kevin Pamphile and Xavier Su’a-Filo, and either could see snaps on the interior. Spain has a better track record than either player, but a camp battle appears likely, per Wyatt. Pamphile’s versatility could come into play, as his ability to play left tackle could keep the Titans comfortable if incumbent Taylor Lewan continues to hold out.
Titans' Casey To Protest Anthem
- Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey says he’ll stay on the field and protest during the national anthem, while accepting any fines levied against him under the terms of the new anthem policy. “I’m going to take a fine this year, why not?” said Casey (via CNN). “I’m going to protest during the flag. That’s what I’m going to say now.” Casey, 28, inked a four-year, $60.4MM extension with the Titans in 2017, so he can probably afford to pay some fines. It remains to be seen whether other players will follow suit.
Which Titans UDFAs Have Stood Out?
- While Titans undrafted rookie wideout Deontay Burnett is talented, Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com believes fellow undrafted receivers Jordan Veasy and Devin Ross were more impressive during OTAs. When asked which other undrafted rookies could crack Tennessee’s 53-man roster, Wyatt pointed to running back Akrum Wadley and linebacker Sharif Finch.
- The Jets signed linebacker Avery Williamson to a three-year, $22.5MM contract back in March, but Brian Costello of the New York Post writes that there’s no certainty he’ll be a three-down player. His former team, the Titans, would take Williamson out of the game during passing downs, but Jets head coach Todd Bowles has expressed optimism that the linebacker will remain on the field in all scenarios. While Costello doesn’t sound all too bullish on that sentiment, he does believe Williamson will end up being a primary pass rusher for his new team.
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