Titans Sign Rookie DE Harold Landry
The Titans have signed second-round defensive end Harold Landry, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The former Boston College standout will earn roughly $6.7MM over the course of his four-year deal, in accordance with his slot at No. 41 overall. The deal includes a signing bonus worth nearly $3MM.
Landry, a 6’3″, 250-pound athlete, was an absolute monster at Boston College. He broke out in his junior season as he tallied 22 tackles for a loss and 16.5 sacks in 2016. Last year, he missed some games due to injury, but still managed 8.5 tackles for a loss and five sacks.
The defensive end should have an opportunity to contribute immediately for the Titans. Landry could eventually replace DaQuan Jones in the starting lineup, and he should have the edge over David King and Julius Warmsley for backup reps.
With the signing of Landry, the Titans have officially wrapped up their entire 2018 draft class. Here’s the full rundown of their four-man group:
- 1-22: Rashaan Evans, LB (Alabama): Signed
- 2-41: Harold Landry, DE (Boston College): Signed
- 5-152: Dane Cruikshank, CB (Arizona): Signed
- 6-199: Luke Falk, QB (Washington State): Signed
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/14/18
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: K Ross Martin
- Waived: LB DeMarquis Gates
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Sean McGrath
- Cut: TE Wes Saxton
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DB Michael Cirino
- Waived: DB Channing Stribling
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Brandon Shippen, CB Jarell Carter
- Waived: WR Zach Pascal, CB Jeremy Boykins
Taylor Lewan Skipping Titans’ Minicamp
The Titans’ mandatory minicamp is underway, but Taylor Lewan is not on the practice field. The offensive tackle is staying away from the team as he pushes for a new contract. 
“As we start the mandatory veteran minicamp, we were informed by the representatives for Taylor Lewan that he would not be attending the camp,” GM Jon Robinson said in a statement. “We have had several constructive conversations over the last 5-6 weeks about his contract status. He is currently under contract, and we are working to keep Taylor as part of this organization for a long time.”
Lewan previously indicated that he would not hold out this summer, but his plans have clearly changed. 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.
“I’m a professional athlete. Obviously you’re going to see those things,” Lewan said in reference to lucrative deals for other offensive tackles. “I see Nate Solder getting the contract he did. That’s awesome.”
Lewan, the former No. 11 overall pick in the 2014 draft, will earn $9.341MM in 2018. He graded out as the seventh-best tackle in the NFL in 2016 and placed 16th last year, according to Pro Football Focus.
Ethan Wolf "Long Shot" To Make Titans Roster
- Rookie tight end Ethan Wolf is a “long shot” to make the Titans roster, according to Jim Wyatt of Titansonline.com. Wyatt thinks he’ll end up on the outside looking in due to the Titans’ full tight end depth-chart, but that he’s a potential practice squad candidate.
Marcus Mariota Did Not Need Knee Procedure; Latest On QB Situation
- Despite some concerns that Titans QB Marcus Mariota could require a clean-up procedure on his knee this offseason, Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com says Mariota never had such a procedure and that he has looked like his usual self in spring practices thus far. Wyatt adds that, while Blaine Gabbert appears to be entrenched as Mariota’s backup going into the 2018 season, the team is more likely to keep Luke Falk as the No. 3 QB rather than risk sneaking him onto the practice squad.
Kevin Dodd Skipping OTAs, On Roster Bubble
It’s a crucial offseason for Titans linebacker Kevin Dodd. Despite being the first pick of the second round back in 2016, his early draft status doesn’t assure him of anything due to his lack of production his first two years in the league. Dodd is apparently skipping voluntary OTAs, and will find himself squarely on the roster bubble heading into the 2018 season writes Jim Wyatt of Titansonline.com, who says “he’s going to have to earn his spot on the team.”
Titans coach Mike Vrabel has repeatedly deflected when asked about Dodd, and as Wyatt points out, the Titans have a lot of bodies at outside linebacker. The team recently drafted Harold Landry in the second round, a sign that their patience with Dodd is wearing thin. If he doesn’t turn it around soon, Dodd might not be on the team that spent the 33rd overall pick on him just two years ago much longer.
No Contract Talks Between Titans, Taylor Lewan
Nate Solder recently re-set the market for top left tackles when he signed a four-year $62MM deal with the Giants back in March. The next player to threaten Solder’s spot as the highest paid tackle in the game might be the Titans’ Taylor Lewan, set to be a free agent after this season.
Lewan is playing 2018 in the final year of his rookie deal after the Titans exercised his fifth-year option. He’ll earn a $9.34MM salary this year which is most likely well below what he’ll command on the open market.
Lewan spoke with the media recently, and gave an update on talks, or lack thereof, with Titans management regarding a new contract, via Terry McCormick of Titaninsider.com. Lewan said there was “nothing worth talking about” when asked about the status of any negotiations.
While Lewan said there hasn’t been much progress recently, he isn’t sweating it, and is instead staying focuses on football. He has no plans to holdout or miss any time due to contract concerns, saying “When it comes to this kind of stuff, that’s why I have an agent. I don’t give them three percent to sit on their (expletive). I’m being serious.”
Lewan also said he’d be willing to negotiate during the season if nothing gets done this offseason. He even specifically referenced Solder, making it clear he knows his own worth, saying “I’m a professional athlete. Obviously you’re going to see those things. I see Nate Solder getting the contract he did. That’s awesome.”
Whether or not an extension gets done this summer, Lewan will sooner or later be one of the highest paid linemen in football. He’s racked up accolades since entering the league as the 11th pick in the 2014 draft, earning two Pro Bowl selections. Whether it’s by the Titans or someone else, Lewan will be getting paid next year, and he could very well best Solder’s $15.5MM per year salary.
Latest On Jeff Fisher
Jeff Fisher has been out of the coaching world since being fired by the Rams in 2016. Apparently, he has had opportunities to come back to the sidelines as an assistant coach, but he is holding out for another head coaching gig. 
“I’ve had opportunities to stay in it, but I don’t see myself coming back and coordinating,” Fisher told SiriusXM. “As we all know, success in the National Football League is built on a number of different things. And it starts with the quarterback and you’ve got to stay healthy and you’ve got to hit things running and you’ve got to have a good staff, all those things. So getting out for a year or two, I don’t think that should, by any teams, eliminate somebody.”
At 173-165-1, Fisher has the 12th-most wins in NFL history. However, a Fisher-led team has not made the playoffs since 2008 when he was with the Titans.
You can never say never on Fisher’s candidacy, but he would not be the most exciting hire for a team. Fisher has had five 8-8 seasons and four 7-9 seasons (plus one 7-8-1 campaign) as head coach, numbers that have largely overshadowed his success in Tennessee. In his nearly five year run with the Rams, Fisher went 31-45-1 with no playoff appearances.
Fisher says that he has been contacted by networks for broadcasting opportunities over the last couple of years, but he declined because he did not believe that former rivals like Seahawks coach Pete Carroll would give him information in pre-production meetings. But, if Fisher does not get the head coaching opportunity he’s after, he says he’ll reconsider television.
Fisher, who has the 12th-most wins in NFL history, celebrated his 60th birthday this past winter.
Titans Promote Ryan Cowden
- The Titans made a few adjustments to their staff on Friday. Most notably, player personnel director Ryan Cowden will now serve as the franchise’s VP of player personnel, TitansOnline.com’s Terry McCormick reports (on Twitter). Tennessee brought in Cowden two years ago to that player personnel director role. Previously, he spent 16 seasons with the Panthers, finishing his years there as Carolina’s assistant director of college scouting. Additionally, Kevin Turks will now serve as Titans assistant director of pro personnel and Rob Reiderer will work as a scouting assistant.
Jack Conklin Still Recovering
A look at the AFC and NFC South:
- Titans right tackle Jack Conklin is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in January and head coach Mike Vrabel says he doesn’t anticipate seeing him being on the field this spring (Twitter link via Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com). Training camp would be the earliest that Conklin can start individual drills. There’s no word of Conklin missing regular season action, but it’s a situation to keep an eye on. While Tennessee’s offensive line regressed as a unit in 2017, Conklin still stood out, grading as the No. 12 offensive tackle in the league, per
Pro Football Focus.
- It sounds like defensive tackle Jay Bromley and offensive lineman Michael Ola, who were signed earlier this month by the Saints, have a real chance at making the final cut. “Both guys we have a vision for,” coach Sean Payton said this week (via Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune). “They’re positions that are hard to find once the season gets started.”
- The Falcons will work out offensive lineman Kevin Bowen on Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Bowen recently auditioned for the Texans, but left Houston without a deal.