Titans Interested In Gareon Conley
- The Panthers, Browns, Eagles, Bengals, Lions, Titans, Saints and Jets are among the teams with the most interest in Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Conley should go somewhere between ninth and 18th overall, per La Canfora, whom one NFL decision-maker told: “Conley has always been a first-round corner, and I understand why he is the top guy on some boards. He may not be as flashy as some of the other corners, and maybe the upside isn’t quite as high, but neither is the risk. This is a clean player who started for two years and who made big plays in big games. There is a lot to like.”
Titans Hosted Adoree' Jackson
- USC cornerback Adoree’ Jackson has met with the Titans and Browns, and has visits scheduled with the Eagles and Texans, as he tells SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Jackson could help a club on the defensive side of the ball, but he’d also add immediate value as a dynamic special teams maven. In 2016, Jackson averaged 29.5 yards on kick returns and scored two touchdowns, and posted 15.8 yards per punt return (and scored twice more).
Titans Interested In Chidobe Awuzie
- The Raiders stand a “good chance” of bypassing one of their biggest needs — linebacker — in favor of defensive back help on Day 1, per Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com. Both the Raiders and Titans have visited with Colorado cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, reports Pauline, and both clubs could seriously consider Awuzie in the first round (at picks No. 24 and No. 18, respectively). Oakland could use another player in the secondary next to Sean Smith and David Amerson, while Tennessee released veteran corner Jason McCourty today and are fielding one of the league’s worst corner depth charts. Dallas has also met with Awuzie, who posted one interception and four sacks last year.
Titans Release CB Jason McCourty
The Titans are releasing cornerback Jason McCourty, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). McCourty was the team’s longest tenured player, but he’ll now have to seek work elsewhere. The Titans wanted to redo McCourty’s deal, but the two sides couldn’t agree on terms, a source tells Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter). 
There was no real buildup for the move, so McCourty’s release comes as a pretty big surprise. In the past, the Patriots inquired on McCourty, but it didn’t seem like a trade was close to happening. Now that he’s a free agent, one has to wonder if New England will get into the mix in an effort to reunite him with twin brother Devin McCourty.
Jason McCourty, selected in the sixth round of the 2009 draft by the Titans, appeared in 108 games for the team, including 90 starts. The 29-year-old (30 in October) has long been regarded as a quality talent, but he turned in a so-so year in 2016. That came after a 2015 season in which he missed all but four games due to injury. All things considered, the Titans apparently were unwilling to keep McCourty at a $7MM cap number for the coming season. There will be no dead money left over since there was no guaranteed cash remaining on the deal.
In 2016, Pro Football Focus ranked McCourty as the 55th ranked cornerback in the NFL out of 111 qualified players. In his best years (2010-2013), McCourty was ranked comfortably within the top 30, framing him as a starting caliber corner.
The Titans own the No. 5 overall pick in the draft and they could target a top corner like Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley, or Marlon Humphrey.
Titans Notes: Reddick, Foster
The Titans hosted Temple linebacker Haason Reddick on Monday, per Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Reddick, something of a swiss-army knife who can play either inside or outside ‘backer, would become yet another piece on a rapidly improving Tennessee front seven. The Titans already boast Wesley Woodyard, Avery Williamson, Brian Orakpo, and Derrick Morgan in the second level. Reddick probably won’t be in consideration for the Titans at pick No. 5, but could be in play at No. 18. The Saints have also expressed interest in Reddick, tweets Miller, and the club “likes him a lot.” New Orleans feels Reddick would be a solid fit in their 4-3 scheme.
- Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster has set up a busy predraft schedule, as he’s scheduled to meet with the Colts, Bengals, Lions, Titans, and Ravens, according to Josh Norris of Rotoworld (Twitter link). Foster has already met with a number of clubs, and his packed itinerary is unsurprising given that he’s considered the top off-ball linebacker in the 2017 draft. He will combine medical re-checks this week following shoulder surgery, but has already shown full range of motion, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Draft Rumors: Williams, Allen, Fournette
There seems to be a difference of opinions on the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft. When asked about the 2017 crop, ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski said, “I wouldn’t take any of these guys in the first round,” (Twitter link).
Early on, UNC QB Mitch Trubisky was regarded as a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick. Now, it seems much more likely that the Browns will select Myles Garrett and it’s not a given that Trubisky will even be the first QB to come off of the board. Deshaun Watson could instead be the first signal caller drafted and DeShone Kizer and Patrick Mahomes seem to be strong candidates for round one.
Of course, the draft isn’t a meritocracy – it’s about team needs and, often, team desperation. Several teams, including the Jets at No. 6, have a clear need for a young QB and there is no realistic scenario in which there isn’t a QB taken in the first round.
Here’s the latest draft news:
- Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams is with the Titans today on a top 30 visit, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Rapoport adds that the Titans have done extensive work on Williams, which makes sense given their clear WR need. Our mock draft has Williams going to Tennessee at No. 18 overall.
- Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen visited with the Titans and has the Chargers and 49ers on deck, Rapoport tweets.
- Former LSU running back Leonard Fournette will visit the Bengals today (Tuesday), according to Kat Terrell of ESPN (on Twitter). The Bengals have hosted multiple running backs on visits this year and that could be tied to Jeremy Hill‘s contractual status. Hill is eligible for free agency following the 2017 season.
- The Dolphins are hosting Florida cornerback Jalen Tabor and Miami tight end David Njoku on visits this week, Rapoport tweets.
- Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett did a personal workout for the Falcons, a source tells Rapoport (on Twitter).
Titans Could Draft Safety At No. 5
- Despite signing free agent safety Jonathan Cyprien last month, the Titans could still use the fifth overall selection on a defensive back such as Malik Hooker or Jamal Adams, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com writes. Tennessee used a rotation in the back end in 2016, and four safeties — Kevin Byard, Daimion Stafford, Rashad Johnson, and Da’Norris Searcy — all played more than 500 snaps. Stafford and Johnson are now unrestricted free agents, and head coach Mike Mularkey said the Titans will continue to deploy a multiple defensive backs. Hooker or Adams, then, could be fits for Tennessee, although the club would be utilizing a high pick on a player that may only play part-time.
Gareon Conley Visits Titans
- Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley has already visited the Titans (along with the previously reported Cowboys and Browns), and will meet with the Bengals and Jets, writes Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com. Conley seems like a shoo-in to go somewhere in the first round, and PFR’s Dallas Robinson currently has him going 11th overall to New Orleans.
Opinion: Sherman Makes Sense For Titans
- Former NFL executive and current ESPN.com analyst Joe Banner sees the Darrelle Revis trade of 2013 as a possible comp for a Sherman deal. The Jets received a first-round pick in 2013 and a fourth-round pick in 2014 in exchange for the corner. Meanwhile, Sheil Kapadia huddled up with his fellow beat writers to figure out landing spots that would make sense for Sherman. The writers say the Saints, Packers, Titans, and Patriots all make varying degrees of sense.
Titans To Host Jamal Adams
- In addition to the Jaguars, Adams also plans to visit the Titans and Bears, reports Ross Dellenger of the Advocate (Twitter link). Adams (unofficially) ran the 40-yard-dash in 4.33 seconds at LSU’s pro day, Josh Katzenstein of the Times Picayune tweets, and that mark might help his stock. At the combine in February, Adams only managed to post a 4.56 finish.