Titans’ Cooks Offer Included No. 5 Pick
One of the more interesting trade sagas in recent memory ended with Brandin Cooks going from the Saints to the Patriots, but the Titans entered the frey and made a strong proposal as well. Tennessee’s offer for the 23-year-old wide receiver featured the Titans and Saints swapping first-round picks (No. 5 for No. 11), with the Titans adding a third-round pick in the deal as well, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.
The proposal that ended up getting it done was the Patriots’ first- and third-round selections for Cooks. Philadelphia lasted long into these talks as well, but the Eagles were believed to have been out before the Patriots ultimately eclipsed the Titans’ offer.
Titans GM Jon Robinson said today he not include the No. 18 overall pick in an offer for Cooks, per ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky (on Twitter). The No. 18 pick being involved would have almost certainly meant the Titans would have given up a first-round pick in this year’s draft without getting one back, like they would have if the Saints had accepted their proposal. Tennessee still holds picks Nos. 5 and 18 due to their deal with the Rams for Jared Goff last year.
Tennessee’s aggressive Cooks push looks like a sign the team will be in the market for a wideout with one of its top two picks. The Titans lost Kendall Wright in free agency but diminished the former first-round pick’s role over the past two seasons. Tajae Sharpe and Harry Douglas remain on the roster, but neither is close to Cooks’ class. Retaining their two first-rounders, the Titans figure to be a team to watch for players like Mike Williams, John Ross or Corey Davis in Round 1.
Titans Out On Dont’a Hightower
The Titans aren’t buying the notion that Dont’a Hightower is serious about leaving the Patriots. So, they have taken the logical step of removing themselves from the Hightower sweepstakes, Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets. Things can always change, but right now they are planning on putting their energy, focus, and money in a different direction. 
Meanwhile, GM Jon Robinson says that Hightower never even visited the team (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com).
Non-rush linebackers don’t typically cash in on the open market, but Hightower is excellent at what he does and figures to be an exception. Although the Pats declined to give him a franchise tender worth roughly $14.7MM for one-year, he could still get eight figures per season on a multi-year deal.
In order to get that kind of money from New England, he’ll first have to get a similar offer from another team. Right now, the Titans and Jets don’t believe he’s sincere about leaving the defending champs. He’s now slated to visit with the Steelers, however, and that’s a team that would be of interest to any player serious about winning.
The Titans, meanwhile, will continue to roll with Avery Williamson and Wesley Woodyard as inside linebackers in their 3-4 scheme. Both defenders graded as top-50 ‘backers in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus, and Tennessee reportedly holds the 25-year-old Williamson in especially high regard.
Titans Host Erik Walden On Visit
Colts free agent linebacker Erik Walden is visiting the Titans today, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Walden indicated last week that the Colts wouldn’t be re-signing him, an unsurprising decision given that Indianapolis is attempting to get younger on defense (new general manager Chris Ballard told veteran safety Mike Adams the same thing). Walden, 31, signed a four-year deal with the Colts prior to the 2013 campaign, and ended up appearing in 60 games for the club. After averaging only four sacks per season from 2013-15, Walden put up 11 quarterback takedowns last year, but still graded out as one of the six worst edge defenders in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Titans have already gotten out of the race for inside linebacker Dont’a Hightower, but Walden would give Tennessee a veteran presence on the edge. After playing more than 70% of the Colts’ defensive snaps a year ago, Walden would serve in a rotational backup role for the Titans, who already employ Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan. Tennessee ranked 14th in the NFL in adjusted sack rate last year.
Dont’a Hightower Visits Titans
Dont’a Hightower visited with the Jets this weekend and he’s spent time with Titans, but it doesn’t necessarily sound like he’ll be signing with either team. After both meetings, the Jets and Titans left convinced he’ll re-sign with the Patriots, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This jibes with an earlier report which said an unknown team in the mix for Hightower has the same impression. 
At this point, it sounds like the linebacker may be looking to drum up a high-priced offer to take back to the Patriots. However, if the Titans and Jets do not believe they can lure him away, they might be unwilling to submit a formal offer.
Right now, league-wide belief is that Hightower will circle back to the Pats on a deal worth about $10MM per year. That would be less money than anticipated before March 9, but other players at the top of the market have also had to settle for less. For example, top wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Terrelle Pryor both settled for unimpressive one-year deals after rumblings of lucrative multi-year pacts.
Hightower finished the 2016 campaign with 65 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 13 games. Before the start of free agency, we listed him as the best available linebacker in our free agent positional rankings.
Titans To Sign Sylvester Williams
The Titans have agreed to a three-year deal with defensive tackle Sylvester Williams, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com.
Williams, 28, is a former first-round pick of the Broncos, who weren’t expected to re-sign him after declining his fifth-year option last summer. However, they did make Williams a multiyear offer before he accepted the Titans’ proposal, according to Mike Klis of 9News. Williams asked the Broncos for a one-year pact, though (Twitter link).
Although he’s never lived up to his draft status, Williams has been a contributor: he’s started 48 games during his four-year career, and appeared in 60 contests overall. Williams is a pure run-stuffer, though, as he’s posted just 5.5 career sacks and was pushed down the Pro Football Focus interior defender rankings thanks to a lackluster pass-rushing grade.
Tennessee had a need for a defensive lineman after parting ways with Al Woods earlier this week, and after targeting a big fish in the Ravens’ Brandon Williams, it decided to settle for another Williams instead. The Titans have mostly addressed their secondary so far this offseason, signing Jonathan Cyprien and Logan Ryan, but they’ve also re-upped interior rusher Karl Klug. Jurrell Casey, of course, is the star of Tennessee’s front, while DaQuan Jones and Austin Johnson also play roles.
Williams ranked as PFR’s No. 15 interior defender heading into the free agent period.
AFC Contract Details: Gilmore, Kirkpatrick
The latest contract details from the AFC (all Twitter links):
- Cornerback Stephon Gilmore‘s five-year, $65MM accord with the Patriots includes an $18MM signing bonus, reports Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. The arrangement comes with a fully guaranteed $31MM through 2018 and $9MM guaranteed for injury only in 2019. It contains up to $500K in per-game roster bonuses each year, as well (via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).
- Fellow corner Dre Kirkpatrick‘s Bengals deal, worth $52.5MM over a five years, includes $15MM in 2017, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. The contract features another $2.5MM in incentives. It’s essentially a pay-as-you agreement after 2018, notes CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, who adds that Kirkpatrick got $7MM to sign, $12MM in guarantees, and will make $23.2MM during the first two years of the contract.
- Guard Ronald Leary‘s pact with the Broncos is worth $36MM over four years and will receive $18.75MM guaranteed, writes Mike Klis of 9NEWS. Leary will collect a $3.5MM signing bonus.
- Newly re-upped Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills landed a $7MM signing bonus, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
- Fullback Patrick DiMarco‘s four-year deal with the Bills features $4.8MM in guarantees, more than the originally reported $4MM, per Wilson. It also comes with a $2MM bonus and an annual workout bonus worth $59K.
- Safety Nate Allen‘s contract with the Dolphins is for one year and $3.4MM, relays Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.
- The Titans gave linebacker Nate Palmer $2.3MM over two years, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. He also received a signing bonus worth $850K.
- Tight end David Johnson‘s agreement with the Steelers is worth $2.05MM over two years, per Wilson. It includes a $235K signing bonus and a $915K roster bonus.
Titans Re-Sign TE Phillip Supernaw
The Titans have signed tight end Phillip Supernaw to a multi-year deal, according to Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. The player was non-tendered by the organization earlier this week.
Since joining the Titans in 2014, Supernaw has become a key member of the special teams unit, collecting 16 tackles. He’s also seen some action at tight end, starting seven games over the past two years. During this time, the 27-year-old has hauled in seven receptions for 94 yards. Besides the Titans, the former undrafted free agent has also spent time with the Ravens, Chiefs, and Texans.
Supernaw is presumably penciled in as the team’s third tight end behind Delanie Walker and Jace Amaro.
Eric Weems To Sign With Titans
Eric Weems is expected to sign with the Titans, ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure tweets. The deal will reunite the former Atlanta special teams captain with his old position coach, offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie.
The former Pro Bowler spent the past three seasons with the Falcons. After collecting career-highs in receptions (10), yards (102), and touchdowns (two) in 2014, Weems has mostly served as a return specialist over the past two years. The 31-year-old retuned 32 kicks for 794 yards (24.8 average) during that span. He also returned 43 punts for 494 yards (11.5 average).
Weems will join a receivers depth chart that includes Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe, Harry Douglas, and Tre McBride. Marc Mariani served as the team’s primary returner in 2016.
Contract Details: Okung, Glennon, Simon
Updates on several contracts signed this week…
- There are “no tricks” in Russell Okung‘s new four-year, $53MM deal with the Chargers, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). The offensive lineman received a $10MM signing bonus, and his guaranteed money will come via his 2017 $3MM base salary and 2018 $12MM base salary.
- Mike Glennon‘s 2017 $8MM base salary with the Bears is fully guaranteed, tweets Adam Jahns of the Sun Times. Meanwhile, the quarterback’s $5MM roster bonus will kick in on the fifth day of the 2018 league year. Jahns adds that Glennon can earn an additional $2.5MM in bonuses based on playing time, wins, and individual performance. If he hits on these NLTBE incentives, his 2018 roster bonus will be voided.
- Linebacker John Simon‘s new deal with the Colts is actually worth $14MM over three years, clarifies NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter). Simon will earn $6MM in guaranteed money, which will seemingly come via his 2017 salary.
- Safety Jonathan Cyprien‘s deal with the Titans includes a $3MM signing bonus, reports ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky. The veteran will earn a $2MM base salary and $1MM roster bonus in 2017. He’ll be paid $4.5MM in 2018 and $5.5MM in 2019 and 2020.
Titans To Sign Logan Ryan
Another big-name cornerback is coming off the market: The Titans have agreed to a deal with Logan Ryan, reports ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link). It’s a three-year, $30MM pact, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
The 26-year-old Ryan is the second major addition the Titans have made to the secondary on the first day of the 2017 league year. The team previously agreed to a deal with safety Jonathan Cyprien.
Titans general manager Jon Robinson is already quite familiar with Ryan, whom the executive had a large hand in drafting back in 2013. Robinson was then the director of college scouting for the Patriots, with whom Ryan won two Super Bowls during the first four years of his career.
Although Ryan thrived in New England, it became obvious a parting of ways was in the offing when the reigning champions inked fellow corner Stephon Gilmore to a mega-deal earlier Thursday. But the Patriots’ loss will be a sizable gain for the Titans, who ranked 26th in DVOA against the pass and 30th in aerial yardage allowed last year. At the same time, Ryan registered his fourth straight 16-appearance season and tallied 92 tackles and two interceptions across 13 starts. His performance ranked a stellar 16th among Pro Football Focus’ 112 qualified corners.
With 2016 factored in, Ryan has racked up 40 starts and 13 picks in his career. The ex-Rutgers star will now join college teammate Jason McCourty and Brice McCain, among other corners, in Tennessee.