Eric Olsen, Titans Agree To One-Year Deal
The Titans have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with interior lineman Eric Olsen, the team announced today (Twitter link). The move comes on the heels of the club re-signing Chris Spencer, so it appears the Titans are giving themselves a few depth options at center and guard.
Olsen, 25, was one of a few free agent linemen visiting the Titans this week, so it’s not clear where his and Spencer’s signings leave Uche Nwaneri and Garrett Reynolds, who also met with the team. In any case, Olsen joins the Titans after stints with the Broncos, Saints, Redskins, and Steelers during his first four NFL seasons. The former sixth-round pick saw his only regular season playing time during 2012 in New Orleans, when he played 174 offensive snaps for the Saints, primarily as a right guard.
Agent Expects Titans To Trade Or Cut Chris Johnson
Multiple reports this week have suggested that, with the Titans’ offseason workouts scheduled to get underway on Monday, resolution on the Chris Johnson situation will come before then, in the form of a trade or release. And it sounds like his agent is preparing for that reality as well. Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio with Alex Marvez and Gil Brandt, agent Joel Segal admitted that Johnson’s time in Tennessee is probably over.
“I had some communications with the Titans management today,” Segal said. “I think it’s a matter of time before Chris won’t be with the Titans. I just don’t know when.”
Asked if he expects a trade or if the Titans are more likely to simply cut the former 2,000-yard rusher, Segal joked that after he was wrong about what to expect for DeSean Jackson, another one of his clients, he’s not going to make any predictions on Johnson. Still, as we saw with Jackson, when rumors began to suggest that a player is expected to be dealt or cut, it’s hard to find any value for that player on the trade market.
Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com suggested yesterday that the Jets should be among the most serious suitors for the Titans running back, if and when he hits the open market.
Draft Updates: Quarterbacks, Mack, Tuitt
Here’s a handful of early-evening draft notes:
- Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will visit the Titans later this month, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean (via Twitter).
- The Browns will host a handful of quarterback prospects this week, including Blake Bortles (Central Florida, today), Derek Carr (Fresno State), Garoppolo, Tom Savage (Pittsburgh) and Keith Wenning (Ball State), according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen (via Twitter), who says Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel will be in Cleveland later this month.
- Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack, regarded as an elite defensive prospect, worked out for the Falcons today, per NFL.com’s Gil Brandt (via Twitter).
- Notre Dame defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt worked out for the Rams on Tuesday, and is scheduled to work out for the Steelers and Patriots this week, according to Brandt (via Twitter).
- The Bears, in desperate need of professional starting safeties, hosted Washington State’s Deone Bucannon, according to ESPNChicago.com’s Jeff Dickerson.
- Several of the Rams’ 30 allotted pre-draft visits are taking place this week, according to ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner, who mentions Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier, Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert, Texas A&M tackle Jake Matthews and Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald in addition to those reported previously.
Draft Updates: Clowney, Bortles, Robinson
With no throws to make or brooms to evade, Jadeveon Clowney‘s Pro Day may not have had the fanfare of Johnny Manziel‘s event at Texas A&M, but plenty of coaches and executives showed up to watch Clowney at South Carolina today. Following his Pro Day, Clowney will make visits to work out for the Rams and Falcons, he confirmed today, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
Here’s more on May’s draft and the 2014 class of prospects:
- The Browns are conducting their private workout with Blake Bortles today, a source tells Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).
- Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson is visiting the Rams in St. Louis today, tweets Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
- Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link) hears from several sources that Clemson cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who had dinner with GM Trent Baalke following his Pro Day, is drawing “heavy interest” from the 49ers.
- The Panthers worked out Wyoming defensive back Marqueston Huff today and will do the same for Wyoming wideout Robert Herron and quarterback Brett Smith on Thursday, says Gil Brandt of NFL.com (Twitter links).
- According to Brandt (via Twitter), Ball State quarterback Keith Wenning has nine workouts lined up with nine NFL teams, including the Jaguars, Browns, and Patriots.
- Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (all Twitter links) passes along details on three prospects visiting the Titans: Auburn running back Tre Mason, who left Nashville today; West Virginia running back Charles Sims, who will visit later this week; and UCLA edge defender Anthony Barr, who will be in town next Tuesday.
- The Bills hosted Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk, and Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier today, according to the team.
AFC Rumors: Dolphins, Jets, Clowney, Texans
As they continue attempting to fortify their offensive line, the Dolphins are hosting 25-year-old free agent Jason Fox for a visit, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. According to Salguero, if the team were to sign Fox, who reportedly worked out for the Chiefs earlier this week, the former Lion would be viewed as a depth piece with a chance to earn a larger role, not the Dolphins’ starter at right tackle.
Here’s more on another free agent paying a visit to Miami, as well as a few other notes from around the AFC:
- The Dolphins will also host free agent wideout Lestar Jean for a visit and workout, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Jean met with the Panthers last month, but left Carolina without a deal.
- Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) still expects the Titans to release Chris Johnson this week. If and when that happens, look for the Jets to “pounce” on the veteran running back, says La Canfora.
- Asked about Jadeveon Clowney at South Carolina’s Pro Day today, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien confirmed that his club met with Clowney last night, tweets James Palmer of CSNHouston.com. However, according to O’Brien, the Texans’ No. 1 pick is still “wide open” (Twitter link via Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle).
- Before he signed with the Raiders, Maurice Jones-Drew was strongly considering the Patriots and Steelers as well, as he said today on Mad Dog Sports Radio (Twitter link).
- In a pair of tweets, Aaron Wilson provides details on Dimitri Patterson‘s one-year, $3MM deal with the Jets, which includes a $1MM signing bonus, and C.J. Wilson‘s one-year, minimum-salary benefit contract with the Raiders.
Titans Notes: Nwaneri, Olsen, FAs, Carr
Let’s take a quick look at a few updates relating to 2013’s AFC South runner-up…
- We heard last night that Garrett Reynolds is visiting the Titans today, and it seems he’s not the only free agent lineman in town. Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com tweets that the club is also hosting Uche Nwaneri for a visit, and Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean says (via Twitter) Eric Olsen is meeting with the team as well. As Wyatt, tweets, the team is looking for an alternative to Mike McGlynn, who visited Tennessee but ultimately signed in Washington instead.
- Although the Titans continue to seek offensive line depth, team president and CEO Tommy Smith likes what the franchise has done so far in free agency, which includes signing players like Shaun Phillips, Michael Oher, Dexter McCluster, and Wesley Woodyard. Wyatt has the details at The Tennessean.
- Fresno State signal-caller Derek Carr, who worked out for the Browns on Monday, is flying to Tennessee today for a pre-draft visit with the Titans, tweets Wyatt.
Notes On Visits: Reynolds, Verrett, Smallwood
Free agent guard Garrett Reynolds is scheduled to meet with the Titans on Wednesday, according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.
Reynolds, selected by the Falcons in the fifth round of the 2009 draft, appeared in 15 games for Atlanta last season and started 10 of them. He only played in seven games in 2012 (starting six of them), so he has accumulated about a full season’s worth of snaps over the course of the past two years. Over that time, however, he has earned positive grades for his play, so this would mark a quality, low-cost signing should Tennessee pull the trigger.
Our Luke Adams put Reynolds in the third tier of free agent guards last month but specifically mentioned him as a potentially valuable asset for a team not looking to pay big money at the position.
Now for some quick notes on other visits:
- Joe Buscaglia of WGR550 has compiled a list that will continue to be updated of the prospects the Bills are bringing in to team facilities for official visits. This list might be particularly relevant for Bills fans; Buscaglia tweets that Buffalo’s first round pick in each of the last four years visited Orchard Park prior to the draft.
- One of the top corners in this year’s draft, TCU’s Jason Verrett, will be visiting the Steelers, Jets, and Cardinals in the coming weeks, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link).
- Although he did not play at a big-time football program, UConn linebacker Yawin Smallwood was a bit-time playmaker for the Huskies. Despite tweaking his hamstring at the combine, Smallwood has a number of visits lined up, according to Ross Jones of FOX Sports. He will meet with the Falcons later this week.
Extra Points: Manning, Draft, Bush, Carr
Some assorted notes to close out the evening:
- The Bengals will meet with safety Danieal Manning on Tuesday and Wednesday, tweets Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston. Manning was released by the Texans earlier today.
- NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock has updated his position rankings for draft prospects, and the most notable change is his moving Johnny Manziel up to the No. 1 quarterback slot, followed by Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater. One wonders if this might be an overreaction to a good Pro Day (Manziel) versus a poor one (Bridgewater).
- Running back Michael Bush will visit with the Patriots, who recently lost LeGarrette Blount to the Steelers, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- On a related note, Tom Curran of CSNNE.com wonders if the Patriots let Blount get away too easily, citing both his low cost and the fact that Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen are in the last year of their respective contracts.
- Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr says his private workout with the Browns “went exactly how [he] wanted it to,” writes Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. Grossi also tweets that Carr dined with the Browns general manager Ray Farmer and the Cleveland offensive staff on Sunday night. Carr could be an option for the Browns at pick No. 26.
- Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby told Sirius XM NFL that he has visits set up with the Chargers, Steelers, Titans, Bills, and Jets, as well as three additional teams (Twitter link).
AFC Notes: Pats, Dolphins, Zuttah, Titans
DeSean Jackson‘s release was the latest reminder that trades are tricky to work out in the NFL, even when it’s simply a matter of trying to swap a player for a draft pick. Player-for-player deals are even more difficult to finalize, but Field Yates of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) has five suggestions for trades he thinks would benefit both sides, and four of them don’t include any picks. Among Yates’ suggestions: Ryan Mathews from the Chargers to the Titans for offensive tackle Michael Roos, and defensive lineman Jared Odrick from the Dolphins to the Patriots for offensive lineman Marcus Cannon.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- While it won’t have a real effect on teams’ cap situations for 2014, about $105MM in leaguewide deferred payments on bonus money are due today and tomorrow, tweets Brian McIntyre. As Yates writes in another ESPN.com piece, the Patriots are among the teams with a handful of payments owed, including $2.5MM each to offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer and cornerback Kyle Arrington.
- Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says he plans to speak to Dan Marino about a possible job within the organization, though he’s not sure yet what sort of role it would be, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
- When the Ravens acquired Jeremy Zuttah in a trade last week, the team also worked out a five-year extension with the veteran center. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun now has the details on Zuttah’s new contract, tweeting that it’s worth $18MM with $6.5MM guaranteed. That includes a $3.5MM signing bonus, a $1MM guaranteed 2014 base salary, and $2MM of his $3MM 2015 base salary in guaranteed money. Wilson adds in a second tweet that the deal also includes playing-time and Pro Bowl escalators, and provides the full breakdown of annual base salaries and cap figures in two final tweets.
- The base salaries on Shaun Phillips‘ two-year deal with the Titans are $1.5MM (2014) and $2.55MM (2015), tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
- The Titans are hosting several players for pre-draft visits today, says Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (all Twitter links). According to Wyatt, the players visiting the Titans include tight end A.C. Leonard, offensive linemen Kadeem Edwards and Demetrius Rhaney, and defensive back David Van Dyke of Tennessee State, as well as former Vanderbilt kicker Carey Spear, cornerback Andre Hal, and safety Kenny Ladler.
- Nearly three weeks after the free agent period began, Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com resets the Browns’ roster, examining which positions still might be areas of need.
Latest On Chris Johnson
The Titans’ offseason workouts get underway a week from today, and one way or another, the team will likely make a move with Chris Johnson by that point, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. As Rapoport explains (via Twitter), the Titans haven’t released Johnson yet because he has drawn some trade interest, but that interest has to turn into something tangible within the next few days, or else the club will likely end up cutting the veteran running back.
While we haven’t heard much so far about teams with potential interest in Johnson, Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Jets may be in the mix. New York appears reluctant to jump into the hunt for DeSean Jackson, but the team has a “level of interest” in the Titans running back.
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link) echoes Rapoport’s note on the Jets having a level of interest in Johnson, adding that the team has missed out on a pair of its running back targets already this month: Donald Brown and Maurice Jones-Drew. We knew the Jets were pursuing Jones-Drew, but the fact that Brown was the club’s No. 1 RB choice, as Mehta tweets, is new information. Sources told Mehta a week ago that GM John Idzik‘s “hard-line stance” cost the Jets their top running back target earlier in free agency and that the player had signed with another AFC team — I speculated that it might have been Ben Tate, but it seems it was Brown instead.
As for Johnson, while there may be other teams with interest in him, don’t expect him to land with the Falcons. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported yesterday that Atlanta isn’t a likely suitor for the former 2,000-yard rusher.