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Titans Sign WR Chris Moore

April 19th, 2023 at 3:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following a recent visit, Chris Moore is officially part of the Titans’ offseason roster. The veteran wide receiver agreed to terms with Tennessee on Wednesday.

Moore will change AFC South teams after enjoying his most productive season. With the Texans last year, Moore totaled 48 receptions for 548 yards and two touchdowns. The Titans will give Moore a chance to play an eighth NFL season.

[RELATED: Titans Sign LB Ben Niemann]

Although Moore has spent most of his career as a backup who contributes primarily on special teams, his 2022 yardage total topped all Titans pass catchers. Tennessee can be expected to further upgrade its receiving corps in the draft, particularly with a new GM in charge. But Moore will head east and attempt to carve out a role in Nashville.

This signing will reunite Moore with former Texans OC Tim Kelly, whom the Titans promoted back to the coordinator level this offseason. Kelly coached Moore in 2021. The Texans gave Moore one-year contracts in 2021 and ’22. Under Kelly in 2021, the former Ravens backup caught 21 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns.

The Ravens employed Moore, 29, for five seasons; he surpassed 200 receiving yards just once (2017) in that span. Moore logged at least a 50% snap rate on special teams from 2016-19 and did so again in 2021. He topped 200 ST plays during the 2018 and ’19 seasons. That stands to give the Titans some options as they assemble their receiver depth chart.

Tennessee’s decision to trade A.J. Brown backfired quickly, and the team’s passing attack cratered. Robert Woods led the Titans in receiving; he is now with the Texans after a release. First-round pick Treylon Burks missed six games and totaled 444 yards, matching Austin Hooper‘s total. Hooper is also off the roster, having signed with the Raiders. The team lost intriguing Day 3 draftee Kyle Philips to an early-season injury. While Nick Westbrook-Ikhine remains on the roster, it is hard to envision the Titans not adding at least one more piece at this position.

QB Draft Notes: Texans, Titans, Levis, Hooker

April 18th, 2023 at 9:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Alabama’s Bryce Young is the favorite to go No. 1 to the Panthers, and most pundits have assumed that the Texans would then select Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. However, there are some “rumblings” that the Texans could pivot away from quarterback and select someone like Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. with the second-overall pick, according to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post. One anonymous executive believes those whispers aren’t a smokescreen and questioned if Houston’s front office is even a fan of Stroud.

“Maybe it’s a smokescreen — you never know this time of year — but I really believe the Texans don’t like Stroud,” the “longtime personnel executive” told La Canfora. “I keep hearing it, and I’m inclined to believe it. The Titans are the team that really likes Stroud, and I don’t know if they would move all the way up [from the 11th pick to the second] to do it, but I’d keep an eye on that. The Texans could take Anderson or [Georgia defensive lineman Jalen] Carter, but I think they want to trade down more than anything else.”

Jim Wyatt of the Titans backs the sentiment about Tennessee’s inability to move up the draft board. The writer cites the question marks surrounding the top QB prospects, the Titans’ need at other positions, and the team’s lack of draft capital (the Titans are currently armed with only six draft selections). Of course, Wyatt adds the caveat that it’s tough to predict how new GM Ran Carthon will operate during the draft.

Texans GM Nick Caserio hinted yesterday that the organization would consider trading the No. 2 pick, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter also noting that Houston’s front office could end up keeping the pick but not selecting a signal-caller.

More QB notes leading up to the draft…

  • Indy has their eye on a particular QB prospect, with La Canfora noting that the Colts “covet” Kentucky quarterback Will Levis. We previously heard that the organization was targeting Levis but didn’t intend to trade up for their preferred prospect. Unfortunately for the Colts, they would need the draft board to shake out in their favor if they hope to get Levis; the team has the fourth-overall pick and may have to settle for whichever QB is still left on the board.
  • Speaking of, La Canfora writes that league executives believe four quarterbacks will be selected atop the draft. The Texans could throw a wrench in that plan, and the Cardinals would have to find a suitable trade partner for the third-overall pick. La Canfora adds that the expectation is that a No. 3-pick suitor would use their newfound selection on Florida QB Anthony Richardson.
  • The Giants recently inked Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160MM deal, but that hasn’t stopped the organization from doing their due diligence at the position. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker will visit the Giants tomorrow. The quarterback has had a busy pre-draft process, with Garafolo noting that organizations want clarity on Hooker’s recovery from a torn ACL. The Tennessee product is a fine fallback option for teams that don’t have the ammo to get one of the top-four prospects at the position; Hooker is the only other QB outside of Young/Stroud/Richardson/Levis to earn a spot in Scouts Inc.’s top-85.

Titans Host DE Keion White, WR Zay Flowers, CB Cam Smith

April 18th, 2023 at 10:53am CST by Adam La Rose

With the deadline for pre-draft visits approaching, teams around the league continue to do as much homework as possible on prospects they could be in range to select. For the Titans, that process has included hosting high-end players on both sides of the ball.

Tennessee recently met with defensive end Keion White and wide receiver Zay Flowers, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter links). White is one of the more intriguing members of this year’s edge rushing class, one which is thought to have a number of potential first-rounders beyond the likes of Will Anderson, Tyree Wilson, Nolan Smith and Lukas Van Ness.

White began his college career at Old Dominion after operating as a two-way player at the high school level. He played tight end in 2018, but then switched to defensive end full-time the following season. His 19 tackles for loss in 2019 led to heightened expectations upon his transfer to Georgia Tech. As a member of the Yellow Jackets, he put himself in the first-round conversation with 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss during the 2022 campaign.

Those figures could be a sign of things to come as the 6-4, 267-pounder is still relatively early in his time spent exclusively as a pass rusher. The Titans could be in the market for a high-end addition in that department, after moving on from veteran Bud Dupree earlier this offseason. Tennessee ranked 18th in the league in sacks in 2022, and is in need of long-term edge producers to compliment defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who is in the team’s plans for the foreseeable future.

Likewise, a receiver addition early in the draft would come as no surprise. The Titans struggled in the passing game last season as they began life after A.J. Brown. They used a first-round pick on Treylon Burks in 2022, but more additions should be expected as they look to take a step forward on offense. Flowers has moved up many draft boards following a 1,000-yard campaign in 2022, and he has taken several visits with teams scattered across the first-round order.

The same is also true of cornerback Cam Smith, whom the Titans hosted (Twitter link via Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport). The South Carolina product is part of a very deep CB class, and has generated attention from several teams looking to add him in the late first or early second round. Tennessee has invested heavily at the cornerback spot recently, using first- or second-round selections on Kristian Fulton, Caleb Farley and Roger McCreary in three consecutive years. They also signed Sean Murphy-Bunting in free agency, which should give them a number of options in the secondary.

Tennessee holds the 11th overall pick, one which has been connected to a potential trade-up for a quarterback. If they stay put, though, that selection would be considered a reach for any of White, Flowers or Smith. The Titans’ next pick is No. 41, by which point any or all of them could quite possibly be off the board. If they are able land one of them, however, the team will have done its due diligence ahead of time.

Titans Sign LB Ben Niemann

April 17th, 2023 at 3:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ben Niemann‘s June Cardinals signing last year led to considerable playing time. After a season in Arizona, the former Kansas City UDFA will end up in Tennessee.

The Titans and Niemann agreed to terms Monday. This is likely a low-cost accord, but Niemann will have a chance to compete for a job on Mike Vrabel‘s team soon. The Titans began their offseason workouts today.

Despite being a mid-June Cardinals addition, Niemann ended up starting nine games for the struggling team. The nine starts marked a career-high total for Niemann, who spent four seasons with the Chiefs but did not generate much interest in free agency last year. Niemann, 27, will join a Titans team in transition at linebacker.

Tennessee moved on from both David Long and Zach Cunningham this offseason, releasing Cunningham and letting Long sign with the Dolphins on just a two-year, $11MM deal. New Titans GM Ran Carthon added ex-49ers starter Azeez Al-Shaair on a one-year, $5MM pact. The former Fred Warner–Dre Greenlaw sidekick should be expected to anchor Tennessee’s linebacking corps, which did not have Long or Cunningham available too often last season.

The team should also be viewed as a candidate to draft a linebacker fairly early this year, but Niemann will have an opportunity to join Al-Shaair and 2021 third-round pick Monty Rice as a regular. Cunningham remains unsigned.

An Iowa product, Niemann tallied a career-high 70 tackles last season; Pro Football Focus viewed his part-time work as effective. The advanced metrics site graded Niemann just inside the top 30 among off-ball linebackers last season, grading his 2022 as far better than his Chiefs seasons. Niemann, who has six career fumble recoveries, started 12 games with the Chiefs from 2018-21.

Prior to signing Niemann, the Titans worked out he and two other linebackers. Nick Kwiatkoski and ex-Niemann Cardinals teammate Tanner Vallejo auditioned for the Titans, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. Vallejo, 28, started five Cardinals games last season. After his Raiders release, Kwiatkoski, 29, spent the season with the Falcons; he played in 12 games with no starts in 2022.

Several Teams Interested In C John Michael Schmitz

April 16th, 2023 at 8:12pm CST by Ely Allen

Center is an intriguing position when determining draft value, as the top centers can be extremely valuable but aren’t always considered first rounders. The most recent example saw the Ravens draft Tyler Linderbaum last year to be rewarded with a top-six center, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

While this year’s top centers, Joe Tippmann of Wisconsin and John Michael Schmitz of Minnesota, aren’t entirely expected to go in the first round, Schmitz has been receiving plenty of interest and shouldn’t last long into the second round, if he’s still available by then.

We had noted a private workout with the Steelers weeks ago. Since then, Schmitz has participated in a private workout and dinner with the Jets, a top 30 visit and dinner with the Seahawks, a top 30 visit with the Vikings, and a coach workout and dinner with the Giants, according to Pat Leonard of New York Daily News. Additionally, the 24-year-old has had Zoom contact with the Texans, Titans, Colts, Bills, and Packers.

Seattle has reportedly been “all over” Schmitz, according to Leonard. After the retirement announcement of center Austin Blythe, the Seahawks certainly could use a strong new potential starter to anchor their line. The only center currently on the roster is career backup Joey Hunt, who returned to Seattle last year after two seasons with the Colts. The other team that has shown a lot of love towards Schmitz is the Jets, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. With Connor McGovern‘s contract expiring this offseason, New York could also use a young, new center for presumed quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

While center can be a tough position to pinpoint and Tippmann remains as competition for the best center prospect, the sheer amount of interest in Schmitz leads to the belief that he won’t last long into Day 2 of the draft later this month. That’s if he even makes it past Day 1.

Utah TE Dalton Kincaid Cleared Before Draft

April 16th, 2023 at 6:38pm CST by Ely Allen

This year’s draft class is extremely deep at the tight end position, and one of the top prospects faced the additional challenge of a recent injury. Despite a back injury suffered late in the season, Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid has officially been cleared for football activity prior to the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Dr. Robert Watkins sent an email to NFL teams fully clearing the 23-year-old. “Dalton Kincaid sustained a back injury while playing football on 11/26/2022,” the email said. “Subsequent MRIs have shown appropriate healing, and he has been asymptomatic with no pain and no limitation of function for at least 3 months. He is cleared to play football with no restrictions.”

The injury caused him to miss the Senior Bowl and NFL scouting combine, and a shoulder injury forced him to miss time earlier in the year, as well. The injury issues don’t help concerns about his smaller frame for an NFL tight end. Yet, Kincaid is still a stellar pass-catching option who caught at least eight touchdowns in four of five college seasons (the fifth being the COVID-shortened season).

The full clearance is big for Kincaid, who is expected to be selected in the first round later this month. He and Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer are widely anticipated to go on Day 1, while Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave and Georgia’s Darnell Washington have a chance, as well. With such a deep class, a nagging back injury could’ve really hurt Kincaid’s draft stock; a full clearance should keep Kincaid with his status as a consensus top two tight end in the draft.

With injury concerns out of the way, Kincaid has had several visits planned with NFL teams. The Ute met with the Bengals and Patriots this past week and has plans to visit the Packers in the week to come. Prior to those visits, Kincaid had spent time with the Texans, Raiders, Chargers, Jaguars, Titans, Lions, Chiefs, and Cowboys.

NFL Workout Notes: Moore, Cards, 49ers

April 13th, 2023 at 9:57pm CST by Ely Allen

After a career year in Houston, wide receiver Chris Moore is seeking a new contract for 2023. The veteran looked at a division rival, visiting the Titans yesterday, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Moore spent the first five years of his career with the Ravens, having his best offensive season with Baltimore in 2017 when he caught 18 balls for 248 yards and three touchdowns. His role diminished over time until he found himself contributing mostly on special teams. He returned to a role on offense with the Texans while still serving as a core special teamer. Over his two years in Houston, Moore has had two games over 100 receiving yards and several other strong contributions en route to 96 receptions for 775 yards and four touchdowns.

In Tennessee, Moore would be joining an extremely thin wide receiving corps that currently consists of Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Philips, Racey McMath, Reggie Roberson, and Mason Kinsey. He would likely slot in as a starter at WR2 or WR3 and could still provide for the Titans on special teams.

Here are a few more workouts from around the league:

Titans’ Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill Available In Trades?

April 12th, 2023 at 10:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Having moved on from several starters this offseason, new Titans GM Ran Carthon is now in charge of a roster carrying two contract-year cornerstones. The deals Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry signed back in 2020 expire after this coming season.

Rumblings about the Titans shopping Henry circulated just before free agency, and while the two-time rushing champion remains on Tennessee’s roster, the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora notes the team is indeed open to moving him. Tannehill should also be monitored as a trade candidate, La Canfora adds.

[RELATED: Titans Interested In Trading Up For QB]

The Titans have been connected to quarterbacks in this draft for weeks; they hosted Will Levis on Tuesday and will meet with Anthony Richardson. Though, trade-up scenarios also may involve Tannehill staying put and serving as a bridge player ahead of a 2024 separation. The team cutting the cord now would obviously intensify its need at the position and raise the stakes for Carthon’s first draft as a GM. Tannehill is due a $27MM base salary, and his $36.6MM cap number tops the Titans’ payroll by more than $15MM.

Tannehill’s run of health as a Titan came to an end last season; Tennessee’s starter finished the season on IR after ankle surgery. Tannehill’s unavailability was among the Titans’ top issues in 2022. While Tannehill’s 2019 resurgence elevated the Titans and began a stretch of three consecutive playoff berths for the AFC South franchise, the QB’s high paragraph 5 salary and age (35 in July) will not give the Titans a strong trade market. It would also cost the Titans $18.8MM in dead money to trade Tannehill before June 1.

Teams have already made moves to bring in veteran options as well. The Titans, who acquired Tannehill for just fourth- and seventh-round picks back in 2019, can bolster their draft capital by dealing their four-year starter in the next two weeks. The team could also eat some of Tannehill’s salary to prompt a better offer. Absent many logical suitors, however, it would surprise if a major trade package became available — barring an unexpected injury affecting a team’s depth chart. Waiting on an injury would put the Titans in the same place the 49ers resided with Jimmy Garoppolo last year, but as of now, the team does not have another starter-caliber option on the roster. The new Titans regime does not appear too intrigued by Malik Willis, La Canfora adds, given the 2022 third-rounder’s rookie-year struggles.

Even as Henry missed half the 2021 season with a foot fracture, his 6,042 rushing yards since 2019 lead all rushers in that span by nearly 700. The Titans also authorized a raise for their dominant back last year, but the GM who signed off on that — Jon Robinson — was fired months later. Henry is tied to a $10.5MM base salary this season. The eighth-year back rebounded from his foot injury to amass 1,538 rushing yards — two shy of the total he won the 2019 rushing title with — but he logged an NFL-high 349 carries.

Henry, 28, is undoubtedly near the end of his run, and the Titans would be unlikely to obtain too much in a trade. The team did experience issues finding a Henry backup, but D’Onta Foreman ran effectively in the Alabama alum’s absence in 2021. Henry’s unique presence in the modern game aside, the Titans would have a more difficult time replacing Tannehill. Austin Ekeler‘s struggle finding a trade partner also shows what might await the Titans if they were to insist on trading Henry.

Tennessee extracted considerable value from Tannehill’s $29.5MM-per-year deal and Henry’s $12.5MM-AAV pact. Whether the Titans trade up for a quarterback and how they navigate a running back-rich draft will be telling, but for now, their offense still centers around Robinson-era investments.

Draft Rumors: Murphy, Banks, Branch, Forbes, Torrence

April 12th, 2023 at 12:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the top edge defenders available in the draft, Clemson’s Myles Murphy will have a busy week. The 6-foot-5 pass rusher met with the Jaguars earlier this week, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets, and Bengals, Falcons and Texans visits are on tap for one of Clemson’s two first-round-caliber D-line talents. Joining D-tackle Bryan Bresee on this front, Murphy submitted a consistent resume at the ACC power. In three seasons, the 268-pound edge recorded 18.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss. The Jaguars, who have drafted an edge in Round 1 three times since 2019, go on the clock at No. 24. The Bengals, who have Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard signed beyond 2023, hold the No. 28 pick. The Texans (Nos. 2, 12) and Falcons (No. 8) are needier on the edge, but their draft slots might not align with a player ranked just outside the top 20.

Here is the latest from the draft:

  • Both Scouts Inc. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah grade Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks just outside the top 20 as well, but he appears to be interviewing well with teams and trending upward. The Commanders, Ravens and Steelers are three of the teams impressed by Banks, per the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, who adds others are intrigued by the 6-foot cover man. The Raiders will host the former Big Ten defender today, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. The Steelers will be connected to Round 1 corners, having lost Cameron Sutton, and the Ravens have not re-signed Marcus Peters. Both Washington and Pittsburgh cut William Jackson over the past seven months. The Raiders, who have not re-signed Rock Ya-Sin, seemingly have a perpetual cornerback need.
  • In addition to Emmanuel Forbes‘ Lions visit, the Mississippi State corner is a popular pre-draft guest. The Cowboys, Eagles, Patriots, Steelers, Titans and Vikings are on his visit schedule, Jon Sokoloff of WCBI tweets, with Wilson adding the Bengals and Commanders will take a look as well. Forbes’ frame will certainly come up at these meetings. Despite posting a Division I FBS-record six pick-sixes and intercepting 14 passes in three seasons, Forbes being 6-foot and 166 pounds will be an issue for teams. Nevertheless, he profiles as a late-first-round talent.
  • Staying on the DB front, Alabama’s Brian Branch might be the best bet for safety-needy teams in what is viewed as a weak class at the position. The Falcons, Commanders, Raiders, Texans and Vikings are on Branch’s pre-draft itinerary, per Wilson, who adds the Bills have a workout scheduled for the multiyear Crimson Tide contributor as well. Branch has extensive slot experience as well, providing potential flexibility for teams considering him in the late first round.
  • Like Branch, Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence profiles as the top player at his position going into the draft. The Louisiana transfer became a consensus All-American in 2022, and the Bills, Commanders and Steelers have auditioned him thus far, per Wilson and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter links). Each of these teams have added at guard already this offseason. The Steelers signed both Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig, while the Bills signed Connor McGovern. The Commanders signed ex-Giant Nick Gates but have plans to use him at center, where he played before a severe September 2021 injury sidetracked his career.

Draft Rumors: Young, Panthers, Stroud, Texans, Colts, Smith, Lions, WRs, Cardinals, Titans, Falcons, Johnston, Jaguars, Vikings

April 10th, 2023 at 8:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers have not locked onto Bryce Young just yet, but the pendulum continues to swing toward the Alabama prospect over C.J. Stroud. David and Nicole Tepper spent extensive time with Young’s parents at Alabama’s pro day last month, Albert Breer of SI.com notes, and Michael Lombardi said during his GM Shuffle podcast the Carolina owner met with Nick Saban in the Crimson Tide HC’s office during the pro day. This comes after reports last week began to stray from the Stroud-to-Charlotte narrative, one that formed largely because Young stands 5-foot-10 and plays under 200 pounds (despite his 204-pound Combine weight).

Carolina will meet with Young on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, with Breer adding Young has already impressed Frank Reich in previous settings. It will be interesting to see if more smoke emerges here, as the Panthers do not exactly have to keep this a secret given their updated draft position, or if Stroud remains in the mix. Many scouts and execs polled by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Stroud’s 6-3, 214-pound frame make him safer and will help him become Carolina’s choice, though that poll still produced a slim advantage for Young to go No. 1 overall. Despite the Panthers meeting with Anthony Richardson and Will Levis, it certainly looks like Young or Stroud will be the pick.

Here is the latest from the draft scene:

  • The Colts discussed the No. 1 pick with the Bears before the Panthers won out, but Breer adds Indianapolis was not ready to do a deal before free agency. The team was still in the process of evaluating the QB prospects and was not prepared to part with significant capital to move up from No. 4 to No. 1. Houston also backed out, having been farther down the road in trade talks with Chicago. Bears GM Ryan Poles spoke of his team trading down twice — moving from 1 to 2 to 9, allowing the Texans and Panthers to climb up for QBs — but Breer notes Nick Caserio‘s team became uncomfortable with the deal later in the process.
  • Texans ownership is more involved in this year’s draft process, per Breer, who is less bullish on Houston selecting a quarterback compared to how this situation looked ahead of the Combine. The Texans’ negotiations with the Bears unmasked them as being willing to trade up for one particular quarterback, potentially pointing to the team being high on either Stroud or Young but not as sold on the other. Since the Panthers obtained the pick, the Texans have been connected to possibly punting on their QB need and taking Will Anderson Jr.. A trade-down scenario, per Breer, should also not be discounted.
  • Nolan Smith is gaining steam during the pre-draft process, with Fowler noting some scouts are pegging the edge rusher as a top-10 pick. The Lions (Nos. 6, 18) have done homework on the Georgia outside linebacker, per Fowler, and the Patriots (No. 14), Buccaneers (No. 19), Ravens (No. 22) and Jaguars (No. 24) have met with Smith. Scouts view the 238-pound defender as a better fit for a team in a 3-4 scheme, and the Steelers (No. 17) — long users of that base alignment — have emerged as a potential Smith floor.
  • More teams are bringing in TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston. Following a report that indicated the Ravens, Cowboys and Chiefs were hosting Johnston, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes the 6-foot-3 pass catcher will meet with the Cardinals, Falcons (No. 8), Vikings (No. 23) and Jaguars. Most of these visits will occur this week, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who adds the Titans (No. 11) huddled up with the ex-Horned Frog on Monday (Twitter link). Barring a fall into Round 2 or the Cards moving down considerably from No. 3 overall, Johnston would not seem in their range. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Vikings selecting Johnston. This receiver class has generated mixed reviews, with NBC Sports’ Peter King adding teams have the higher-end wideouts in varying orders on their respective boards, but Johnston has consistently been mocked as a first-rounder.
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