Headlines

Tennessee Titans News & Rumors

Titans Expected To Release OLB Bud Dupree

By | at March 6, 2023 12:49 pm

Bud Dupree came to the Titans two seasons ago, but his time in Nashville appears to be coming to an early end. Tennessee is expected to release the veteran pass rusher, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).

Dupree enjoyed a productive six-year tenure in Pittsburgh to begin his career. That stint included playing the 2019 season on the fifth-year option, and the following campaign on the franchise tag. He racked up 19.5 sacks over that span, making him one of the top edge rushers on the market in 2021.

The Titans won out the competition to sign Dupree, inking him to a five-year, $82MM deal. That marked a major addition to the team’s pass-rushing corps, and led to substantial expectations. Instead, the former first-rounder has struggled to stay healthy during his time in Tennessee. An ACL tear suffered at the end of his Steelers career made the hefty Titans deal an even more surprising one, and has been followed by consecutive 11-game seasons. A chest injury landed him on IR in 2022.

More importantly, a lack of production will spur this parting of ways. Dupree has recorded only seven sacks during his two seasons with the Titans, a team which was desperate for help getting to the quarterback upon his signing. Cutting Dupree will result in $9.3MM in cap savings if done immediately, though that figure would jump to $15.75MM if designated as a post-June 1 release. The Kentucky product was due to carry cap hits ranging from $18.7MM to $20.2MM in the three years remaining on his pact.

Moving on from Dupree would mark an unsurprising development on the Titans’ part, and it would add further to the plethora of cost-cutting moves they have already made this offseason. Tennessee has parted ways with left tackle Taylor Lewan, receiver Robert Woods, kicker Randy Bullock and linebacker Zach Cunningham. Those decisions helped their cap situation considerably, but left them with a number of roster holes to fill. The same will of course be true if they do indeed subtract Dupree from a defense which ranked in the bottom half of the league with 39 sacks last season.

If Dupree were to hit the open market, he would get a slight head start on free agency compared to other edge rushers who won’t be eligible to sign until the new league year starts next week. The 2023 class is headlined by the likes of Yannick Ngakoue, Marcus Davenport, Jadeveon Clowney and Samson Ebukam.

18 comments Tennessee Titans

Titans GM Ran Carthon Addresses Ryan Tannehill’s Future

By | at March 4, 2023 5:53 pm

Things didn’t go according to plan for the Titans in 2022 on offense in particular, and the team lost out in the AFC South title race. Not long before that took place, Tennessee fired general manager Jon Robinson in a move which took many by surprise.

His replacement, Ran Carthon, faces the challenge of determining the team’s future at the quarterback position. Four-year starter Ryan Tannehill remained the No. 1 when healthy in 2022, but questions have been raised about his chances of remaining in Nashville next season. The veteran struggled during his 12 games played, throwing 13 touchdowns and six interceptions while battling multiple injuries and overseeing a passing attack which had undergone significant changes.

Tannehill, 34, was thought to be in danger of losing his starting spot at some point when the Titans selected Malik Willis in the third round of the 2022 draft. The Liberty product was seen as a long-term developmental option, and one who could make Tannehill expendable, especially in light of his contract status. The latter has one year remaining on his deal and a scheduled cap hit of $36.6MM.

When speaking on the former first-rounder’s situation, Carthon said, “Ryan is under contract. I know everybody wants to make a big deal out of the quarterback position and whether he will or won’t be here, but you guys just have to accept the fact that Ryan is under contract for us. Right now, he’s a Titan and he will be a Titan” (h/t Nick Shook of NFL.com).

Those comments certainly suggest that the Titans won’t be looking to cut Tannehill in at least the immediate future. Doing so would yield $17.8MM in cap savings, and follow the steps already taken by the Commanders with Carson Wentz and the Falcons with Marcus Mariota. On the other hand, they fall well short of the endorsement Tannehill received last offseason.

Notably, Tennessee turned to Joshua Dobbs, rather than Willis, for the final two weeks of the regular season with a playoff spot on the line. The latter did little in his three starts to cement his status as anything but competition for Tannehill (or another passer) for the top spot on the depth chart in training camp. The Titans currently have just over $12MM in cap space, with a number of positions needing attention after the slew of cuts they made last week. Moving on from Tannehill would help their financial situation, but likely add the team to the list of those already in the market for a short-term veteran addition under center.

5 comments Tennessee Titans

2023 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at February 28, 2023 2:45 pm

As the head coaching carousel spun for several weeks, many teams made coordinator changes as well. Teams seeking new head coaches are conducting OC and DC searches, and a handful of other teams that did not make HC changes are also searching for top assistants.

This is a big year for offensive coordinator hires, with nearly half the league making changes. Here are the teams searching for new OCs and DCs. As new searches emerge, they will be added to the list.

Updated 3-1-23 (3:31pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals 

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Greg Roman)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Ben McAdoo)

  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach, (Rams): Hired
  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Interviewed 2/2
  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed
  • Jeff Nixon, running backs coach (Panthers): Interviewed
  • Brian Schottenheimer, offensive consultant (Cowboys): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Justin Outten)

Houston Texans (Out: Pep Hamilton)

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Parks Frazier)

  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Tee Martin, wide receivers coach (Ravens): Interview requested

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Hired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Joe Lombardi)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Liam Coen)

New York Jets (Out: Mike LaFleur)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Shane Steichen)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Byron Leftwich)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Todd Downing)

Washington Commanders (Out: Scott Turner)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Vance Joseph)

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dean Pees)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Leslie Frazier)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Al Holcomb)

  • Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
  • Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed
  • Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans 

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Renaldo Hill)

  • Derrick Ansley, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Promoted
  • Doug Belk, defensive coordinator (Houston): Interviewed
  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interviewed

Miami Dolphins (Out: Josh Boyer)

Minnesota Vikings (Out: Ed Donatell)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Ryan Nielsen, Kris Richard)

  • Joe Woods, former defensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Jonathan Gannon)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: DeMeco Ryans)

  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): On radar
  • Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/31
  • Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): On radar
  • Steve Wilks, former interim head coach (Panthers): Hired
9 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders

Titans Release LT Taylor Lewan

By | at February 22, 2023 10:28 pm

The Titans are following through with their expected Taylor Lewan release. After nine seasons in Tennessee, the Pro Bowl left tackle announced (via his Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, on Twitter) he is set to be a free agent.

Although Lewan initially indicated a pay cut could be a path for him to stay with the Titans, it looks like the sides are parting ways. Lewan said he would consider retirement this offseason. It is not yet known if the three-time Pro Bowler plans to play a 10th season, but the Titans will create another need along their offensive line with Wednesday’s transaction.

[RELATED: Titans To Cut WR Robert Woods]

The prospect of that above-referenced return at a reduced rate remains under consideration, according to veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky (on Twitter), but the team has a few moving pieces up front at present. For now, this release will create significant cap savings.

No guarantees remained on Lewan’s contract; the release will shed $14.8MM from Tennessee’s payroll. While the 31-year-old blocker had been one of the game’s best left tackles, injuries have sidelined him for much of the past few seasons. Lewan has missed 30 games since the 2020 campaign.

Lewan signed a five-year, $80MM extension with the Titans back in 2018. He stood as the premier player on an O-line that helped Derrick Henry to the rushing title in 2019. Lewan was unable to play a significant role during Henry’s second rushing championship, tearing an ACL five games into the 2020 season, but he did re-emerge to assist the injury-battered Titans to the AFC’s No. 1 seed in 2021. Lingering knee trouble affected him that year, however, and another ACL tear sidelined the Michigan product in Week 2 of the 2022 season.

The Titans drafted Lewan 11th overall, selecting him during Ruston Webster’s GM tenure. Jon Robinson authorized the extension; new Tennessee GM Ran Carthon is signing off on the release. Although Lewan sits just outside the top 10 in franchise history for games started by an offensive lineman, his 100 starts are sixth in the Titans era. Only Michael Roos, Benji Olson, David Stewart, Ben Jones and Brad Hopkins have logged more starts with Tennessee among O-linemen. Lewan was the current Titans’ longest-tenured player.

Tennessee already has right guard Nate Davis on the cusp of free agency, and Jones is considering retirement after finishing the season on IR. The veteran center is signed through 2023, however. Tennessee cut Rodger Saffold last year and replaced him primarily with former UDFA Aaron Brewer, who can be retained as a restricted free agent. Nicholas Petit-Frere, a 2022 third-round pick, may be penciled in at right tackle, but Carthon and Co. will have plenty of work to do to assemble a line around him. Thanks to the Lewan and Woods moves, additional cap space will now be available to do so.

21 comments Newsstand Tennessee Titans Transactions

Titans Release LB Zach Cunningham

By | at February 22, 2023 2:14 pm

Making a fourth major cut Wednesday, the Titans will now move north of $10MM in cap space. They are jettisoning veteran linebacker Zach Cunningham, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

A waiver claim in 2021, Cunningham has been a regular starter for most of his career. The former second-round pick has spent his six-year NFL run in the AFC South, moving from the Texans to the Titans. The 28-year-old off-ball ‘backer will have an early chance to catch on somewhere else, perhaps in another division this time around. The Titans cut Cunningham with a failed physical designation, Aaron Wilson of KPRC tweets.

Over the past few hours, the Titans have released four starters — Cunningham, Taylor Lewan, Robert Woods and Randy Bullock — and cleared more than $35MM in cap space. This purge of veterans will give the quartet opportunities to land elsewhere before free agency’s March 13 soft opening.

Cutting Cunningham creates $8.9MM in room for Tennessee, which entered Wednesday more than $20MM over the cap. This move will cost $4.5MM in dead money, thanks in part to a 2022 restructure. The team has now moved well under the $224.8MM salary ceiling, with the Cunningham transaction giving the retooling squad more than $12MM in space as of 2pm CT.

Teams still have until the start of the new league year — 3pm CT March 15 — to comply with the 2023 salary cap, but new Titans GM Ran Carthon is moving early to create space. The team is almost definitely not done on this front.

While Woods and Lewan’s positional markets are not especially strong, Cunningham’s is. A host of off-ball linebackers — fellow Titans starter David Long, ex-Tennessee starter Rashaan Evans, Bills standout Tremaine Edmunds, Bucs stalwart Lavonte David among them — are set to be available once the market opens. Cunningham should still be able to find a gig, though his next contract should not be expected to approach the four-year, $58MM deal the Texans gave him in August 2020.

Cunningham led the NFL in tackles in 2020, totaling 164 in the league’s final 16-game season. He racked up an NFL-most 106 solo stops that year as well, but the Texans’ 2021 regime change altered his standing with the organization. Cunningham’s playing time yo-yoed during the ’21 season in Houston, and he finished his tenure there as a healthy scratch. The Titans claimed the Vanderbilt alum off waivers that December, and Cunningham became an instant starter for his new team. He started Tennessee’s final four regular-season games that year and logged a playoff start.

Injuries slowed Cunningham in 2022, however, and he joined numerous Titan starters on IR. An elbow injury sidelined him at multiple points this season. The Titans used one of their injury activations on Cunningham, bringing him off IR late in the season, but he finished the year back on the injured list because of the elbow issue. As such, Cunningham will not hit street free agency with much momentum.

6 comments Newsstand Tennessee Titans Transactions

Titans Release K Randy Bullock

By | at February 22, 2023 12:40 pm

Tennessee’s early start to clearing cap space now includes Randy Bullock as well. In addition to cutting Taylor Lewan and Robert Woods, the Titans are releasing their kicker.

The Titans had re-signed Bullock on a two-year, $4.68MM deal in April 2022. The team will create just more than $2MM by moving that contract off its payroll. Between its three Wednesday cuts, Tennessee will create $28.9MM in cap space. While more work will be ahead for new GM Ran Carthon, the Titans are now just more than $4MM under the cap.

Bullock, 33, had been the Titans’ kicker for the past two seasons. Making 85% of his field goal tries last season and 84% in 2021, Bullock stabilized Tennessee’s wayward kicker situation. In 2019 and 2020, the Titans used a host of kickers. Their 2019 season made the kicker spot a crisis point, and Stephen Gostkowski wrapped his career after the ’20 campaign. Bullock came in and contributed, but he will look to do so elsewhere in 2023.

A former Texans draftee back in 2012, Bullock has now kicked for six NFL teams. The Titans initially signed him after a four-plus season Cincinnati stay. The Texas A&M product missed five of his field goal tries from 40-49 yards in 2021 and only attempted three 50-plus-yarders during his two-year Tennessee stay, making two (both from 51 yards out). Bullock did not miss an extra point last season.

The Titans may have an in-house replacement lined up. They gave Caleb Shudak a reserve/futures contract last month. Shudak kicked in only one game last season, as a Bullock injury replacement, and missed most of the slate due to injury himself. But the young specialist may have an opportunity to win the job in 2023. Shudak, 25, should be expected to face competition for the gig.

2 comments Tennessee Titans Transactions

Titans Cut WR Robert Woods

By | at February 22, 2023 11:52 am

Ten months after trading for Robert Woods, the Titans will make the veteran wide receiver a cap casualty. Tennessee is releasing Woods on Wednesday, Jordan Schultz of The Score reports (on Twitter).

The Titans will save just more than $12MM by cutting Woods, whom they acquired from the Rams last year. The team made Woods a key part of its post-A.J. Brown plan, but its passing attack struggled throughout the season. Woods, who suffered an ACL tear in November 2021, could not recapture his pre-injury form. Between the Woods and Taylor Lewan releases, the Titans created more than $26MM in cap room Wednesday.

Woods was a constant for the Sean McVay-era Rams prior to his injury. The former Bills draftee broke through upon joining McVay in Los Angeles in 2017, reeling off his four highest receiving yardage totals from 2017-20. Woods surpassed 1,100 yards in 2018 and ’19 and caught 90 passes for 936 yards in 2020. After sweetening Woods’ contract previously, the Rams gave him an extension in September 2020. Landing Woods for just a 2023 sixth-round pick, the Titans took on that contract weeks before dealing Brown to the Eagles.

In Woods’ defense, the Titans were not readily equipped to produce a full-fledged bounce-back season. The team started an unready Malik Willis in three games and was without Ryan Tannehill for five in total. Woods, 30, finished his 10th NFL campaign with 53 catches for 527 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-foot receiver’s 9.9 yards per reception was a career-low figure.

The USC product did not establish much momentum in Tennessee, but he did play all 17 games. On a thin receiver market, Woods catching on with a fourth team is not difficult to foresee. Any deal will not come close to the $16.25MM-per-year pact the Titans are shedding, but Woods would make sense as a veteran auxiliary target. The longtime starter will now have an early start in free agency. As a street free agent, Woods signing somewhere would not affect the compensatory formula.

Tennessee’s Brown decision backfired quickly. Deemed too costly by ex-GM Jon Robinson, the former second-round pick broke the Eagles’ single-season receiving record and caught a deep touchdown pass in Super Bowl LVII. The Titans, who also let Corey Davis walk in 2021, had no receiving presence on Brown’s level. Woods, who came to Nashville a year after the team traded a second-round pick for Julio Jones, led Tennessee’s 2022 edition in receiving, with Treylon Burks‘ 444 yards second among the team’s wideouts. The Titans ranked 30th in passing last season.

While Burks should be expected to play a centerpiece role for the 2023 team, new GM Ran Carthon will have work to do in assembling a receiving corps. The Woods and Lewan cuts will save the Titans more than $26MM, though they still have cost-clearing tasks ahead of the market opening. These transactions moved the team’s cap-space total to barely $2MM, according to OverTheCap.

8 comments Newsstand Tennessee Titans Transactions

Latest On 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo

By | at February 18, 2023 7:50 pm

The 49ers endured one of the more bizarre situations under center in 2022, highlighted by their ability to qualify for the NFC title game despite major injuries being suffered by each of their top three quarterbacks. That leaves their outlook heading into the offseason rather cloudy, with the likely exception of Jimmy Garoppolo.

The veteran was long thought to be on his way out of the Bay Area last offseason, with Trey Lance formally named the team’s starter moving forward. Garoppolo’s offseason shoulder surgery complicated a potential acquisition, though, and he remained in the Bay Area on a re-worked contract. That proved to be a wise move for both parties, after Lance’s ankle injury thrust Garoppolo back into the starter’s role.

The 31-year-old won seven of his 10 starts this year, helping keep the team stay consistent on offense. Garoppolo played himself into consideration for another 49ers pact, but he suffered yet another major injury which kept him sidelined for the stretch run and postseason. In no small part because of that, he is expected to depart in free agency this time around.

Garoppolo has long been considered one of the league’s best locker room presences and a team-friendly passer to build around. However, the tone struck by head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch during the team’s season-ending media availabilities pointed to tension between themselves and the former Patriots second-rounder. Indeed, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic notes that the relationship between Garoppolo and San Francisco’s brain trust “seems to have gone a bit south” in the time leading up to the NFC championship game (subscription required).

A Garoppolo return was at one point thought to be in play before the 49ers’ loss to the Eagles, but the Super Bowl was understood to be the earliest point at which he realistically would have been able to suit up. That scenario never developed, with rookie sensation Brock Purdy and emergency backup Josh Johnson each suffering injuries in the NFC title game. Kawakami adds that he isn’t aware of a singular incident which led to a cooling of relations around Garoppolo, but the latter’s presence in 2023 would no doubt complicate the situation with Lance and Purdy.

Given the current QB landscape in the NFL, Garoppolo is likely to have no shortage of suitors. The Jets – who have been connected countless times to a potential Aaron Rodgers trade and recently met with free agent Derek Carr – have reportedly done homework on him. Given his background in the Bay Area, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo names the Texans (now led by HC DeMeco Ryans) as another squad to watch (video link). He adds the Titans, Raiders and Buccaneers to the list of potential destinations for Garoppolo, who will become increasingly sought-after if the likes of Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones and Geno Smith play on the franchise tag.

Garoppolo’s impressive win-loss record in San Francisco is weighed down by his myriad of injury troubles, but leaving the team on a relatively sour note would represent an underwhelming end to his tenure there. He figures to have plenty of options with respect to his next chapter, however.

33 comments Houston Texans Las Vegas Raiders New York Jets San Francisco 49ers Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans

Titans To Add Justin Outten To Staff

By | at February 14, 2023 5:06 pm

Weeks after Nathaniel Hackett secured an immediate bounce-back opportunity, his top Denver lieutenant on offense will land on his feet as well. The Titans are hiring Justin Outten, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Despite limited experience and the Broncos’ stunningly woeful season on offense, Outten generated interest from a few teams. Most notably, the Ravens interviewed the one-year Denver offensive coordinator twice for their OC job. Perhaps not coincidentally, this Titans staff addition comes hours after the Ravens’ Todd Monken OC hire.

Outten, 39, will join Tennessee’s staff as running backs coach and run-game coordinator, per Pelissero. Derrick Henry‘s new position coach has not directly overseen running backs at the NFL level, going from Packers tight ends coach to Broncos OC last year. Outten, however, interviewed with the Titans and drew interest from the Rams this offseason. He will end up working on Tim Kelly‘s staff in Tennessee.

After attempting to bring other Packers assistants to Denver, Hackett ended up zeroing in on Outten. The Broncos’ offense produced a spectacular dud in 2022, regressing to last place despite the Russell Wilson acquisition. Hackett also went around Outten when he relinquished play-calling duties late in the season, handing the reins to QBs coach Klint Kubiak. Following Hackett’s ouster, Outten called plays for the final two Broncos games. This Titans pact continues a steady rise for Outten, who began his coaching career with an eight-season run at the high school level. Outten began his NFL career as an intern in 2016.

The Broncos posted 24- and 31-point outings during Outten’s play-calling weeks — a narrow loss to the Chiefs and a Week 18 win over the Chargers — but the team hired Sean Payton. The longtime Saints play-caller will be calling plays in Denver. The Broncos are, however, still searching for new offensive and defensive coordinators.

1 comment Tennessee Titans

Raiders To Release Derek Carr

By | at February 14, 2023 2:40 pm

FEBRUARY 14: The Raiders officially released Carr, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Carr will hit the market a month before free agency, allowing him to determine his 2023 plans weeks ahead of his free agent QB peers. The Raiders save $29.3MM in cap space by making this move.

FEBRUARY 13: With the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror, Derek Carr‘s guarantee vesting date is fast approaching. The Raiders do not plan to wait until the deadline. They will release their longtime starting quarterback Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link).

The Raiders would have until 3pm CT Wednesday to find a Carr trade partner, but the veteran passer has already indicated he will not waive his no-trade clause. That leaves the Raiders with little choice here, given their actions to this point. They will cut Carr to avoid paying the $40.4MM guarantee.

This unique free agency derby will feature a few teams. The Saints, whom Albert Breer of SI.com notes are the only team to send the Raiders a Carr trade offer, will be one. The Jets are believed to view Carr as an Aaron Rodgers backup plan, while Rapoport notes the Panthers, Titans and perhaps others will be in the mix.

Tuesday’s transaction will not only end this unusual divorce and spur a fascinating pursuit — one that will put teams to decisions on going after Carr now or waiting for other options later — but it will also wrap the Raiders’ longest-running partnership with a starting quarterback. Although Ken Stabler was a Raider longer than Carr, the Hall of Famer did not begin his run as a full-time starter until his sixth season (1973). The Raiders needed Carr from the jump, plugging him into the lineup in Week 1 of his rookie season. Carr ended up starting 142 games as a Raider, but the team stopped that streak abruptly with a benching ahead of its Week 17 game last season.

The Raiders, who will only be hit with $5.6MM in dead money by this release, gauged Carr’s fit in Josh McDaniels‘ offense via their three-year extension agreement. But that deal’s escape hatch — the Feb. 15 guarantee vesting date — will trigger Las Vegas’ quarterback search. Carr constantly landed in trade rumors under previous regimes, but the Raiders held onto him through the Jack Del Rio and Jon Gruden‘s stays. The Raiders did not have much luck at quarterback in the years immediately before taking Carr in the 2014 second round, with the Carson Palmer and JaMarcus Russell moves in particular costing the team dearly. But McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler will replace Carr this year.

Carr, 32 in March, could have been a potential chip at last year’s trade deadline, but The Athletic’s Vic Tafur notes (subscription required) the Raiders were not ready to pull the plug at that point. Even after a 24-0 loss to the Saints, the Raiders hoped Carr and McDaniels would mesh down the stretch. The 2-5 team stayed the course, but late in a season that saw Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow sidelined for extended stretches, the Silver and Black showed their cards with the benching. Davante Adams has said he remains committed to the Raiders, despite Carr driving him to seek out Vegas as a destination last year.

Carr and his wife trekked to New Orleans for a Raiders-approved visit — the only meeting the team permitted — and the summit lasted two days. Carr wanted to meet with every interested team, per Tafur, but the Raiders worried the 10th-year veteran would use those summits to work out a free agency agreement. Now, instead of Carr following the Matthew Stafford or Alex Smith winter trade paths, he will be a free agent. Connections to a host of teams are sure to follow.

The Raiders wanted a third-round pick. It is unclear if the Saints offered that, but they will have a chance to woo Carr on the market. New Orleans would need to backload a Carr contract, being nearly $60MM over the cap. While February cap gymnastics are old hat for GM Mickey Loomis, the Saints appear set to enter a competitive chase for a free agent quarterback for the first time since they signed Drew Brees in 2006. New Orleans, which waded deep into the Deshaun Watson trade sweepstakes last year, is unlikely to retain Jameis Winston and has not been aggressive in attempting to re-sign Andy Dalton. Carr appears the target, though he will be for other teams as well.

The Jets’ recent inquiry about Rodgers’ availability makes sense, with Carr about to hit the market. New York’s might be the most intriguing decision: go after Carr now or risk striking out on Rodgers. Jimmy Garoppolo also looms as a later potential Rodgers consolation prize — for both the Jets and Raiders — and the Titans’ involvement here points to Ryan Tannehill being available as well.

The Titans have used Tannehill as their primary starter for the past four seasons, and while the team promoted OC Tim Kelly, a Carr chase makes Tannehill’s Tennessee status tenuous. The Titans can save $27MM by designating Tannehill as a post-June 1 cut. A past restructure would make a standard Tannehill release more costly for the AFC South franchise. Even though the Titans kept Tannehill in the loop regarding Kelly’s hire, per Titans.com’s Jim Wyatt, one season remains on his contract.

Carolina has sought a long-term QB answer since cutting Cam Newton in 2020. But the Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield efforts fell short of expectations. Frank Reich went through a few veterans in Indianapolis as well, which would make the Panthers diving back into the veteran market interesting. The Panthers hold the No. 9 overall pick, putting them in play for a quarterback pick or a trade-up maneuver. A Carr acquisition would presumably prevent either. Carolina looks to be a second-tier suitor here, per David Newton of ESPN.com, who notes the Panthers could be interested if the price drops below its expected point (Twitter link).

48 comments Carolina Panthers Las Vegas Raiders New Orleans Saints New York Jets Newsstand Tennessee Titans Transactions
Show all
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors