Titans president of soccer operations Chad Brinker made this clear at first of the offseason: Tennessee will discover all choices with the No. 1 total choose, however it gained’t move on a “generational expertise.”
It seems that the franchise has discovered a prospect it deems to be one — and a quarterback at that.
Greater than every week because the NFL’s authorized tampering window opened, the Titans’ free company strikes point out that they plan to maintain the highest choice and apply it to Miami’s Cam Ward.
Why? They’ve prioritized beefing up their offensive line, first including former Steeler Dan Moore Jr. (four-year deal price $82 million, together with $50 million assured) to be their new left sort out after which signing veteran proper guard Kevin Zeitler (one-year deal price $9 million, together with $8.7 million assured). On paper, the Titans have their finest pass-protecting offensive line since at the very least 2021.
That’s to not say it gained’t be with out questions. Moore’s deal is costly given his uneven production. Zeitler is 35, on the tail finish of his profession. Tennessee can be transferring 2024 first-round choose J.C. Latham from left to proper sort out, a setback in his improvement. However Tennessee has actually achieved competency upfront for a inexperienced passer.
“You may have Superman again there, and if you do not have the safety up entrance to guard, to have the ability to run the soccer, to have the ability to create steadiness within the sport, that is an important half is constructing via the trenches,” common supervisor Mike Borgonzi stated final month on the NFL Mix.
However possibly the largest inform is what the Titans have completed at quarterback — or fairly, what they haven’t completed. They let Mason Rudolph stroll and gave a one-year deal to Brandon Allen, a profession backup who has began simply 10 video games since being drafted 9 years in the past within the sixth spherical. Allen and Will Levis are the one passers on the roster.
From the leap, Tennessee by no means gave the impression to be in on any of the viable veteran beginning quarterback choices (despite the fact that publicly the Titans by no means dominated it out) regardless of having ample wage cap area. It seems that Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, the 2 finest and highest-profile quarterbacks nonetheless obtainable, will land with two of the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants.
“I believe we’re attempting to get the perfect participant, interval,” coach Brian Callahan stated final month when requested about pursuing a rookie quarterback or a veteran one. “And no matter that appears like for us does not make any distinction to me.”
In order the consensus No. 1 quarterback on this yr’s draft class, Ward seems to be their man.
One can argue that Tennessee must commerce again (if it could), accumulating much-needed premium draft capital within the course of to construct up its talent-deficient staff. However there’s no assure that the Titans would nonetheless be capable to get Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, believed to be the second-best passer in what’s seen as a two-quarterback draft.
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With out investing in a official veteran beginning quarterback through free company, leaving the draft and not using a first-round passer could be indefensible.
“On the finish of the day, we have now to make the perfect determination at this level for the Titans,” Borgonzi stated. “And if we deem taking a quarterback is an important factor proper now, then we’ll try this. However we have now to undergo this course of.
“We have gone via the entire analysis half,” he continued. “Now we’re lastly getting to take a seat down and meet with these guys and speak with them. We’ll have professional days, we’ll have 30 day visits. We’ve to essentially undergo the entire course of actually to make that call.”
Up to now, it couldn’t be clearer that Ward is the choice.
Possibly he all the time was.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a yr and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to transferring to Tennessee. You may comply with Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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