NFL Free Agency
2012 NFL Free Agency: Titans Wishlist #5 Cliff Avril
Today we take a break for the seemingly endless stream of receivers on the list to take a look at Cliff Avril. The one thing that the Titans need more than anything else on defense is a guy that can get after the quarterback. Avril can do just that. He has 19.5 sacks in the last two seasons.
We, as Titans' fans, are very familiar with how much different a pass rush can make. The Tennessee Oilers had a good defense in 1998. In 1999 the newly named Tennessee Titans drafted one Jevon Kearse and became one of the best defenses in the league.
In 2008 the Titans had one of the best defenses in the league. After that season Albert Haynesworth took his talents to the nation's capital and the defense went in the crapper. Those are two prime examples of how much a pass rush can help or hurt a defense.
A lot of people are screaming at me, here and on Twitter, saying that I am crazy for wanting to add a receiver when the defense is cleary what needs an upgrade. What the defense needs is a pass rusher. Sign Avril and this defense will be really good in 2012.
Click through the jump to see the previous people on the list.
2012 NFL Free Agency: Stanford Routt to Visit the Titans
Stanford Routt, who was released by the Oakland Raiders yesterday, is scheduled to visit with the Tennessee Titans in the next few days according to Terry McCormick. If they were to sign him, that would be a big deal because it would pretty much officially close the door on Cortland Finnegan returning to the team.
Routt does have some penalty problems according to PFF:
Stanford Routt was being paid like an elite corner, but he was far from that, hence the cutting. 17 penalties led the league for CBs
Matt Bowen of NFP says Routt will have no trouble finding another job:
2012 NFL Free Agency: Titans Wishlist #6 Marques Colston
Another day, another receiver on my Titans free agency wishlist. Marques Colston is not the polarizing figure that previous receivers on the list were. There are zero character concerns with Colston.
His numbers are crazy. He has five 1,000 yard receiving seasons in his first six years in the league. Now obviously he benefits from being in the Saints offense with Drew Brees throwing him the football, but Gramsey's boy Robert Meachem isn't putting up those numbers.
The only concern here with Colston is that he is not the burner that the Titans are going to need to add to the offsense at some point, but he is a guy that is going to run good routes and catch the football. He also has to be a pretty smart guy to be so effective in that Saints offense. Those are not simple reads they are making down there.
Again, picture Colston lined up opposite Kenny Britt with Nate Washington in the slot. Mike Keith would have strained vocal cords before week 10.
Click through the jump to see the previous players on the list.
Peyton Manning Won't Be A Titan.
No, there aren't any reports that have quoted someone with knowledge of the situation as saying that the Titans will not try to bring Manning in, but when you consider a number of factors, it's pretty much a no brainer.
1. Tennessee already has a viable veteran option under contract. Matt Hasselbeck was brought in for basically two reasons. First, the front office thought he could win some games, and he did. 2011's nine-win campaign was a pleasant surprise in a season that many, including myself, had written off as a lost year. Second, and probably most importantly, the front office also thought that he would be an ideal guy to learn from for their shiniest new investment, Jake Locker. I really don't know how much of Locker's astounding growth can be attributed to Hasselbeck, but at this point in his career, even the slightest edge could mean the difference between rousing success and total disaster.
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2012 NFL Free Agency: Titans Wishlist #7 Vincent Jackson
I am assuming that those of you who had a problem with Stevie Johnson are also going to have a problem with Vincent Jackson, but he is the #7 player on my free agency wishlist none the less. Jackson has had his issues, but there is no doubt that he is a dynamic receiver. He would be a HUGE upgrade for the Titans.
Last season Jackson had 60 catches for 1,106 yards and 9 touchdowns. Again, just imagine Jake Locker under center with Kenny Britt on one side, Jackson on the other side, Nate Washington in the slot and Jared Cook at tight end. Talk about a vertical game!
It appears that Jackson is definitely going to hit the open market.
2012 NFL Free Agency Titans Wishlist #9 Carlos Rogers
Carlos Rogers is my 9th most wanted free agent for the Titans. I know this is beating the dead horse here (someone will certainly post the South Park picture in the comments), but it is clear that all things are pointing toward Cortland Finnegan not being with the Titans next season. They feel good about what Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner can do on the outside, but they are going to need to add another guy because you have to have three in today's NFL. Say what you want about the other guys on the roster, but there is not enough on any of them right now to say any of them are ready to start.
That is why they need Rogers. Of course the Titans could already have Rogers on their team had they just drafted him in 2005 instead of the original "he who shall not be named."
Carl Nicks Not Feeling Good About a Return to the Saints
Spoiler alert: Carl Nicks is very, very high on my Titans' free agency wishlist. Nicks is one of the best guards in the game, and you would assume the Saints would do anything in their power to keep him in the fold. Nicks talked to the New Orleans Times-Picayune in Indianapolis, and he doesn't seem very optimistic about a return to the Saints:
They never talked to me at all about it really (last season), which I thought was kind of weird. But I talked to (General Manager Mickey Loomis) the last day before exit meetings, and he said they were going to do their best to try to keep me. So that's the gist of contract talks. I would love to stay, but it's also a good feeling to be wanted. So hopefully a lot of teams want me, but I would love to stay."
The Saints have a lot of key guys entering free agency this year. In addition to Nicks, they will also be working on deals for Drew Brees, Marques Colston and Robert Meachem. As the article mentions, New Orleans could use the franchise tag on Nicks if they don't have to use it for Brees.
Again, I know this is probably not a pool the Titans are going to go swimming in, but they should seriously consider it because calling him an upgrade to the interior of the Titans offensive line doesn't even begin to describe it.
2012 NFL Free Agency Titans Wishlist #10 Ben Grubbs
Over the next few days, I am going to give you my top 10 wish list of the players who are scheduled to become free agents in March. A few disclaimers about the list:
That brings me to the #10 player on my top ten- Ben Grubbs. It is no secret that the Titans are desperate for a guard (or 2 guards and a center). Grubbs is likely to hit the open market because the Ravens have a lot of other guys that they are going to need to sign. He made his first trip to the Pro Bowl this season in his 5the season in the league, and there is no doubt that he would be an upgrade to the Titans' interior line.
Plus it is about time that we took a good player from the Ravens instead of the other way around.
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