Why are the Titans letting these guys go?
As for Spain maybe he was out of their price range. I'm not entirely sure how they could afford to sign anyone right now.
The market and draft were about the same. There's one absolute gem in the draft (Colts got him) and some maybes. In free agency, there are a few special ones and the rest are eh. Kline's agent used this to make a way overpaid 7-8 mil salary last year. The Titans wanted out though and JRob seemed to plan it. There was a 2.5 mil bump around March 20th and I correctly predicted his release before that date. Quinton Spain is the best available G when you think in terms of ability+age. The Titans can't sign him to a huge deal. It'll be the same dance where they cut him next year like they did Kline. It's a problem when ya need Gs and there aren't a lot available.
JRob has positioned himself somewhat. He's got 10 tackles now. Most are depth and maybe won't play but he's getting toward that 90 so that the draft will fill in the blanks. Conklin trade rumors are very strong. I expect him traded just like Taywan. The Titans won't be able to afford Conklin next year. He's gonna make huge money as the fifth year payment. The Titans wanted to lock him in at a reasonable rate and stopped negotiating. The guy was all pro as a rookie. He's gonna make some $ and they'll find a suitor. The problem is everyone knows and how much are they lowballing JRob. As of now, it seems they'll let him walk next year and take the eventual 3rd round pick compensation. (Byard and Mariota if he does well, will eat up their remaining cap and start to cripple them next year) I think Conk is shopped for a quality lineman in return or a 1st or 2nd. Last year there was only one tackle people thought was truly 1st round material. This year there's a few but there really seems to be a downward slide going on. Lewan's and Conk's drafts were real strong.
The way I understand it, the bulk of the talented linemen in the draft will need time. The plug n play guys (like most from Oklahoma) are just tough guys that will be good right away but never really special. This year's prize is that center and center's don't go too early.
The Titans have C, RG hole, and both RTs as free agents next year. They have to shore up one or two spots this year. I think OU's Ford is on the Titans list. There's no interview scheduled that I know of and Titans brass was reportedly absent from OUs pro day (it's on ESPN and NFLN so..) but they sent the OL coach and assistant there. Ford can play G or T in the NFL and was a real solid 2nd or 3rd round pick, but now he's getting too much good press and creeping up into late 1st.
The Vikings have been all over Sooners so I still think they're adding linemen.
Brandt was discussing the Sooners and he worded it very well. Not many OL have made long careers in the NFL and teams really shied away from Sooners for a long time. As far as talent, most college teams would be lucky to have a few guys they'd call blue-chip recruits. The Sooners are always loaded and could possibly send their whole roster. It doesn't happen because when the light is shined, they're not all good but NFL teams are looking harder at the elite college teams' rosters now. The talent isn't there in the 4th thru 7th and maybe there's a gem on one of the elite teams. If a position is weak in the draft, it's become a thing- just take that position from the Sooners or USC etc. You know it'll be a high talent guy that has top level experience so give him a shot.
Cosell was saying that the more he researches OL he keeps falling in love with DL. The same thing happened last year. He didn't think it was poor work by scouts, just that's how things go sometimes. Currently DL are way better than OL in the draft and this sets up a problem- do you want to draft the OL that was burned by several DL in college? He said you grab the OL coach and discuss technique and whether the guy can be fixed up and that's how you find linemen in these drafts. The next Q is can they be ready by week one or are they a project, so we're seeing OL coaches visit and try to teach something to see how the draft eligible OL respond.
It makes a lot of sense. There are a ton of DL and Edge guys that have wow highlight reels. They're from big schools burning the big name OL. If some college OL can't block a college DE, how's he gonna do against Wake or Watt? According to Cosell, this is how it always goes when it's a real strong year for DL- as the draft approaches teams get real skittish about the OL that got burned
