Titans NFL Football

 

Fans can expect moves virtually everywhere except at tight end where veteran Erron Kinney is a reliable player who is a lead-by-example type and Ben Troupe still carries loads of promise. Bo Scaife will head into his second season having performed as consistently well as any of the teams 2005 rookies and at 6-foot-8, 255 pounds Gregg Guenther is an interesting project as the fourth in the group, who played in five games as an undrafted rookie.

TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY

The Titans have a lot of contract decisions to make, many of which are based on how much they are willing to pay out as roster bonuses. Odds are they won’t reveal any decisions until after they return to Nashville from the combine.

QB Steve McNair is slated to earn $10 million in 2006. His agent Bus Cook said he doesn’t see why McNair should be willing to take a cut for less, at least without an extension that brings up-front bonus money. GM Floyd Reese has said the Titans are budgeted to handle McNair’s numbers, but it seems hard to imagine them spending that much on McNair in his 12th season.

Players with pending financial issues also include left tackle Brad Hopkins (due $1.5M roster bonus and a $4.25M base), guard Benji Olson (due a $2 M roster bonus and a $2.5M base), guard Zach Piller (due a $250,000 roster bonus and a $1.5M base), linebacker Peter Sirmon (due a $2.4 M base) and safety Lamont Thompson (due a $2.5M secondary signing bonus).

1. Receiver: No matter who’s playing quarterback, the Titans need a reliable threat for him that can give Norm Chow some room to use his best material. The kind of help they need can’t come in the draft. They are likely to scour the free agent market for an affordable veteran they think can lead and produce.

2. Linebacker: Looking to upgrade speed and willing to move on without Brad Kassell and perhaps Peter Sirmon, the Titans need at least one athletic linebacker to work with Keith Bulluck. The Tigers need strength inside to stop the run, tie up blockers and help the ends in the pass rush.

3. Safety: Tank Williams is a UFA who was poor in his first season back from a knee injury, and if the Titans still like Lamont Thompson, they’ve got to do more to explain why. Quarterback could be third as well, as it’s time for them to find McNair’s eventual successor and at No. 3 in the draft they will certainly have a chance at a quality QB.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Tony Beckham; LB Rocky Boiman; C Justin Hartwig; LB Brad Kassell; S Tank Williams.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: S Donnie Nickey; LS Jon Dorenbos.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: RB Jarrett Payton; LB Cody Spencer. PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

–DE Kyle Vanden Bosch: Potential UFA; $22M/4 yrs, $14.5M guaranteed/$4.75M SB).

MEDICAL WATCH: The Titans haven’t offered any recent updates, but outside of WR Brandon Jones (knee) they expect all their injured players to be ready for their offseason work.