Option D: Capitalize on potentially cheap contracts
The Tennessee Titans have a few guys who are going to be free agents next offseason that have shown flashes of being really good players but who are in a situation where it doesn’t currently seem like they are going to break the bank.
Whether that means a down season last year or a lack of consistency, this could be a time for Jon Robinson to take advantage of those situations and try to get someone to extend below market price.
These are the guys that I would consider extending:
–Logan Ryan: Getting older, but still an outstanding CB that seems poised to have a big year but who is coming off of a bad injury.
–Marcus Mariota: Would MM8 agree to a cheaper contract that looks big on paper but is easy to get out of later in his career? If so I think the Titans should snatch that up and give themselves flexibility and a franchise QB.
–Jack Conklin: His 5th year guarantee is going to be a huge cap hit, but when healthy he makes this team much better. Could the Titans extend him and get him to take a cheap contract for an OT and lower that GTD number in the process?
–Dennis Kelly: The best swing tackle in football, he is one of the Titans best assets and I would love to have him on the team long term.
–Derrick Henry: He looked like the best running back in football in December, should the Titans try to add a year or two to the end of his deal? If he has a breakout year they are setting themselves up to lose a fan favorite player just as he was hitting his stride, or the alternative which is to pay him way too much money to stay.