5. Clarity
The reality of the situation when you really break it down is this.
Mike Vrabel isn’t a lock to be the head coach next year even though he seems untouchable right now. Don’t forget that Jon Robinson fired Mike Mularkey after he won a playoff game with the Titans, and even if Vrabel is “his guy” he isn’t going to lose his job because the guy he brought in to replace him failed to keep his word of making the team better.
So there is a chance that at the end of the season the Titans will have a new: HC, QB, OC, DC, and position coaches.
If they aren’t going to pay Marcus Mariota, then the Titans are sitting on about $40 million and doing some quick cuts (Cameron Wake, Dion Lewis) and a renegotiation (Daquan Jones) , they can get up to $50 million without hurting the starters or the depth.
I could see them bringing back a right tackle if the price is right for Dennis Kelly or Jack Conklin, and the should be desperately trying to extend Logan Ryan right now to give him a lot of money for 2019 and reduce his cap hit next year.
So with $40 million to spend and only needing a new running back, they can attract basically any HC they want based on these points:
-This HC is going to be the coach for a few years even if that means Jon Robinson leaves. I don’t agree with firing Robinson AT ALL, but GMs don’t usually get to hire three coaches.
-He gets the promise that the Titans will move up and draft a QB in this draft if he likes all of the big three and if it is at all possible.
-He is inheriting a defense that should make any potential DC in the NFL sign first and ask questions later.
-Though I expect they will target an offensive minded guy, the offensive coordinator would get a chance to work with A.J. Brown, Corey Davis, Delanie Walker, and Adam Humphries all he has to do is call passing plays. Oh, and bring a good offensive line coach.
The if the Titans made a move at HC I think they would be pretty high up on the priority list considering who they are competing with, what they have to offer, and the income tax laws in Tennessee.
I don’t know if they would be THE top job out there, but they would be getting a team with a lot of talent, a committed owner and a GM that can do the job very well. How many other teams have that?