The only free agents the Tennessee Titans will pay attention to this offseason
By Will Lomas
Wide Receiver
-This would be a shock, but the connections are definitely there. Starting with the coaching connections, Cooper played under Rob Moore for three years. Given the job that Moore has done with receivers over the course of his career, his word means more than maybe anyone else on the staff.
To further solidify that point, the Titans were rumored to be the “other team” interested in Amari Cooper last year during the trade deadline. A complete guess by me, but piecing together some rumors, I would guess that the Titans nearly gave up a 2020 1st round pick or a 2019 2nd round pick for Cooper.
Would the Titans make a huge move like this? I don’t know, it would definitely mean that they likely have to let Conklin and Ryan walk to have the salary for that kind of move. It would also likely lead to a Corey Davis trade given his contract status and the loss of playing time for him if this was made.
So would you rather have Jack Conklin, Corey Davis and enough cap for another big name free agent or Amari Cooper and a late 3rd round pick? I don’t know, but that is an interesting conversation for later.
Danny Amendola and Matthew Slater
-More connections from Jon Robinson’s past as a high ranking personnel man, Amendola and Slater are both guys that are older but offer roles that the Titans might be interested in.
If the Titans want another savvy route runner to use mostly in the redzone, maybe Amendola makes sense as a replacement for Tajae Sharpe who should get more money on the open market.
Slater is a good replacement for someone like Daren Bates as your stud special teams star who brings energy and production to every group he is a part of.
Sammy Watkins (projected cut)
-Reminder, this is not me advising that the Titans sign any of these guys. This is just a list of players with connections to the current staff, so when I put Watkins on this list understand that this is just me connecting potential dots.
Watkins was a guy that Rob Moore must have signed off on when the Bills drafted him at the top of the 2014 NFL Draft. While his career hasn’t been what anyone hoped, it hasn’t been without its bright spots.
For example, the year Moore coached him and the year after that saw Watkins 2,029 yards and 15 touchdowns. The guy has talent, it is just hard to find someone who can get it out of him consistently.
With a ring on his hand and plenty of money, maybe it is time for Watkins to try to focus on securing his legacy. KC is poised to cut him and maybe reconnecting with the one coach that made him look good would be interesting to everyone.