Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Locked on Titans: Talking Free Agency with Jonathan Hutton

Episode Date: March 13, 2018

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Welcome in to another edition of Locked On Titans. I'm Jimmy Morris, joined as always by Terry Lambert. Terry, what's going on tonight? Not a whole lot. What's going on, man? Not too much. We've got Jonathan Hutton on the show tonight, so we're excited about that. We'll bring him in here in a second. Before we do that, we, as always, tell you Terry and I write for MusicCityMiracles.com, covering the Titans for SB Nation.

So check us out there. We'll have the most up-to-date stuff with free agency and all that going on over the next few days especially. So check us out there in between podcasts. You can subscribe to the podcast, Locked on Titans Search, on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts. You can find us there. Subscribe.

That way you get the latest episodes when they become available. You can follow us on Twitter. I'm at jmorrismcm. Terry is at tlambertfb. And the podcast account is at LockedOnTitans. So, as I mentioned before, we have Jonathan Hutton from Titans Radio. He's a sideline reporter during Titans games. And he is on 104.5 The Zone here in Nashville

from 10 to 2 now, right, every day on the midday 180? Yeah. Check it out there. Great show with him and Paul Kaharski and Chad Withrow. So, Hutton, man, we appreciate you taking the time to join us tonight. It is great to be on the podcast, Locked on Titans. Excited to be on with you guys, and I enjoy the website as well. So plenty of time to chat about free agency

as we get things rolling here in a few hours. Yeah, sounds awesome. So just initially, I want to get your thoughts on how active you think the Titans will be in free agency. You know how it is. The 3 o'clock bell sounds on Wednesday, and if it rolls into 4 o'clock and the Titans haven't

signed four guys already, fans start jumping off the ledge. We were already getting into it on Sunday with guys about they haven't traded all these guys that have been traded, and the Titans don't do anything, and they're not active and all that kind of stuff. So do you see this as being similar to John Robbins' other free agency periods where not necessarily involved in the first big wave, but then kind of lets the market settle and then kind of jumps out and gets those guys that he really wants to bring in.

Yeah, I do, Jimmy. I'm looking at some of the responses on Twitter and to our show, for instance, about free agency. I'm sure you guys see the same thing where they want John Robinson to be active, jump out there, grab these big-name free agency. And, you know, I'm sure you guys see the same thing where it's they want John Robinson to be active, jump out there, grab these big name free agents. But to be honest with you, this this is going to be crazy money season where there is going to be a ton of supply. And I'm not sure about the demand. I mean, I don't think this free agency crop is all all that great top to bottom. The quarterbacks are going to demand the market early.

I can't wait to watch and see where those guys end up and how all the dominoes fall. But from a Titans perspective, I'm looking at maybe Norwell as a guard, as the top-end offensive lineman in this group, where you can also look to the front end of the draft and get someone much cheaper on a five-year contract with the option for the fifth year. You can look at running back, but in veteran, right now in free agency,

I wouldn't jump out there and go after a guy and set the market. I would let the market come back to me a little bit if I'm the Titans. In receiver, while I do like some of the options at the top of the receiver crop, I also like where the Titans sit right now as a whole as far as their depth is concerned compared to other positions. So it's all about where you want to spend your money. And keep in mind through all of this, there's some big contracts on the horizon for Taylor LeJuan,

and you're about to pick up the fifth-year option for Marcus Mariota, which is going to cost you next year about $20 million as you try to work out that extension. So I think a lot of things have to fall into place for the Titans to be out there in front. You know, I can't sit here and tell you that Robinson doesn't want to get out there in front. You know, I can't sit here and tell you that Robinson doesn't want to get out there and be active early through the phase one period, which is like the first 96 hours, because in the past we have seen them be in talks with A.J. Boye. We've seen them in talks with Damon Harrison. They were involved in the Brandon Cooks trade.

Many people forget the Titans name was dropped out there as a team interested in that. So it's not like they tried to avoid big-name free agents at all costs. It just has to make sense. And when I look at the overall landscape of free agency this year, there's a couple of guys that excite me, but a lot of those players are Phase 2 players that don't deserve Phase 1 money. Jonathan, all anyone wants to talk about is the receivers. Allen Robinson, Sammy Watkins, they want the Titans to go make a big splash

and grab one of these guys. I don't see it. I don't think Jimmy sees it. Are we off base there? And who are some other names that you could see happening maybe in week two yeah i mean i i like the idea i'm always big play passing game offense type of guy like i i get it i i want to see them throw down the field and make big explosive plays and put points on the board um i also understand that's what they drafted cory dav be. I get it. But, you know, I like Allen Robinson.

I wonder if someone goes crazy like a Chicago and just overspends for a player like that. I like Sammy Watkins. And if Matt LaFleur comes in and says, Sammy Watkins is the player we need, then if I'm John Robinson, I back that, and I go try to find him and get him and pay the money necessary. But I also look at the numbers that he put up in the offense last year

as he was brought in to be one of the main players. And he didn't have outstanding stats when you look at the overall body of work. So then I look to phase two, and that's where you see a Paul Richardson who is probably going to expect number one or number two money. But I wonder if you sit around and wait, if he's one of those guys that is, after all the dust settles, kind of a phase two player. And Taylor Gabriel is another player that I look to just connecting the dots with where LeFleur has been and the type of offenses that

certain players have been in, he would make sense to come in and play a piece to the entire puzzle of this offense. This is turning into more of a rhythm offense where Marcus is going to have to have great rapport with the receivers that are almost on timing routes and know exactly where to go at what time and different things, I think they will spread the ball out quite a bit based on personnel. And I think we're going to see more three-wide personnel as opposed to the two tight end sets. And with that in mind, I think they should be in the market for a receiver. I just don't think it has to be number one type money

with what they expect Corey Davis to actually become. Yeah, that's the interesting thing. I mean, I think that they're probably – they've got a lot of talent at the receiver position, maybe as much as they've had just when you look at potential with those guys. I was listening to Dan Orlovsky on our show last week, and I think he said the first thing he would do if he was John Robinson would jump out and get an Allen Robinson or Sammy Watkins because you know you need that element to the offense how do you think they feel I mean I guess we don't know the new staff but I mean just when you look at this receiver class this receiver group the Titans currently have I mean do you

think that they're in the building thinking hey we need to go out and add a number one, or are they content to let the Corey Davis thing play out and see if he can be that guy that he looked like he was going to be coming out of college? Well, I think with Davis, they have to. I mean, with the fifth overall pick, your chips are on the table with him going into year two. I think it's way too early to assume that he's not going to turn into the player that you drafted him to be. But around him,

that's where they have to make their decisions. Rashard Matthews has another year left in his contract. He's been a good find for them. But I think that's the type of receiver they have to go and identify now. The Rashard Matthews available now that can give you an extra 15 to 20 catches on what he was being asked to do where he was and reach a ceiling that the previous team wasn't able to get out of that certain player. Turn a number three into a number two option. Because based on the offense I'm expecting to see I'm expecting to see the tight end with Delaney heavily involved as well as getting more looks to multiple receivers out of the slot and down the sideline on the field I think more deep passing will be involved

for Marcus now and I think more will be asked of the running back that's brought in for the passing game specifically do you need a true number one deep threat if you do I think it's worth the money and free agency to go and find that player because with only six draft picks to me it's tough to go and identify in two years consecutively who exactly you're going to go draft over an outside linebacker, inside linebacker, offensive lineman early in the draft. That's me. I wouldn't go receiver early in this draft just because I don't have the necessary currency to go do that this year like I did last year. So if I'm placing my chips and cards on the table,

if I feel like I have to have the deep threat, Corey Davis to me has to be the guy that can give me that element, then I have to have the deep threat, Corey Davis, to me, has to be the guy that can give me that element. Then I need to go find some speed. And that, to me, can be a number of different players in this free agency crop. And because of that, I'm waiting for phase two before I give the big bucks, because there's a number of players that can fit the description I'm looking for. It doesn't have to be the Allen Robinson. Although, look, Allen Robinson two years ago, if that's the player you're getting, he's worth the money.

If you're getting the Allen Robinson from 2016, I'm iffy on whether or not it's worth it. And then last year with the knee, that really throws everything into the air because you don't know the type of player he's going to be next season. So I'm fascinated with this running back class. The Titans are going to be in the mix to add a running back, obviously. But I'm interested in this free agent running back class and what they're going to get with it being such a loaded draft.

You're going to be able to get guys that can contribute into day three. With that being said, are the Titans going to sign one and draft one, do you think? Are they going to get into a guy like Deion Lewis, like a Jerick McKinnon? I love both of those options. I think Deion Lewis, you'll have to jump out and get involved quickly in free agency. I think he's a first 96-hour type guy that will go. In 96 hours, that's like two to three team visits. And a lot of those are taking place now with the legal tampering that's going on.

But it's the first phase. I think Deion Lewis is one of those type players. He's 28 years old and doesn't feel like he's been used to all of his capabilities. There will be a team out there that has a defined role and a role that will make him a primary back, or if not a number one guy, a guy that's going to be involved more in the run game and the pass game as opposed to the way he was used in New England. But the way he was used in New England fit them perfectly.

And I think the Titans, if they, if, if Derek Henry, um, is the, is the bell cow between the tackles type runner that we expect him to be, I think you guys would agree. Um, to me, you have to get more defined in the next two roles and you brought up free agency in the draft and I brought up on midday one 80. I think they have to get more defined in the next two roles. And you brought up free agency in the draft and I brought up on midday 180. I think they have to get both. They have to find a running back in both areas. They have to find a dynamic playmaker in this draft. But at the same time,

what they lose into Marco Murray was also a great, a great guy in pass protection. And I'm not willing to have a ton of faith in a rookie that comes into the league at any point and say, you know what, he's ready for the NFL-level pass protection that's going to be required of him. That's also not Derrick Henry's strong suit. So with that in mind, I have to find a guy that can be dynamic out of the backfield but has also been in the league long enough to know a guy that can that can be dynamic out of the backfield but has also been

in the league long enough to know a few pass protection options and and and keep the quarterback safe if he needs to can chip on the edge and do different things mckinnon 26 years old uh has 500 or a little under 500 carries i believe but also has a number of catches throughout his career, versatile back. I like the options there. But primarily, if I feel like I can find a John Kelly-type running back in this draft, and I throw him out there just because everyone listening is familiar with the type of back he was at Tennessee, if I feel like I can go get that guy in the second or third round

of this upcoming NFL draft, my primary focus in free agency is a veteran back that knows this type of zone running offense that can come in and be a strong guy in pass protection as a third down option out of the backfield. With that in mind, you know, Duke Johnson comes to mind for me in Cleveland. I think he's probably going to get extended in Cleveland. But he's a guy that can do a little bit of everything very well. That's the type of frame I'm looking for in the veteran back they bring in. We were talking a little bit about Quentin Spain before we came on here, just kind of to reset if anybody hadn't seen what happened today.

The Titans did – Quentin Spain is a restricted free agent. So there are I think basically three levels or three or four levels that you can offer to a restricted free agent, a first-round tender, a second-round tender. That meaning if a team wants to come and sign that guy from you, they have to give you that pick, the first or second-round pick. There's also the original round tender and then the right of first refusal tender. Now, since Spain wasn't drafted, the Titans today extended to him the right of first refusal tender. So basically what that means is if somebody else wants to come and sign Quentin Spain,

they can make him a contract offer. Then the Titans have a chance to match that offer. If they match that offer, then obviously he stays here, plays for whatever that is. If the Titans decline to match that offer, then Spain's free to go and play for that team. The Titans don't receive any compensation. If nothing happens, like if they just offer him this tender, nobody else comes and tries to negotiate a contract with him, then Spain would be on a one-year deal at basically just under $2 million. So kind of tell us what your thoughts are, what they think of Quentin Spain,

how you see this playing out with him with the fact that they did offer him basically the lowest available tender. Well, two things immediately come to mind. available tender well two things immediately come to mind um first they'd like to keep him uh but they want to keep him on a fair deal for the team and to me this is an example of the player or the in this case the agent likely balking at whatever discussions that the team and the agent were having and wanting to hit free agency as a restricted free agent instead of just taking an extension or or something a little bit lower than what maybe what they had in mind for the client so i think this is the titan saying okay we will extend this offer we have the right of first refusal here so we can see whatever teams want

to bring you on the offer sheet and if it's way over the top of where refusal here so we can see whatever teams want to bring you on the offer sheet and if it's way over the top of where we expected to pay this player long term then by all means take that offer and we're not going to be able to match it but if the market establishes itself and they can go out and and find a contract that the tit Titans would be willing to work with ultimately, then they keep the player anyway. So really, I mean, they're telling Quentin Spain and his agent, go find the offer that you think you can find, and we'll be able to come back to the table and see if we can match it. If not, this is also to me telling me that the Titans also feel like

this is a good year of for interior offensive alignment in the draft which is matches up with what everyone is saying at the nfl combine especially very high in this draft so um you know if if spain ends up with an offer josh klein would be there i'm seriously doubt that Josh Klein would find an offer before Quinton Spain would based on level of play that I personally saw. Then you can bring back Josh Klein on a deal, draft a young offensive lineman, pair them together. If you want to go big, we mentioned at the start of all of this, Norwell out of Carolina is the interior offensive lineman to go grab. So maybe they go big on this. Just another option I'm throwing out there.

But overall, Spain can be a part of this plan. But keep in mind, too, this is also an offensive line that's going to be more on the move in 2018 compared to what was required of them in 2017 in the previous couple of years. More of the outside zone blocking scheme, which if you want to compare offensive lines start thinking atlanta seattle san francisco uh lines on the move quite

a bit and spain while he's he's a a bulldozer um he's not he's not the most mobile guy that you want pulling in fact klein is better suited for that. So this is, to me, them trying to allow Spain to go set his own market, and if the market falls back to them, they'll keep him on a one-year deal and see how things work out going into camp. Seen a couple reports connecting the Titans to a couple of cornerbacks. Supposedly they were interested in Sherman. I don't know how interested.

But, you know, there's one out there connecting them to Dominic Rodgers-Cromartie. Me and Jimmy kind of feel the same way here. Cornerback, is that a need? I mean, we kind of feel like the Titans are pretty set across the board with Adore Jackson, Logan Ryan, LaShawn Sims, and I think they like Ty Smith quite a bit. Where would a free agent signing fit in here? I mean, I think they could upgrade off of Sims,

but I don't think you're going to get – I don't think you're going to beat the value you're getting out of Sims right now. Well, here's where they can upgrade, because this has always been the issue for me over the last couple of years was Bryce McCain. Bryce McCain played quite a bit when you look at his snaps compared to overall level of play. And that's not a knock on McCain. It was more just they kept him around and asked him to do quite a bit

of different things that, honestly, whenever he was on the field, I felt like the offense was going towards him. So Dominic Rodgers-Cromartie, he's a one-year or two-year contract type of guy now. That would fill the void left by Bryce McCain. There's another, Ladarius Webb. He's been released by Baltimore. Dean Pease would know him well.

Dean Pease likes the taller, lankier corners, if you look at what they've done in Baltimore. And Ladarius Webb, he's an older corner. He's 31 or 32 years old. But, again, that fits the type of mold that you would be wanting. Ladarius Webb played in every game last year in Baltimore. Only started two games. But you're looking for someone that could come off the bench.

If someone goes down, if Logan Ryan turns an ankle in the middle of the San Francisco game, you've got to have someone that's able to go and someone that's active. Webb would be a type of player that would be active for you, a veteran guy that could step in immediately and give you some good reps. That's what they were asking from Bryce McCain, and that's why they're going to be moving on from Bryce McCain within this defense. So I think Rodgers-Colmarti fits the build of the type of corner that I would link up with Dean Pease,

and I'm basing that solely off of just looking at previous rosters when he was in Baltimore, and certainly he would know Webb well. Tremaine Johnson is a better version of both of those guys that's now a free agent that has been paid a boatload of money over the last two years by the Rams. He's a free agent now because they decided not to franchise him for a third year. So I'm intrigued to see where he ends up.

But I was just looking at free agent corners that fit the mold of what they've done in Baltimore previously. Those would be the guys that immediately popped to mind for me. All right. Obviously, they're going to be in the market for a backup quarterback with the release of Matt Castle. I knew that was coming. This is an interesting group of free agent quarterbacks. There's a lot at the top.

And then, you know then once that settles, then there's going to be those guys that are looking for a job somewhere. There was a report, not sure how credible it was, last week, that the Titans were maybe in talks with the Packers about trading for a Brett Hundley. Where do you see this team looking as far as trying to bring in a backup quarterback? To me, Jimmy, it's got to be in free agency.

I do not like the idea of a rookie quarterback. You know, in past drafts, when they've had eight or nine picks, you have the luxury. Like the year they drafted Derrick Henry, it was the third pick of the second round for them, and they could go and grab a guy where they had previous depth. Right now

with six picks in the draft, I struggle to use a high pick on a QB, and that's what it would take to be a backup right now based on Marcus' injury history. I would have to have someone that I could really rely on to not just come off the bench and win a close game

like the game in Miami, you know, where Marcus is done for the week. You know he's likely going to be back for Monday Night Football. You need someone that can just go win a game at Miami. And that was such a pathetic game for both teams that game should have been won and it was not because they they didn't have good quarterback play that could run the offense they wanted so with that in mind I'm going through free agency and I think there are some guys that that could come off the bench and win some games this year that are available

i'm i'm not going to be shocked if it's a name that everybody in nashville knows um if it's a mccown type player 39 years old but again fits the description of what i'm looking for guys that have won games in this league that could come in and pick up an offense like the one that he's going to be asked to do um you know i'm'm talking with PK quite a bit about Bridgewater. He wonders where the market will be for Teddy Bridgewater. That's another intriguing option based on what you were saying about Hundley and whether or not that would fit with what the Titans were doing. But it's got to be somebody that fits this new offense.

And to me, I want a veteran in there that's going to come in and be able to absorb it quickly rather than have to bring a rookie along. There are some talented quarterbacks in this draft class, but none in day two or day three of the draft that I would be willing to go into the regular season with as the number two quarterback. Avery Williamson reportedly turned down an offer from the Titans. It was, again, reportedly four years, $12 million.

Seems a little low, but Williamson is a guy that struggles in coverage. So it's kind of what an average two-down linebacker would make in today's NFL. Two things. Talk a little bit about what you expect him to do and if Avery walks, are you comfortable with Jayon Brown kind of stepping into that role? I'll start with the second part first. Yes, I'm comfortable with Jayon Brown stepping in because he's more of a coverage backer. That's what they drafted him to do. He's more of a coverage backer.

That's what they drafted him to do. At this point, especially the inside backers, what you're not going to see in free agency are any of these linebackers that can actually go out and cover. Those guys aren't available. It's just like the big-time pass rushers don't become available. So if Avery wants to walk and go somewhere else and get a big contract, I'm all for it because the guy has played on this fifth round draft pick contract forever. It feels like he's been here for 10 years. But I don't blame the Titans for not breaking the bank for Avery Williamson and allowing him the chance to hit free agency. because you can go sign a guy like Demario Davis with the Jets, and there's no coincidence that the Jets are one of the teams interested in Avery Williamson

because they have their own version of Avery Williamson that's two years older that's in the same situation where he's an inside linebacker, not the best guy in coverage, but is a battering ram when it comes to the run game. The type of linebacker that they will be asking Avery to be, the two-down linebacker, as you're pointing to, to me, you can find that guy. And I think that's what the Titans will be saying. Hey, here's our offer.

We'd love to be involved. I think Avery fits, by the way, the description of the type of player John Robinson really likes and the type of player that Mike Vrabel would enjoy coaching. But does he fit the three-down mold that Dean Pease will be requiring? I'm not so sure. And if the numbers are anywhere close to accurate on that offer, I agree it's a little low for maybe where he thought he would be.

And because of that, he should go test-free agency. But I won't be surprised if the market settles and the titans can get back involved so last week they released the north searcy um so now you have i mean a little bit of a depth issue it seems like at the safety position do you think that's something they'll be looking to address in free agency i mean you've got your starters obviously in sipping and bayard but you've got your starters, obviously, in Sippert and Bayard, but you don't have a lot proven behind those guys. So is that something you think they'll be –

I mean, they're obviously not looking for a guy to come in and start, but looking for a guy that has some experience and maybe can come in and fill a role? Yes, I agree. And I think the moves they made last week, I think are the moves that you go out and address in free agency. Quarterback, running back, safety. To me, that's where you can find some quality depth in this free agent class.

I mentioned you're going to draft a running back as well, and maybe you go out and draft a young defensive back. But I think with the safety crop, as you look around with the numbers that they have there, they can find their third safety for their nickel or dime packages where they want to move Kevin Byard around a little bit. So I won't be surprised if they address safety as one of their priorities in this overall free agency period that's about to begin. in this overall free agency period that's about to begin.

So Daquan Jones, it's a guy that I think all of us really like, a guy that does a lot of dirty work, a guy that's really good against the run, still unsigned. What's the status on him, and is that kind of a spot where you could see the Titans possibly upgrading with, you know, Muhammad Wilkerson or Sheldon Richardson or even Indomitian Sioux. I was hoping you would say that, man. The idea of Indomitian Sioux playing next to Jarrell Casey just, it makes me smile, to be honest.

It would be awesome. Oh, man. And to me, there are certain guys that just scream one or two-year contract, and I love those type of players because it's very low risk, high reward. The guy has been paid a boatload of money. I think he's in his seventh or eighth year now, just off the top of my head, but got paid to go to Miami. I'll never forget Jim Washford telling me the story of Indomitian Sioux

calling him and actively recruiting him to come to Miami to coach him, which tells me that Indomitian Sioux is not just a me guy. He wants to be motivated. He wants the Albert Hainsworth type of coaching. Now, Sioux didn't go to Miami and have the same type of career that Albert did after he got paid. Sue was a bit better than that. But there were times when you watch Ndamukong Sue play, and you're like, this is not the same guy. You'd watch two or three quarters of him against the run.

Teams would run it right at him, and he would want nothing to do with it. And then other games where he would have a phenomenal day. But if you can get that guy to play motivated, that's the type of player that everyone dreams of. And to pair him next to Jarrell Casey would be insane. I would love to watch that. And to me, 4-3-3-4, that guy can play in any defense for me any day. And I love the attitude.

A lot of people will point to the attitude as a negative. I love it. I want that type of fire within my defensive lineman. But again, I need that more consistently from him. And when he plays motivated, it's a lot of fun to watch. Do they want Daquan Jones back? I think yes. I think a lot of other to watch. Do they want Daquan Jones back? I think yes. I think a lot of other teams have noticed him, though.

I won't be surprised if he gets, of all the free agents we're talking about, I think a lot of fans that I talk with, family members of mine even, that are like, you know, Titans will get him back because he's been hurt. And I kind of bought into that for a few months, like January, February.

And now after I think about it, I, I, I bet there, there will be some teams that jump on board the Daquan Jones train, trying to bring him in thinking that he's going to be a bit more of a bargain because of the injury that he had, knowing that he finished last year before the injury on such a high note, thinking that the best, the best years are ahead of him. He's been working hard with the rehab. I think he can still be a very quality player for them, and I would anticipate them trying to bring him back.

Are there upgrades out there? Sure. But I think Jones could be a piece of this defense that they don't want to lose. Now, I know we're asking the wrong member of the Midday 180 crew this question because PK is the uniform expert. But have you seen the uniforms? This thing got released today, and everybody just goes crazy. So have you seen that?

Have you been given any indication of what they're going to look like? I have not seen that? Have you been given any indication of what they're going to look like? I have not seen the uniforms. And you have no idea how happy I am that I have not seen them. Because if I had seen them, it would be the worst-kept secret for me, trying to keep that thing quiet, especially working with Paul every day. I think they know not to tell me anything about the uniforms, knowing that I work with PK, the uniform expert, on a daily basis. That guy digs for more info on that than anything that I've heard him talk about

for the last two months, or longer than that, really. He goes back a year and a half when he was talking with Amy Adams-Strunk about it at training camp. I don't blame him, though. He gets a ton of clicks, and I'm sure you guys noticed this at Music City Miracles. He gets a ton of clicks off of that one topic. And I haven't looked recently, but I would imagine that the Titans' Twitter account blew up off that video that they released. I'm sure.

I mean, we did a post on just the video, and it's our second most popular post of the day. And all it is is, hey, here's this video. It doesn't really show anything. What are you hoping for? Like I get – whenever I think of – and I was asking Mike Keefe. This will tell you everything you need to know. Mike has seen the uniforms. And so before we – we interviewed him at the NFL Combine.

He joined us, and I was just catching up with him a little bit I'm like so have you seen the uniforms? He goes yes. I said are they cool? And he said yes and I said okay and he would not say anything else and I said to the group we were with a group of people and I said

there's just this sense I have that I'm going to be extremely disappointed. I don't want to feel that way but I have this in my mind that Nike is somehow going to screw this up not the Titans but Nike's going to get their hands on this and screw this up but what I'm I'm just hoping that it's not too crazy with the colors I want the colors pretty basic and have an alternate uniform that's a little bit different. But the two-tone blue type situation, I've been okay with. I don't know if you guys agree with that or not. Yeah, I mean, for me, yes. I think that's kind of their thing.

And, I mean, obviously some updates or whatever. But, look, I'm okay with the logo. I think the sword logo it is cooler um you know i kind of wish i'd done that initially but i don't see them changing that at this point um like i said just some updates but i mean i don't want a red jersey though everybody loves those red jerseys you know that they had like in the you know everybody's got an eddie george red those things are ugly like i just i don't like them um it would be cool to have a different like color rush type deal just because that one just to me is too similar to what they

what they have regularly but i don't know i i kind of like them the way they are i i get some updating but i don't want to see any huge like you said any huge color changes or anything like that i'd love to see like an accent of red you know nothing crazy but maybe just like an outline or something and update the helmets and put some color in the helmets maybe go with a with a silver look or a matte gray or something some blue terry i'm with you i like the i like the silver idea um i'm cool with that i the numbers outlined in red would be okay with me. But I noticed the white, the red swoosh with the white. I wonder if that's like a shoulder area for the pads.

That's the only thing I could think of. But again, they're doing exactly what they want us to do with this. We're talking about the uniforms. There's this big buzz about what it's going to be. Only a select number of people in that building have actually seen them. I would love to be... Maybe they'd do this. I would love to see a behind-the-scenes video of

Nike coming into the building and laying everything out in front of Amy and saying, here are our options. And see what she says about all these options. That would be a really cool behind the scenes video if if they were allowed to do that and the the logo i may be wrong on this but if you want to change your primary logo i think it's a five year waiting period by the league i and again i may be completely wrong on that.

But I feel like the Jags, when they changed their helmet and did some other things, had to wait. This year has been five years since the previous change. And they were doing some crazy changes to their helmet, I think, again. I'm all for the sword, too. I think that's the way to go. Will they do it? I don't know. Again, this is why they don't tell me these things. Terry, did you have anything else?

I kind of derailed us there a little bit with the uniform. Oh, no, you're good. I got all my questions. Okay. Well, Jonathan, we really appreciate you taking the time and joining us. A lot of good info. And, I mean, I think it's going to be interesting. And this is, you know, for a lot of people,

I think this is their favorite part of the year is what happens between, you know, between free agency and the draft and all that kind of stuff. And so it's good to get insight, somebody that's plugged in a little bit. And we appreciate, like I said, you taking the time with all your other responsibilities that you have around the Titans. Guys, any time, let me end it just by saying I hope that they go out and get some strong pieces. The pieces to this overall puzzle.

You know, Deion Lewis makes a ton of sense. 28 next year was used in multiple ways. Maybe not enough as a receiver. He could be a star in this offense jared mckinnon as well um but there there are other guys too um that we didn't even get to nigel bradham is one that intrigues me from philly um so again maybe not the biggest household names across the league but i think uh when it's all said and done robinson will he's got plenty of money to use i think he's going to use it but mainly in the phase two maybe there's one splash guy but i think maybe mainly it's going to be in weeks two and three of free agency

yeah and i think that's the fun part about where the titans are right now is they don't necessarily have to go out and make a big splash deal. I mean, like you said, Deion Lewis, that name makes sense. That's a name that everybody's heard of. And that's a splash – that would be a splash – to me, that's a splash sign. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. But, like, the rest of the guys that you mentioned, I mean,

they're at a point now where they can add some pieces that fill a specific role and make the team a lot better. Now, while, you know, everybody on Twitter is going to yell that they're not doing anything, when you look at just the overall roster and how much more talented it is now than when John Robinson took over, that's the way you build a sustainable winner. And so I'm just kind of excited that they're at this point now where they're just adding some of those pieces.

And then you've actually got guys like LeJuan, Mariota, Kevin Byard, Conklin, I mean, guys that are on this roster that they're going to want to pay down the road because they went for so long with not even having any of their own guys to re-sign. That's why they have so much cap space right now. Well, Warren Sharp, Warren Sharp, who we've had on Midday 180 from time to time, puts out these great tweets at Sharp Football, I think is his Twitter account. But he has every team in the league and it's this little video post of how much money teams spent per win in free agency only doesn't count the draft and the titans were like the third or fourth team on that list and it goes

to your point jimmy on not capitalizing on the draft and relying so much on free agency lately. And they're finally to the point where the, the, the draft capital that they've built up with, with LaJuan and Mariota and others, those guys are to the point where they're, they're deserving of long-term contracts now. And, and a lot of that has to be decided on in the next year or two.

And LaJuan is, is first up here. And I, I, I still get the sense they're going to try to extend him this offseason that's just my opinion on the vibe i get but i don't i don't know why they wouldn't try to go ahead and do that now and and shore up whatever you can long term and go ahead and start working and planning for the mariotta contract which is going to break the bank that's nice to

hear you say that because that's that's what we've been pumping for about a month now. It won't matter in 48 hours when the Titans don't sign. Well, I mean, think about it. Their quarterback is going to become, at some point, he will be the highest paid player in the league. Unless Jameis Winston signs like two minutes after Marcus does. And I don't know how they're going to do that. But he's going to be the highest paid player in the league at some point in the NFL history of all of this. So to me, I would go ahead and lock up LeJuan now.

Make him, you know, give him a rich contract, $14, $15 million per year. But use what they have now to start planning for the Mario to deal. And look, I think they are. That has been on their mind longer than we've been thinking about it. But it's something that's now right on the doorstep instead of a couple of years down the road. One thing real quick on Mariota. Obviously, some boy they're going to pick up his fifth-year option.

And I don't know when the deadline is for that, but they'll do it obviously before then. going to pick up his fifth year option and i don't know when the deadline is for that but they'll they'll do it obviously before then do they do you think there's any talk this off season of trying to go ahead and get a deal done with him you know kind of like the raiders did with derrick carr or are they going to let that play out and then just kind of see what that does i mean because i don't think there's any question i wouldn think, in that building that he is the guy long-term. But do they wait for another season, see how that goes, before they go ahead and make that big offer?

First, I think the deadline for them to extend the fifth-year option on him is May the 3rd. And based on the numbers I was looking at, the fifth-year option will cost them around 20 to 21 million somewhere in there um i would let things play out i i do think he is the quarterback long term he's the guy um i let him play this year. I let things get comfortable within this offense, and I get the LeJuan contract done first. Then at this point next year, and well before this point next year, in February of next year, I start rolling that new contract out.

This whole next calendar year, I'm working on that deal. The goal would be he's on year one of the new deal before he gets the $20 million on year five of his rookie contract. That would be my primary goal because he's going to get that type of money anyway on the new contract. The fifth-year option money, I'm talking about the $21 million. I think it's $20.9 is the number. That's my thinking. Now, maybe they shock us and they do the Derek Carr deal. And another part of all of this is, to me, it's which organization jumps in first.

Is it Tampa Bay or Tennessee? Which organization jumps in first? Is it Tampa Bay or Tennessee? And what's intriguing about all of it is you have Jason Light as the GM in Tampa Bay, who's best friends with the GM in Tennessee, and all of this kind of coming together at the exact same time. I don't know which team you want to be. Do you want Tampa to set the market and then have to beat that deal, or do you want to set the market and then have to beat that deal or do you want to set

the market and and see what happens with with winston i don't know but it's going to be intriguing to see which gm wants to jump in first yeah all right well good stuff like i said man we really appreciate you jumping on and uh we went a little longer than normal tonight but a lot of good info there as we head into free agency which officially opens on Wednesday so again you can follow Jonathan on Twitter you're at Hutton1045 right that's right yep yeah at Hutton1045 and like I said hear him on Titans radio on the sidelines in the games and then midday 180 on 104.5 from 10 to 2 every day. So, again, man, thanks

for taking the time out tonight to join us. Absolutely. Glad to be on. And again, this was perfect timing because my wife is in the other room watching Bravo, watching Andy Cohen and Watch What Happens Live, so this got me out of that, which is awesome. There you go.

All right. We're glad we could help you out with that. All right. So anyway, we'll be back at some point in the next couple of days, just depending on what happens, if we record an episode tomorrow night or not. So, like I said, in the meantime, check out musicitymiracles.com. Again, follow Hutton. Follow us. I'm at jmorrismcm.

Terry's at tlambertfb. Follow the podcast account at LockedOnTitans. Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes. Help us out there. So for Jonathan Hutton, for Terry Lambert, this is Jimmy Morris saying thanks for listening, and we will talk to you again later this week.