The Titans remain in the mix for free agent defensive end J.J. Watt, but according to reports the former Houston Texan is not going to come cheap.
Thursday a report surfaced that Watt has an offer on the table from a team believed to be worth between $15 million and $16 million.
John Clayton of ESPN in Seattle reports that the Titans, along with the Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills are the three teams that have given the most attention to Watt and they are the frontrunners for his services.
The Titans are a bit of a surprise finalist, considering Watt’s ties with the Steelers (his brothers play there) and Watt reportedly “seriously considering” the Browns over the past week.
Tennessee finished with just 19 sacks last season, which was third-fewest in the NFL, but Watt has a connection to a major part of the coaching staff.
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was with Watt in Houston for four seasons, including his first two as linebackers coach — when Watt won his first two Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was a defensive assistant with the Texans in 2016 and 2017, spelling more familiarity for Watt with the defensive system.
J.J. Watt remains the top free agent on the market that right now can sign with any team in the NFL after the Texans released him last week.
It could be a huge boost for the Titans if they can land Watt, not only giving them a player who can be impactful on their defense, but also would likely love to go back and play his old team twice a season.
Watt has missed significant playing time in three of the last five seasons he’s played in, and he’s 31 years old, so the Titans or whatever team inks him is going to have to take all that into consideration.
ESPN’s Ed Werder is reporting that about a dozen teams are showing interest in Watt, and since his release two AFC North teams, the Steelers and Browns, have been at the top of the list to ink him.
That’s not stopping Tennessee though, as GM Jon Robinson said that “we have had some contact,” when it comes to the Titans and Watt, and that there appears to be enough synergy moving forward to keep chatting.
There is a connection on the Titans coaching staff when it comes to Watt, as current Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel was Watt’s defensive coordinator back in 2017 with the Texans.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Robinson said about Watt. “See where their interest is and see if it’s an avenue we want to go down and if it’s a fit.”
Getting Watt under contract would be a huge deal for the Titans to kickoff their 2021 offseason, and could make for an interesting run for the team as they look to upgrade their defense which had some major struggles in 2020.
Over the course of their history, the Tennessee Titans have had some rather forgettable quarterbacks. Sure everyone remembers Steve McNair and even Vince Young, but there has really been some stinkers that has lined up under center since the team moved to Nashville in 1997.
Today we take a look at five of these quarterbacks, going so far as to giving you the QB that we think was the overall worst QB of all-time in Titans history.
5. Zach Mettenberger
Zachary Rich “Zach” Mettenberger was a Titans draft pick in the 6th round (pick number 178 overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft, and had a unspectacular career in Tennessee.
His debut came on September 28th, 2014, coming in a blowout relief loss of Charlie Whitehurst, and going 2-of-5 for 17 yards with an interception against the Colts.
In 2014 and 2015 he played in 14 games, starting 10, and going 0-10 in those starts. He threw for 2347 yards, 12 touchdowns and 14 picks, not awful numbers, but frankly he couldn’t escape going 0-10 as a starter, and the team parted ways with him after the 2015 season.
4. Charlie Whitehurst
The quarterback otherwise known as “Clipboard Jesus”, Whitehurst was part of the QB club for the 2014 season for the Titans, starting five games and playing in 7, going 1-4 in those four starts.
His numbers were not half bad, throwing for seven touchdowns and just two picks, but like Mettenberger his inability to make throws at key times hindered him and the team’s ability to get wins and score points.
Whitehurst’s two shining moments came on 10/5/14 against Cleveland throwing a career-high two touchdown passes against the Browns and a career-best 287 passing yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars on 12/18/14.
3. Jake Locker
Drafted in the first round (8th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft, Locker was given plenty of chances to be the Titans QB of the future, but ended up starting just 23 games in four seasons.
In those 23 games he went 9-14, with his “best” season coming in 2013 when he went 4-3 as a starter, throwing for eight scores with four picks.
In 2012 he was named the team’s starter prior to the start of the season, and in 11 games he finished with 177 completions, 2,176 yards, ten touchdowns, and eleven interceptions. He rushed 41 times for 291 yards and a touchdown, as the team went 6-10.
Injuries hindered Locker during his NFL career, and finally on March 10th of 2015 he announced his retirement, telling the media he had lost his passion for the sport.
2. Matt Cassel
By the time the Titans got Matt Cassel, his career as even a decent NFL quarterback had passed.
He played two seasons in Tennessee, primarily as the backup to Marcus Mariota, as he appeared in just six games in two seasons, starting two, going 1-1.
Cassel threw for three scores and four picks in his time with the Titans, with his one shining moment coming in the finale of the 2016 season, going 16-of-26 for 150 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a 24-17 win over Houston.
He was sent packing by Tennessee on March 9th of 2018.
1. Blaine Gabbert
Following stints with the Jaguars, Niners and one-year with Arizona, the Titans inked Gabbert to a two-year deal before the 2018 season.
He went 2-1 as a starter in three games, and appeared in eight games overall in one forgettable year with Tennessee.
Gabbert threw for four TD’s and four picks over his one season with the Titans, and got his only win on 9/16 against the Texans after Mariota was unable to play due to injury.
The quarterback was supposed to add stability to the QB position, but his poor play is a huge part of the reason he latest just a year in Nashville.
October 19th, 2020 Matt Loede Posted in Injuries, News
The Titans fear left tackle Taylor Lewan tore an ACL in Sunday’s 42-36 win over the Texans, Erik Bacharach of the Tennessean reports.
Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer said Lewan will have an MRI on Monday to assess the severity of the knee injury.
Lewan went down after a play in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium, clutching his knee. He walked very slowly to the sideline before heading to the blue medical tent. The 29-year-old then went to the locker room, again moving gingerly.
Hours after Sunday’s game, left guard Rodger Saffold reacted to Lewan’s injury.
“I want everyone to know I love my brother @TaylorLewan77,” Saffold tweeted. “It’s like both of us are doing rehab. I won’t let my brother do this alone! It’s all love on this side! The best side! #RUNLEFT”
Lewan, a three-time Pro Bowler, was the Titans’ first-round pick in 2014. In July 2018, he signed a five-year, $80 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in league history.
I’m told by #Titans and #Bills players they were told there is an option of playing their Sunday game on Monday or Tuesday in Nashville. If that happens, Thursday night’s game between the Chiefs at Bills would be moved to Saturday. This all just being discussed.
Things seemed to be on the upswing for the Titans all week when it came to Covid-19 tests, and according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that all has now changed, and it’s up in the air if Sunday’s game against the undefeated Bills is in jeopardy or not.
There is another Titans’ player positive test this morning and the inconclusive positive test from yesterday is now a confirmed positive, per source. The Titans’ facility remains closed and the prohibition on in person activities continues.
Clearly this is not the news the team or the NFL wanted, and the league already has been looking to slap the Titans with some type of penalty for the outbreak that they had two weeks back which cost them their scheduled game against the Steelers.
Stay tuned to see if the NFL lays down a decision or what’s next for the Titans and their club in this tough situation.
February 25th, 2021 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
