Tennessee Titans Prospect Profile: Jerry Hughes

Written by Andrew Strickert on .

Earlier in this series, we have looked at Derrick Morgan, Jason Pierre-PaulBrandon Graham and Carlos Dunlap. We now continue our look at defensive ends with the focus on TCU's Jerry Hughes.
 
Overview: Outstanding pass rusher. Is a 4-3 DE/3-4 OLB tweener. Switched from RB to DE as a freshman. Led the nation with 15 sacks in 2008, added 11 more in 2009. Twice named the Mountain West defensive player of the year. Won the Lott Trophy (NCAA Defensive IMPACT player of the year), selected over other finalists Ndamukong Suh, Eric Berry and Rolando McClain. Also garnered the Ted Hendricks Award (NCAA's best defensive end.)

Ted Ginn Jr.: Should the Tennessee Titans trade for him?

Written by Drexel Perry on .

Recently, I took a look at some potential draft candidates who could possibly fill the Tennessee Titans' huge void at kick/punt returner. If the Titans aren't satisfied with spending a mid-to-late rounder on a potential return man, maybe they'd be willing to give up a similar draft choice to acquire a recently-made-available proven commodity at the position.

The guy who was just put on the trading block that I'm referring to is Miami's Ted Ginn Jr., who, according to reports, has drawn the ire of the "Big Tuna" and could be on his way out of South Beach on/before draft day.

Titans sign Chris Simms

Written by Tom Gower on .

Yesterday, Drexel speculated about whether or not the Titans would draft a quarterback and listed a few possible candidates.  Personally, I think it's a real possibility, but the Titans also chose to address their immediate needs at the position, signing Chris Simms to what is reportedly a one-year deal.

This is Simms' second go-round with the Titans, after being signed following VY's injury against the Jaguars Week 1 of 2008.  He spent the next couple games as the backup then the rest of the year as the third-stringer, seeing his only action in the fourth quarter of the Week 17 who cares fest against the Colts when he threw two passes.  He decamped for the Broncos and a shot at a starting job last offseason, spending the year as Kyle Orton's backup and putting in some of the worst work this side of JaMarcus Russell in his limited action (5-17, 1 interception, 5 sacks).

I saw it speculated he's just another QB to have around, but he's too experienced and expensive for me to think that-a vet equivalent of Alex Mortensen could've been had easier and cheaper.  Rather, Simms is competition for Kerry Collins, at least in the sense of an incentive to get him to renegotiate his $5.5 million base salary.  With Simms' performance since his 2006 spleen injury, I have ZERO confidence in him should he be called upon to play, so I'm hoping Collins renegotiates, but that's an easier hope to have when it's not you take a sizable paycut.

Will the Tennessee Titans draft a QB?

Written by Drexel Perry on .

As a result of last year's Vin-aissance, Vince Young has once again established himself as the Tennessee Titans' signal-caller for the upcoming season and beyond.

Beyond VY, the state of the franchise at the quarterback position is a bit blurred. Veteran Kerry Collins is set to be the team's backup QB, but a high salary for 2010 could lead to his eventual release if he isn't prepared to take a pay-cut. Fellow vets Patrick Ramsey and Chris Simms have both played in Tennessee and one of them could be called in to replace Collins if KC is jettisoned.

With VY firmly entrenched as the starter and one of the aforementioned veterans poised to serve as the team's #2, there's a good chance that the Titans will spend a mid-to-late draft choice on a gunslinging youngster to groom as a developmental project.

Here's a look at a few guys that could be on the team's radar if they do decide to select a QB in the latter part of the rapidly-approaching NFL Draft.

Tennessee Titans Prospect Profile: Carlos Dunlap

Written by Andrew Strickert on .

We have looked at Derrick Morgan, Jason Pierre-Paul and Brandon Graham in previous installments of this series on defensive end prospects who may be drafted by the Tennessee Titans. Today we take a look at the University of Florida's Carlos Dunlap.
 
Overview: An outstanding physical and athletic player, Dunlap burst onto the national scene as the Defensive MVP of the BCS title game in 2009. He has a very high upside. Dunlap has been a real enigma to those who have followed him; flashing outstanding ability at times but also quiet and unproductive periods. He is a model of inconsistency. 

Reacquiring Albert Haynesworth: A no-brainer for the Tennessee Titans

Written by Drexel Perry on .

I'm sure many of you have been following the rampant speculation regarding a possible Albert Haynesworth reunion with the Tennessee Titans.

Due to the tug-of-war going on between two strong-willed individuals: Washington Redskins' new sheriff in town Mike Shanahan and Fat Albert, there's been reports suggesting that Haynesworth could be available. Naturally, since he established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the city of Nashville, there's been a thought or two regarding the Titans' possible interest in their former stud defensive tackle.

Of course, Albert's massive contract makes the situation a bit tricky. However, if the Redskins are hell-bent on ridding themselves of Albert, for the right price, the Titans would be wise to make a run at reacquiring Haynesworth's services.

Setting early roster expectations

Written by Tom Gower on .

In the run-up to last year's draft, I wrote a post going through the roster as it stood prior to the draft and questioning whether the Titans had room for all of their draft picks.  While my prediction that the Titans would package together picks and move up proved, shall I say, inaccurate, I think the roster prediction part proved relatively useful and worth repeating.

Now, my point in this exercise is not to definitely categorize players one way or the other.  I will once again try to be relatively conservative in describing players as locks and will avoid listing the Ricky Schmitts and Jay Moores of the world that I don't see as having a particularly realistic chance of making the roster.  But, the following players all played in at least one NFL game last year and thus must be regarded as candidates for the active roster.