Titans Keying on QB or Setting Smoke Screen?
Thursday March 30, 2006
There's been a lot of speculation as to what the Tennessee Titans will do with the No. 3 overall pick in the approaching 2006 NFL Draft. And the reality is, they could go any number of directions, because they have as many holes to fill as a tree repairman at a woodpecker convention. But Thursday at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Fla., Titans' owner Bud Adams indicated the team firmly had its sites set on a quarterback with their first selection.
"We ought to get a pretty good quarterback out of this draft," Adams told reporters Wednesday. "Drafting No. 3, we ought to get a pretty good quarterback in that spot right there. I hope we get a guy who can be our leader for about 10 years. It's time for that, I think."
However, I have to wonder if Mr. Adams is just a bit too forthcoming with information this time of year. Yes, it looks as though either USC's Matt Leinart or Texas' Vince Young will be available when the Titans are on the clock. But is it a foregone conclusion that Tennessee would select either of them? Or even Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler?
I'm not so sure that's the case.
The Titans could be trying to entice a team like the Jets into trading up to ensure getting their choice of signal-callers. Holding the No. 2 pick is the New Orleans Saints, who just signed Drew Brees. With the former Pro Bowl QB in place to sail the ship, it's not likely they will use their top selection on a quarterback. So they could be targeting someone the Titans really covet.
If Tennessee can create the impression that both Leinart and Young might not make it out of the top three, they could entice someone to trade up to No. 2 to ensure their availability. Which in turn would guarantee someone like North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams or Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson would still be around.
Either of the two are viable possibilities for the Titans, especially when you figure the Titans aren't really in dire need at QB right now. Steve McNair may have seen better days, but he's not exactly ancient.
He's 33.
Brett Favre is 36. Drew Blesoe is 34, as is Kurt Warner.
Hitting 33, even though injuries have been a concern the past couple years for McNair, isn't necessarily the end of the road. And there are many around the league who feel the Titans would be just fine should backup Billy Volek finally be given the reins.
So, while the Titans very well could end up selecting a quarterback in the draft next month, I'd take what Adams says with a grain of salt for now.
"We ought to get a pretty good quarterback out of this draft," Adams told reporters Wednesday. "Drafting No. 3, we ought to get a pretty good quarterback in that spot right there. I hope we get a guy who can be our leader for about 10 years. It's time for that, I think."
However, I have to wonder if Mr. Adams is just a bit too forthcoming with information this time of year. Yes, it looks as though either USC's Matt Leinart or Texas' Vince Young will be available when the Titans are on the clock. But is it a foregone conclusion that Tennessee would select either of them? Or even Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler?
I'm not so sure that's the case.
The Titans could be trying to entice a team like the Jets into trading up to ensure getting their choice of signal-callers. Holding the No. 2 pick is the New Orleans Saints, who just signed Drew Brees. With the former Pro Bowl QB in place to sail the ship, it's not likely they will use their top selection on a quarterback. So they could be targeting someone the Titans really covet.
If Tennessee can create the impression that both Leinart and Young might not make it out of the top three, they could entice someone to trade up to No. 2 to ensure their availability. Which in turn would guarantee someone like North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams or Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson would still be around.
Either of the two are viable possibilities for the Titans, especially when you figure the Titans aren't really in dire need at QB right now. Steve McNair may have seen better days, but he's not exactly ancient.
He's 33.
Brett Favre is 36. Drew Blesoe is 34, as is Kurt Warner.
Hitting 33, even though injuries have been a concern the past couple years for McNair, isn't necessarily the end of the road. And there are many around the league who feel the Titans would be just fine should backup Billy Volek finally be given the reins.
So, while the Titans very well could end up selecting a quarterback in the draft next month, I'd take what Adams says with a grain of salt for now.
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