Category: Titans

Chiefs working on trade to send L’Jarius Sneed to Titans

L’Jarius Sneed will be heading to the Titans via a trade with the Chiefs

A key piece of the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense apparently won’t be in the Super Bowl champion’s secondary in 2024.

The Chiefs and Tennessee Titans were working on finalizing a trade Friday that would send L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans for a pair of draft picks.

Sneed will sign a contract with the Titans and the Chiefs will receive a third-rounder in 2025 and a fifth-rounder this year once the deal is finalized.

Sneed had received the franchise tag from Kansas City and after the Chiefs gave Chris Jones a massive contract it seemed highly unlikely KC would be able to fit the cornerback under its salary cap.

Sneed and the Titans will not face his soon-to-be former teammates in 2024.

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Wrapping up NFL free agency for 2024

2024 NFL free agency is just about in the books, so it’s time for Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar to analyze the biggest transactions in the second wave.

Now that most of NFL free agency for the 2024 league year is in the bag — though there are a few helpful players still on the open market — it’s time for Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire, to recap the biggest and most important moves in the second wave of this free agency phase. Greg and Doug covered the first day of free agency last week in the Xs and Os; here’s the conclusion.

Among the discussion points:

  • What does Brian Burns bring to a Giants defensive line that already has Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence?
  • Can Justin Fields become the best version of himself in the Steelers’ offense?
  • Conversely, can Kenny Pickett turn his career around with the Eagles?
  • How can Calvin Ridley use his true X-Iso skill set to ramp up the Titans’ offense?
  • Can the Texans’ addition of Danielle Hunter, along with Will Anderson Jr. and Denico Autry, make Houston’s defensive line a Super Bowl-level group?
  • What can Hollywood Brown do for the Chiefs?
  • Tyron Smith is a future Hall of Famer, but what will he be able to do for the Jets’ offensive line in the short term?
  • Chase Young has been an inconsistent pass-rusher throughout his NFL career; can he turn it around with the Saints?
  • The Lions made important additions to their defensive line and their secondary; can all that put them over the top?
  • The Falcons already have a ton of weapons for new quarterback Kirk Cousins. How will the addition of receiver Rondale Moore affect what looks like one of like the NFL’s most explosive offenses (in theory, at least)?

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” right here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

Calvin Ridley could be the No. 1 receiver the Tennessee Titans desperately need

The Tennessee Titans were in desperate need of a No. 1 receiver, and they got one after giving Calvin Ridley a massive new contract.

All we knew before the Tennessee Titans knocked down the door and signed former Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million deal with $50 million fully guaranteed was that the Jaguars and the New England Patriots were in the mix. But the Titans were in need of a top receiver, they had the space to make the deal, and by the way, Ridley tore Tennessee’s defense to shreds in two games last season — he caught 13 passes on 19 targets for 208 yards and three touchdowns.

2023 was a comeback year for Ridley — selected with the 26th overall pick out of Alabama by the Falcons in the 2028 draft, Ridley was suspended for the entire 2022 season after running afoul of the NFL’s nebulous policies against gambling. Atlanta traded him to the Jaguars on November 1, 2022.

Why Calvin Ridley’s year-long gambling suspension is a hypocritical farce

Last season, Ridley caught 76 passes in 132 targets for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. The Titans needed a receiver of his caliber, and while some may see it as an overpay, general manager Ran Carthon and new head coach Brian Callahan obviously disagree with that

Titans close in on hiring Bengals OC Brian Callahan as head coach

The Titans are set on Brian Callahan as the man to replace Mike Vrabel as head coach

Brian Callahan is about to find out what it is like to follow Mike Vrabel in Tennessee.

The Titans were closing in on naming the Bengals OC as their next head coach on Monday.

Callahan spent the last five seasons with the Bengals. Overall, he has 14 years of NFL experience. He is the son of former Raiders head coach Bill Callahan.

Per Bengals.com:

Playing and coaching experience: 2002-05—Played QB at UCLA. 2006-07—Graduate assistant coach, UCLA. 2010—Coaching assistant, Denver Broncos. 2011-15—Assistant coach (AC), Denver Broncos. 2016-17—AC, Detroit Lions. 2018—AC, Oakland Raiders. 2019-present—Offensive coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals.

Vrabel was 54-45 in six seasons with Tennesee. He was let go this offseason.

The perfect head coaching candidates for each vacancy

The perfect head coaching candidate for every current vacancy around the NFL.

There have been a plethora of teams around the NFL that decided to move on from their now former head coaches. From the totally expected to the outright shocking, there are currently eight head coaching vacancies around the NFL- each one with a candidate that could help turn their tides.

Side note: I don’t think Bill Belichick or Mike Vrabel take any current vacancy.

Titans fire head coach Mike Vrabel

Mike Vrabel is out in Tennessee

Mike Vrabel is out of work … it should not be for long.

The Tennessee Titans fired the head coach on Tuesday after a disappointing season.

Vrabel was 54-45 over six seasons with Tennessee.

However, he was 13-24 in the past two campaigns after four winning seasons.

The Titans finished last in the AFC South in 2023.

Vrabel will be a coveted candidate among the NFL openings.

There has been a lot of buzz the former New England Patriot could return to Foxborough if the AFC East team decides to part company with Bill Belichick.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: End-of-season quarterback decisions lead to surprising picks

How many NFL teams will stick with their current quarterbacks? A high number could make for an interesting first round of the 2024 draft.

Now that the 2023 NFL regular season is over, every team turns its attention to the draft — even those teams that are part of the postseason. Area scouts will start to move to the home facility to interact with scouting directors and general managers, and with the scouting combine less than two months away, it’s time to start putting your big boards together.

This applies especially to those teams with crucial quarterback decisions to make. For the purposes of this mock draft, we’ll assume that the Chicago Bears are sticking with Justin Fields, the Arizona Cardinals are committed to Kyler Murray, the Tennessee Titans think they have a future franchise quarterback in Will Levis, and the New York Jets think that eventually, Aaron Rodgers will stop shooting his mouth off long enough to play quarterback in 2024.

Conversely, the Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, New York Giants, and Atlanta Falcons will avail themselves of the best draftable quarterbacks possible in the interest of turning things around.

So, four quarterbacks go in the first round here, with more teams looking to build around the guys they’ve already got. That makes for one notable omission (Oregon’s Bo Nix), and a whole bunch of talented prospects at other positions pushing themselves up the boards.

Derrick Henry thanks Titans fans ‘for greatest eight years of his life’

Derrick Henry honored fans of the Tennessee Titans

Derrick Henry went out in style … if Sunday was his last game as a Tennessee Titan.

The great running back had 19 carries for 153 yards and a TD in Tennessee’s 28-20 upset of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After the game, Henry, who will be a free agent, thanked Titans fans “for the greatest eight years of his life.”

Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars are stuffed at goal line by Titans

The Jaguars needed a touchdown and came up short at the goal line

The Jacksonville Jaguars were three feet or so from a chance to tie the game … if they got the touchdown and went for a two-point conversion.

However, Trevor Lawrence’s attempt to reach the ball over the goal line failed in the fourth quarter.

Midway through the stanza, with Jacksonville needing a win to capture the AFC South, the Jags trailed the Titans, 28-20.

Titans score pair of rushing TDs, put Jaguars down double digits

The Jaguars face a steep climb if they want to gain the AFC South title

Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee Titans are making it difficult on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The AFC South cellar dwellers scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the second quarter on Sunday to take a 21-10 lead over the Jags, who needed a win to capture the AFC South.

The first was on an 18-yard run by Derrick Henry.

The second came on a 3-yard burst by Tyjae Spears, who earlier had caught a scoring pass from Ryan Tannehill.