Talk in Tennessee of Titans making a run at Rivers

[boozeman]

Talk in Tennessee of Titans making a run at Rivers

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 5, 2015, 12:48 PM EDT


Trade rumors come and go all the time in the NFL. Sometimes the rumor is quickly denied and disappears. Sometimes the rumor comes to fruition. And then there’s the persistent rumor that the Chargers could trade quarterback Philip Rivers to the Titans for the second overall pick in the draft.

That rumor sounds farfetched, and yet it’s not going away. Today’s installment of the discussion comes from David Clymer of the Tennesseean, who writes that the Titans are unlikely to use the second overall pick on either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, but would like to add a quarterback. Among the dots being connected to lead to the conclusion that Rivers is in play:

Rivers isn’t signing a new contract with the Chargers, meaning his future with the team is uncertain. Rivers reportedly wouldn’t want to move to Los Angeles along with the Chargers if they leave for San Diego, and the Chargers may want a quarterback they can be sure is there for the long run, and not just for one more year.

The Chargers are interested in Mariota. San Diego has scheduled a workout for Mariota, which wouldn’t make a lot of sense if the Chargers weren’t considering trading up to get him. It’s unlikely that Mariota will be there for the Chargers with the 17th overall pick in the draft.

Rivers has a connection with Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt. Rivers said at the end of the 2013 season, when Whisenhunt was the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, that they had worked very well together and that Rivers had no doubt Whisenhunt would succeed in his next head-coaching stop.

The Titans have the cap space to take on Rivers’s contract this year. Tennessee currently has about $26 million in cap space, meaning it could take on Rivers’s $17 million cap hit for this year. Obviously, if the Titans were going to trade the No. 2 overall pick for Rivers, they’d want to work out a long-term contract extension with him. But they can take on his current contract now and worry about an extension later.

Add it all up, and the idea of the Titans making a run at Rivers, and the Chargers taking the No. 2 pick and drafting Mariota, doesn’t sound crazy. It’s an idea worth keeping an eye on as the draft approaches.

 

[P_T]

If this were to happen, Philly fans would shit themselves... most of them still believe that a trade for Mariota is destined for the Eagles. I would love to see this happen.

 

[Clay_Allison]

Talk in Tennessee of Titans making a run at Rivers

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 5, 2015, 12:48 PM EDT


Trade rumors come and go all the time in the NFL. Sometimes the rumor is quickly denied and disappears. Sometimes the rumor comes to fruition. And then there’s the persistent rumor that the Chargers could trade quarterback Philip Rivers to the Titans for the second overall pick in the draft.

That rumor sounds farfetched, and yet it’s not going away. Today’s installment of the discussion comes from David Clymer of the Tennesseean, who writes that the Titans are unlikely to use the second overall pick on either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, but would like to add a quarterback. Among the dots being connected to lead to the conclusion that Rivers is in play:

Rivers isn’t signing a new contract with the Chargers, meaning his future with the team is uncertain. Rivers reportedly wouldn’t want to move to Los Angeles along with the Chargers if they leave for San Diego, and the Chargers may want a quarterback they can be sure is there for the long run, and not just for one more year.

The Chargers are interested in Mariota. San Diego has scheduled a workout for Mariota, which wouldn’t make a lot of sense if the Chargers weren’t considering trading up to get him. It’s unlikely that Mariota will be there for the Chargers with the 17th overall pick in the draft.

Rivers has a connection with Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt. Rivers said at the end of the 2013 season, when Whisenhunt was the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, that they had worked very well together and that Rivers had no doubt Whisenhunt would succeed in his next head-coaching stop.

The Titans have the cap space to take on Rivers’s contract this year. Tennessee currently has about $26 million in cap space, meaning it could take on Rivers’s $17 million cap hit for this year. Obviously, if the Titans were going to trade the No. 2 overall pick for Rivers, they’d want to work out a long-term contract extension with him. But they can take on his current contract now and worry about an extension later.

Add it all up, and the idea of the Titans making a run at Rivers, and the Chargers taking the No. 2 pick and drafting Mariota, doesn’t sound crazy. It’s an idea worth keeping an eye on as the draft approaches.

I'd trade the #2 overall for Rivers in a heartbeat if I was the Titans, assuming he would agree in principle to a contract extension.

 

[Smitty]

I'd trade the #2 overall for Rivers in a heartbeat if I was the Titans, assuming he would agree in principle to a contract extension.

I don't know that I would.

He's failed to take a much better San Diego team any further than the outskirts of the playoffs and he's now got 11 years of service under his belt.

This would smell like a Drew Bledsoe to Buffalo trade to me. And they overpaid by giving up a late first.

#2 overall seems really steep.

 

[Clay_Allison]

I don't know that I would.

He's failed to take a much better San Diego team any further than the outskirts of the playoffs and he's now got 11 years of service under his belt.

This would smell like a Drew Bledsoe to Buffalo trade to me. And they overpaid by giving up a late first.

#2 overall seems really steep.

He is 33 but he's had no injury issues. He hasn't shown any indication he can't play up to his usual level. Bledsoe had a well known fatal flaw and was coming off losing his job. Also, Whisenhunt has had some success with an older elite QB and he's been run out of town while looking for a new one. I don't see why he wouldn't try to get lighting to strike his career twice.

 

[Smitty]

He is 33 but he's had no injury issues. He hasn't shown any indication he can't play up to his usual level. Bledsoe had a well known fatal flaw and was coming off losing his job. Also, Whisenhunt has had some success with an older elite QB and he's been run out of town while looking for a new one. I don't see why he wouldn't try to get lighting to strike his career twice.

Yeah, but the #2 overall pick could be a ten year Pro Bowler at another position.

It might make sense to go after Rivers, but not for the 2nd overall pick.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Yeah, but the #2 overall pick could be a ten year Pro Bowler at another position.

It might make sense to go after Rivers, but not for the 2nd overall pick.

But unless it's a 10 year probowl QB it might not matter all that much. I hate to say it but it's just so hard to find upper level QBs and even harder to compete without one.

 

[Clay_Allison]

Yeah, but the #2 overall pick could be a ten year Pro Bowler at another position.

It might make sense to go after Rivers, but not for the 2nd overall pick.

Even if Leonard Williams is the next JJ Watt, the Texans still missed the playoffs with JJ Watt and no QB. Also, the Titans (and Texans) play in an easy division. There is only one elite QB (Luck) in the division. If you get a top 10 QB of your own, you're going to be in it, just do a better job than Indy of developing a running game and a defense.

 

[townsend]

Even if Leonard Williams is the next JJ Watt, the Texans still missed the playoffs with JJ Watt and no QB. Also, the Titans (and Texans) play in an easy division. There is only one elite QB (Luck) in the division. If you get a top 10 QB of your own, you're going to be in it, just do a better job than Indy of developing a running game and a defense.

Rivers isn't Luck though. All of his success came while being paired with the best RB of the early to mid 2000s. Admittedly the Texans managed to lose any chance at the playoffs due to QB play. But that wasn't lack of a franchise QB, that was having every guy under center being pants shitting terrible.
I'd say Rivers is worth swapped firsts between SD and TEN as well as the 34th pick.

 

[Clay_Allison]

Rivers isn't Luck though. All of his success came while being paired with the best RB of the early to mid 2000s. Admittedly the Texans managed to lose any chance at the playoffs due to QB play. But that wasn't lack of a franchise QB, that was having every guy under center being pants shitting terrible.
I'd say Rivers is worth swapped firsts between SD and TEN as well as the 34th pick.

It's not like Rivers has been exposed. Yeah, he can't carry his team. He's basically a tall, healthy Tony Romo.

Tennessee's QBs were even more pants shitting terrible than the Texans. If they want to get out of that hole, they need a QB that's above the Mendoza Line.

If anyone currently working for Tennessee wants to keep their job for long, they need a QB. Not having one will get them all fired, no matter how well they draft besides that.

If I was the Titans I'd be stoked to do the trade you suggest if SD was that in love with Mariota. I'm no expert on trade value in terms of what teams are willing to pay. It seems to change every year.

 

[Smitty]

I'm just not a fan of trading for 33 year old QBs.

I'm totally behind the argument that you can't compete without the right QB and that I'd trade multiple firsts to get that guy... And I even like Phillip Rivers a lot...

... But I'm not giving up the #2 overall pick (say it is a JJ Watt level player) for a QB that old who has never been able to elevate his team into the Super Bowl.

Not unless it was Peyton Manning and I thought he could single handedly get my team to the next level and if I thought he could play for another 6-7 years at that level. I don't think that about Rivers.

 

[Deuce]

I'm just not a fan of trading for 33 year old QBs.

I'm totally behind the argument that you can't compete without the right QB and that I'd trade multiple firsts to get that guy... And I even like Phillip Rivers a lot...

... But I'm not giving up the #2 overall pick (say it is a JJ Watt level player) for a QB that old who has never been able to elevate his team into the Super Bowl.

Not unless it was Peyton Manning and I thought he could single handedly get my team to the next level and if I thought he could play for another 6-7 years at that level. I don't think that about Rivers.

I agree for the most part, but what if as an organization you've decided to use the pick on a QB. You can either trade it for or an established Rivers or just Marriota. What do you do? I might lean towards the short term sure thing.

 

[Clay_Allison]

I'm just not a fan of trading for 33 year old QBs.

I'm totally behind the argument that you can't compete without the right QB and that I'd trade multiple firsts to get that guy... And I even like Phillip Rivers a lot...

... But I'm not giving up the #2 overall pick (say it is a JJ Watt level player) for a QB that old who has never been able to elevate his team into the Super Bowl.

Not unless it was Peyton Manning and I thought he could single handedly get my team to the next level and if I thought he could play for another 6-7 years at that level. I don't think that about Rivers.

When I first said it I hadn't really realized how much time had gone by. In my head he was 30-31. At this point I agree he's not worth that pick straight up, but a pick swap could be fair. #2 for #17 and a future 2nd.

 

[data]

best case scenario - rivers does for the Titans what Peyton has done for the Broncos.

Rivers only plays four years for the Titans.

What it be worth the #2 pick?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

best case scenario - rivers does for the Titans what Peyton has done for the Broncos.

Rivers only plays four years for the Titans.

What it be worth the #2 pick?

I don't know, but what if the Titans are never in position to draft a franchise QB for the next 4 years? I'd say it would be worth it to make the trade then. Without that franchise QB they will suck for that period of time. Of course I actually like Zach Mettenberger. He has some maturity issues but I like his physical tools.

 

[Smitty]

Without a franchise QB, it's extremely unlikely that they can be a perennial Super Bowl contender, but Rivers and a below average roster doesn't make you a Super Bowl contender either.

I'd rather sit at the bottom for a couple years with no QB, trying to get a young one in the draft, as opposed to locking myself in to 8-8 or 9-7 for the next 3-4 years with Rivers and a mediocre surrounding cast.

Does anyone think the Titans would be able to go 12-4 and make a couple Super Bowl runs the next couple years with Rivers? I don't.

And if not, I keep building and keep trying to find my young franchise QB to grow with.

 

[Jiggyfly]

Without a franchise QB, it's extremely unlikely that they can be a perennial Super Bowl contender, but Rivers and a below average roster doesn't make you a Super Bowl contender either.

I'd rather sit at the bottom for a couple years with no QB, trying to get a young one in the draft, as opposed to locking myself in to 8-8 or 9-7 for the next 3-4 years with Rivers and a mediocre surrounding cast.

Does anyone think the Titans would be able to go 12-4 and make a couple Super Bowl runs the next couple years with Rivers? I don't.

And if not, I keep building and keep trying to find my young franchise QB to grow with.

I would be hesitant to trade for Rivers but I think that roster with a good QB is in that 11-5 range.

 

[Clay_Allison]

Without a franchise QB, it's extremely unlikely that they can be a perennial Super Bowl contender, but Rivers and a below average roster doesn't make you a Super Bowl contender either.

I'd rather sit at the bottom for a couple years with no QB, trying to get a young one in the draft, as opposed to locking myself in to 8-8 or 9-7 for the next 3-4 years with Rivers and a mediocre surrounding cast.

Does anyone think the Titans would be able to go 12-4 and make a couple Super Bowl runs the next couple years with Rivers? I don't.

And if not, I keep building and keep trying to find my young franchise QB to grow with.

Their roster isn't awesome, but take a look at their offensive line. On paper they have the line to protect Rivers and establish the run with a good rookie RB from this draft. They have some pieces on defense and Horton/Lebeau running the D. If they can get a RB and an edge rusher out of the draft, and Rivers via trade, they could go places.

 

[boozeman]

Their roster isn't awesome, but take a look at their offensive line. On paper they have the line to protect Rivers and establish the run with a good rookie RB from this draft. They have some pieces on defense and Horton/Lebeau running the D. If they can get a RB and an edge rusher out of the draft, and Rivers via trade, they could go places.

They need a real TE/security blanket to give Rivers an intermediate target. Their WRs are not that kind of target.

I wouldn't trade for him if I am Tennessee unless the Chargers basically swapped first round picks and included him in the deal in lieu of another premium pick.

This talk of two firsts for Rivers is insane.

 

[Clay_Allison]

They need a real TE/security blanket to give Rivers an intermediate target. Their WRs are not that kind of target.

I wouldn't trade for him if I am Tennessee unless the Chargers basically swapped first round picks and included him in the deal in lieu of another premium pick.

This talk of two firsts for Rivers is insane.

Two firsts? Fuck that. No, swap firsts (like you said) is the most I would go and I'd still want a pick back.