NASHVILLE – Titans general manager Jon Robinson joined Voice of the Titans Mike Keith and Amie Wells on a special live episode of the Official Titans Podcast on Friday morning.
On the episode, aired exclusively for season ticket members, Robinson answered questions while on video from his home.
Some of the questions focused on the upcoming NFL Draft, and some focused on the challenges the team is facing during the coronavirus pandemic. There were questions about the roster, and free agents. And, of course, there were also some non-football questions.
Here's a look at some of the highlights:
Draft Day Set-Up
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions put on NFL teams, Robinson will work next week's NFL Draft from the theater at his home.
Robinson described his set-up – he said he has two Microsoft Surfaces, one iPad, two computer screens, one television, two phones and a projection screen he'll be watching the draft on.
Robinson said the organization's IT staff has done a great job setting him up for the draft.
Robinson said the team did an internal mock draft on Thursday "and it went excellent." Another mock draft is planned with teams across the league next Monday. Robinson said he doesn't anticipate any problems with the NFL Draft next Thursday through Saturday.
"I feel really good about where we're at from an equipment standpoint and a tech standpoint," Robinson said.
Robinson added an interesting anecdote that came from a virtual draft meeting with a prospect.
"We talked with one player last week and we met his grandmother on a Facetime call – sweet lady, it was great," Robinson said. "And, typically you don't meet grandma when you're interviewing."
What About a Draft Day Trade?
The Titans are currently scheduled to make seven selections in next week's draft: 29 (1st round), 61 (2nd), 93 (3rd), 174 (5th), 224 (7th), 237 (7th) and 243 (7th).
So, could Robinson make a draft day trade?
"That's one of the things we're talking through now," Robinson said. "Where we're picking at 29, there's going to be 28 guys that come off the board before we can select unless we slide up, and when you slide up you have to give up a pick. So, we'll just have to monitor that and see what the cost of that business will be on draft night.
"But I think we've proven that we are willing to move around on draft day, go up or go back, whatever it may be to try and position ourselves to improve the football team. … Moving around on draft day is something I really enjoy doing, to try and get as much draft day currency as possible."
Leaders?
Just like Coach Mike Vrabel was asked during his OTP appearance last week, Robinson was asked about the leaders on his football team.
"Kevin Byard has been one of our better leaders," Robinson said. "Rashaan Evans has stepped up vocally, DaQuan Jones is going to take on some more leadership up-front on the d-line. Ben Jones is one of our leaders up front on the line, along with Taylor (Lewan).
"Ryan Tannehill obviously, Derrick Henry stepped up as a leader. So those guys taking on more, even Jonnu Smith. Jonnu Smith had a great year last year and we're going to put more on his plate and ask him to kind of pick up that torch that Delanie had carried for so many years and try and show some leadership to his position group."
M&Ms
In a lighter moment, Robinson showed off a big bag of M&Ms sent to him by the NFL.
"And they are Titan blue colors, with the Titan sword on there," Robinson said. "There's a fireball on there. Hopefully we'll get some good players next weekend and I am going to have a sugar rush probably by midnight."
Back-Up QB
Starter Ryan Tannehill is back after leading the NFL in passer rating and guiding the team into the AFC Championship Game. He agreed to a new long-term deal last month.
Right now, Logan Woodside is the only other QB currently on the roster.
Robinson was asked about the plan at back-up QB, and whether he's more inclined to draft a QB, or sign someone with experience.
"We'll kind of see how it goes – we've done quite a bit of work with those quarterbacks," Robinson said. "The top guys are going to go, and we'll see how guys in those mid to later rounds fall."
Like Vrabel last week, Robinson also complimented Woodside, who completed 46-of-76 passes for 539 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, with a passer rating of 99.6, in four preseason games last year.
"Logan Woodside, and I've said this before – he's done an outstanding job the last couple of years," Robinson said. "He's really improved. He had a great preseason for us last year and he had an injury that we kind of got squared away. We're looking forward to seeing what he can do, and then we'll see how the draft unfolds, how the post-draft unfolds and then see who is kind of still out there from a veteran standpoint that we might could add post-draft."
What About Clowney?
On a conference call with reporters back on April 1st, Robinson indicated the team has interest in free agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
On Friday, Robinson was asked if there's still a chance the team signs Clowney.
"We'll see," Robinson said. "Like I said a couple of weeks ago, we've had some discussions there and we've had some dialogue back and forth. You never close the door on anything."
Clowney played his first five NFL seasons with the Texans before being traded to Seattle prior to the 2019 season.
Clowney has 32 sacks in six NFL seasons, but he had just three sacks in 13 games last season. He added 1.5 sacks in Seattle's two playoff games.
During the conference call on April 1, Robinson said Clowney's health has been a topic of conversation.
"As I said earlier, I don't think there's anything in the works," Robinson said on Friday. "But we'll continue to try and work though things and see how they go."
