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NASHVILLE, Tenn. —** Titans general manager Jon Robinson shook up the NFL Draft by trading the first overall pick to the Los Angeles Rams.
This morning, during a press conference at Saint Thomas, he talked about the move.
"Three months ago when I was sitting here we talked about rolling our sleeves up and changing this football team, and today marks another step in that direction,'' Robinson said. "It started in free agency. We think we added some good players to the football team that will make us a more competitive football team. In the end we want the most competitive 90-man roster and once we get into OTAs and the minicamps, and at the end of August we want the most competitive, tough 53-man roster that we can have.
"I had several discussions over the last few months, some initially, exploratory in nature about the No.1 pick. I would say over the last three to four weeks those discussions intensified. And we were able to last night agree to terms on a deal with the Los Angeles Rams on moving that first overall pick to those guys."
The highlights of the presser are below.
The Titans traded the No.1 pick of the draft to the Rams for the 15th overall pick in this year's draft, two second-round picks (43 and 45), and a third-rounder (76) in 2016. The Titans will also receive the Rams' first-round pick in 2017, along with their third-round pick in next year's draft.
In addition to Tennessee's No.1 pick this year, the Rams will also receive a fourth-round pick (113) and sixth-round pick (177) in 2016.
As a result of the move, the Titans now have six picks in the top 76 in this year's draft – 15, 33, 43, 45, 64 and 76. The Titans already held picks 33 and 64.
The NFL Draft is scheduled to begin on April 28.
• Robinson said doing the deal now "allows you to cast a little bit broader net if you will. We have six picks now in the top 76 as opposed to the three had we just stuck with our picks. It definitely gives us a chance to strategize if you will with those picks."
• Robinson said he had discussions with the Rams and several other teams over the last several weeks, "and we just wanted to make sure we maximized the value of the first pick and in return get what we thought was a good deal for our football team so that we can acquire players to make us more competitive."
• Robinson said, "I wasn't really shopping the pick. Teams reached out to us."
• Robinson thanked Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk, 'who I would like to thank for her support in this decision. She has been awesome throughout this entire process. (Amy) and I have talked daily, at least couple of times a week on it, and she has had a lot if input into this decision as has Mike (Mularkey) as well."
• Robinson said the extra picks "allow us to really move up and down the draft. This doesn't really knock us out of moving back up, and it doesn't mean we're going to. It gives us options. Much like a play-call sheet on game days, you want to have your full play sheet that you can call plays from. We want to have multiple options and multiple plays we can go to, if you will, to make this football team better."
• Robinson said a "couple" of teams gave the Titans solid trade offers.
• Robinson acknowledged the Titans were zeroing in on a player for the top pick before making the trade, saying: "I would say we were zeroing in on it. We weren't locked in. But we were getting closer to that. There's a chance (of still getting player).''
• Robinson said he talked with Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan the other day. Asked if he'll be the team's starting left tackle in 2016, Robinson said, "Taylor Lewan is our left tackle until he is not our left tackle, and I said that to him the other day. I said, "Taylor, you need to worry about playing left tackle and doing your job.' The team will go as we go as a team. It is not one person that is going to make this team go. It is the 11 on offense, the 11 on defense and the 11 guys on all the kicking units."
