INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL Draft is over two months away, so Titans general manager Jon Robinson still has plenty of time to decide what he wants to do with the first overall pick.
He's certain of only one thing: He won't be tipping his hand on his plans.
"If I came on record and said "We're going with this guy right now -- which we would never do -- then it's on to Cleveland,'' Robinson said from the NFL Combine. "So we're just going to play it as it goes."
The Titans have plenty of options, from players, to a potential trade.
Robinson, in his first season as general manager, is well aware of Jimmy Johnson's old draft trade chart. But if a team wants to make a trade, it doesn't necessarily mean he's committed to following it to decide what would be a fair deal.
The Chargers, Cowboys, Jaguars, Ravens, 49ers, Dolphins, Buccaneers and Giants round out the top 10 behind the Titans and Browns.
"Everybody has their own variation of the chart; you place a numeric value on each pick in every round. And you use that to a certain degree,'' Robinson said. "In the end you just try and get what you think is a fair deal. It is no different than buying a car. They think it's worth one thing and you think it's worth another and you come to an agreement and you buy a car. If not then we won't do the deal."
Despite the team's 3-13 finish last season, Robison said the Titans have players to build around.
He's regularly mentioned Pro Bowlers in tight end Delanie Walker and defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, in addition to quarterback Marcus Mariota.
"Good front 7, (with Brian) Orakpo and (Derrick) Morgan and DaQuan Jones and Avery Williamson. (Wesley) Woodyard played some quality snaps. Getting (Jason) McCourty back,'' Robinson said of the defense. "We have some playmakers at receiver that we need more consistency with. I think the offensive line has some talented guy up there and we need more consistency there, but it comes back to the quarterback and make sure we put him in the best position possible to move the team."
Titans head coach Mike Mularkey and GM Jon Robinson make media rounds at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. (Photos: Gary Glenn, Dwight Spradlin)
This offseason, the Titans have a chance to upgrade, in free agency, and the draft.
Robinson knows he's on the spot. Does having the No.1 pick add to the pressure?
"There's quite a bit of pressure,'' he said. "(But) I don't know that there's any more pressure than any of the first round picks, you want to get those right. Those are the building blocks of your football team. Those are the foundational pieces. I mean, you are sending a message to the guys in the locker room: This is the guy we are taking and this is a guy we want to build a football team around. So whether it is 1 or later on, it has to be a cornerstone piece."
