Mariota's Ceiling Heading Into the Season

Why didn't they do that with Mariota then?

 

only 1st rounders have 5th year options

 

Because they would have had to sign him to a long term deal last season. Using the 5th year option gives them one more year to decide.

 

His ceiling is ABC coming in here and telling everyone for 6 months how he pulled the wool over our eyes and the extension he gets is going to destroy the franchise.

His floor is ABC gets such a raging boner he has to be hospitalized and can't post at all.

 

If a player is in your long term plans and you know it already, you extend him BEFORE he hits his 4th year...as in they'd be signing Conklin to a long term contract BEFORE this season. Do you think THAT is happening? I don't.

If a player is potentially a long term player but you're not sure...then you weigh the value of a long term contract versus his 5th yr option vs how good of a player he is. Right now Conklin has 2 solid years but not great. Last season was terrible and he was vastly outplayed by his backup. Based on that, you don't sign him to a long term deal and you don't pick up his 5th year option because both are more than you want to spend on a solid player...and we're not even sure what he is. So you let him play out this year and see where you're at. But I don't think the Titans want to make him the highest paid RT in the NFL. Would you right now?

That leaves us to the last point. Any time you're on a final year, you're fighting for 2 things. This year's playing time and a new contract. Considering he was awful last year...be it due to injuries or whatever...he's gonna have to earn his spot - especially considering how well Kelly played filling in for him.

When you get hurt and your replacement plays better than you did...you're fighting for a job!!! NFL stand for Not For Long!!!

 

They will if they can't extend him. But I'm pretty sure the Titans already know they want to keep him, so they are likely gonna work out an extension prior to needing to pick up the option. But if they can't work out a deal...they'll either pick up the option or franchise him...whichever is cheaper.

Point is, Byard is not fighting for his job. He has had a very big season and has played well overall. He's locked in his role.

Conklin is not.

 

When they signed Tannehill, why didn't they just cut Mariota and save the $20mil?

 

The team has no option on byard, as only first rounders have that.

 

Yeah Vondy already mentioned that. But my point is the same. Most likely they would try to sign Byard to an extension (not a new contract) before his 'option' year which would be the year he'd be a RFA. This is because they don't want him to sniff free agency and already know they want to keep him.

With Conklin, they don't know yet.

 

That is a great question. They most certainly should have.