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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Titans in 2012.

Dream scenario (11-5): Jake Locker beats out Matt Hasselbeck in the training camp quarterback battle and never looks back. The second-year signal-caller provides huge energy for the Titans, alleviating concerns about his accuracy. He spreads the ball around to a nice stable of receivers, including Kenny Britt, who stays healthy all season; Nate Washington, who matches last year’s effort; and Kendall Wright, who catches on quickly and doesn’t look like a rookie.

With a running quarterback under center and all those receivers helping stretch the field, Chris Johnson gets room and has a big rebound year. Defenses have to decide: Stack the box and risk yielding big passes or keep numbers in coverage and see CJ break off chunks.

The pass rush fares far better than last season because Kamerion Wimbley proves to be a great signing -- one that's made even more so because the offense gives Tennessee leads that make opponents one-dimensional.

Mike Munchak is a coach of the year candidate in line for an extension as he takes the Titans to the playoffs.

Nightmare scenario (5-11): They head into camp thinking they have two quarterbacks but wind up with one getting hurt and the other struggling. Britt’s not healthy, Wright’s not effective and Johnson doesn’t rebound from last year, prompting speculation that his time as a playmaker has passed.

With inconsistent offense and not a lot of points, too much falls on the defense.

Teams get them in nickel and attack the guy in the slot. The Titans roll through several options there and none of them prove nearly as effective as Cortland Finnegan was. Derrick Morgan can’t mount the healthy and productive pass-rush campaign the team was banking on and Wimbley is also unable to lead any sort of consistent charge at opposing quarterbacks.

The Titans finish the year talking about how much better Locker will be in 2013. They also enter an uncertain time with Munchak and his staff, which head into the final year of their contracts not having shown they warrant extensions.

First off, here is my unsolicited idea on the NFL’s desire to provide reliable Wi-Fi for fans at all NFL stadiums: Turn goal posts and pylons into antennas.

Moving along and reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

Punter Brett Hartmann now has league permission to take Ritalin, says Mark Berman of Fox Houston. His suspension was reduced from four games to three. I’m curious about why this case warranted a reduction, when suspensions related to violations of the league’s policies on such matters are usually cut and dried.

Rookie offensive lineman Brandon Brooks is the heaviest Texans player ever, says Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle. They’re asking him to drop 15 of his 346 pounds, and heat he’s not used to may help.

Linebackers coach Reggie Herring says the Texans gained back what they lost with the trade of DeMeco Ryans by adding Bradie James, according to Gregg Rosenthal.

Arian Foster says he can get better at everything and knows things are different for the Texans now that they’ve had success, says Robertson.

Indianapolis Colts

Tight end Dallas Clark signed with Tampa Bay after the Bucs got rid of Kellen Winslow.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Aaron Kampman and Rashean Mathis are enduring solitary roads to recovery from knee injuries, says Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union.

Montell Owens isn’t against the idea of leg pads, says Ganguli.

Martellus Bennett thinks Laurent Robinson proved himself as a No. 1 receiver last year in Dallas, says Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have signed all of their draft picks except for first-rounder Kendall Wright, says John Glennon of The Tennessean.

» NFC pressure points: West | North | South | East
» AFC pressure points: West | North | South | East

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Titans and why.

Running back Chris Johnson could get away with one off season. He was a tentative runner in 2011 no matter what he or the team says about it. He got sick of early contact. He gave up too often. He went down too easily.

The Titans have made some changes that should help.

Whether Eugene Amano remains at center or is replaced, the pivot man will be next to veteran guard Steve Hutchinson. The team expects him to have a big, positive influence on the guy next to him. Fullback Ahmard Hall won’t be re-signed, so the Titans will go with Quinn Johnson or undrafted rookie Collin Mooney as the lead blocker if the Titans stick with a fullback. First-round draft pick Kendall Wright bolsters the receiving corps and should be able to threaten deep, as will a healthy Kenny Britt. An increasingly threatening passing game should help the Titans back defenses off. Take a defender out of the box, and Johnson should be more effective.

He’s also spending extensive offseason time with the team for the first time, and coaches are convinced picking apart last season and making corrections together through the spring and summer will make a difference.

Another piece of Johnson’s contract becomes guaranteed after this season. If he comes up with another dud, the team will have cause to bail.

Find me a player in the league recovering from injury who’s saying he’s behind schedule or had concerns, and I’ll provide you with a reward.

Titans receiver Kenny Britt is recovering from a torn ACL. He and the team are optimistic he will be ready for opening day. All we can do is take their word for it and hope it's true.

In an appearance on The Wake Up Zone on Nashville radio this morning, he assessed where he currently stands. (Full disclosure: I work for the same radio station.)

“I’m out there running, mostly at full speed, cutting, running around,” Britt said. “The knee’s still swollen, but that comes with the territory and we’ve got three months before I get back on the field.”

Britt said he feels like the rehab is never-ending, and that it’s difficult to watch his teammates head out for work on the field that he can’t join.

The first two weeks after he had surgery following the Sept. 25th injury scared Britt, he said. Trainers wanted him to bend the knee at least 115 degrees. And he wasn’t able to go past 80.

“That worried me,” he said. “It was tough progress. Now we’re going downhill, and I am happy about that. Cutting and acceleration and things like that, they’re doing all right … Hopefully I will be back and ready to go.”

Tennessee drafted Baylor receiver Kendall Wright 20th overall, and his presence will help assure that Britt doesn’t have to try to do more than he should, sooner than he should.

Britt is a big fan of his new teammate.

“He’s running his routes,” Britt said. “I love how he separates and everything. We’ve got guys who can’t do it, some guys that could do it, but what he brings to the table is routes. There are a lot of guys out there that can’t cover his routes.”

As for some dumb stuff Britt’s done that landed him in off-field trouble, he sounded like a guy who’s maturing and will be staying out of headlines for things not involving football.

“I don’t want to waste my talent,” he said.

Let’s set aside Andrew Luck for the purposes of this post. Provided he’s not injured, the Colts rookie quarterback will start all season, and a starting quarterback is likely to be more impactful than people who play further away from the football.

So, beyond Luck, what rookie stands to make the biggest impact in his first season?

I’m looking for your vote and your case for the preseason AFC South Rookie of the Year BL -- Besides Luck.

I only get five slots in the poll, and went with the highest-ranking guys from the draft.

Justin Blackmon will be in line to make a big impact lining up outside provided Blaine Gabbert proves able of getting him the ball.

Kendall Wright would seem less likely to post big numbers, given he’s got a better group of receivers to compete for catches against.

Whitney Mercilus should add to the Texans' pass rush, but he’s third in line where they will have two on the field at a time.

Coby Fleener could be Luck’s top target based on Bruce Arians’ system and the pre-existing relationship between the tight end and quarterback.

Andre Branch has a chance to be the final piece to a very good defense in Jacksonville if the end can effectively and consistently rush the passer.

Like somebody drafted lower better?

Make your case below.

Since the Titans added seven players in the draft, I’ve said several times that I am a bit scared of their leanings toward potential over production, or the weight of athleticism in several of the selections.

But it’s important to note that of the seven players, that “complaint” centers on less than half the class.

Second round outside linebacker Zach Brown brings some questions about being more of an athlete than a football player. Fourth-round cornerback Coty Sensabaugh is an excellent athlete with great speed. Fifth-round tight end Taylor Thompson is a big-time athlete who didn’t play tight end in college.

(“You may say there are some more productive,” GM Ruston Webster said of Brown, “but few are more talented.”)

Perhaps those perceptions from draft analysts are off.

Perhaps three Titans assistants -- linebacker coach Frank Bush, secondary coach Brett Maxie and tight ends coach John Zernhelt -- will coach that trio up, and they will pan out in just the way the team imagines.

Perhaps we’ll rave about how their athleticism benefits the team.

It’s also worth noting that the rest of the class, led by receiver Kendall Wright, appears to be composed of guys who qualify, without question, as football players.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

Jacoby Jones had some big moments with the Texans, but they were too infrequent, says Jerome Solomon.

Bob McNair talks draft with Drew Dougherty of the Texans’ website, showing particular interest in receiver Keshawn Martin.

What to expect from Whitney Mercilus in the rookie year of the Texans' first-round outside linebacker, from Nate Dunlevy of Bleacher Report.

Indianapolis Colts

The average rookie-year production of first- and second- round tight ends sets a relatively low bar for production from Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen. Dunlevy breaks down the recent history.

A Jim Irsay comment about Indianapolis needing another big hotel to get another Super Bowl prompted this piece from Anthony Schoettle of the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars released a long list of workout players who will get a look in minicamp, says Vito Stellino.

The story of Long Ding, a Chinese kicker hoping to make the Jaguars, from Michael Preston of the International Federation of American Football.

What to expect from first-round receiver Justin Blackmon and second-round defensive end Andre Branch, in more Dunlevy projection pieces.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans added veteran linebacker Zac Diles and fullback Collin Mooney who spent the last three years fulfilling his service commitment to Army, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. With Quinn Johnson and Mooney on the roster, it doesn't look good for Ahmard Hall to return.

What to expect from Kendall Wright, from Dunlevy.

Grading drafts is one of those things -- a ton of people object to the concept, but then they read every word eagerly.

Acknowledging that, we share what we can from the ESPN.com Insider file of Mel Kiper .

Indianapolis Colts

Overall grade: A-

Kiper: "Think the Colts were concerned about building a supporting cast for Andrew Luck? They showed an unbelievable commitment to Luck, adding the top two tight ends in the draft in Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen (Luck is used to two-TE sets), a burner in T.Y. Hilton who could become a gem in the slot and even got a possible late steal with Lavon Brazill way down the board. Josh Chapman hits a big need on the interior of that defensive line, and I've even heard really positive assessments of his health situation after he actually played some games without an ACL in 2011. Colleague Trent Dilfer noted that getting all these pass-catching pieces now is a good way to develop early chemistry and give Luck a chance to succeed earlier than we suspected given the state of the lineup going into the draft. I'd make this grade a good one with Luck alone. But the Colts did that one better. They had a plan and I came away impressed."

Jacksonville Jaguars

Overall grade: C

Kiper: "Give the Jaguars credit for hitting needs with their top two picks. Justin Blackmon isn't a guy you want to have to trade up for, but it didn't cost Jacksonville dearly, and the Jaguars had to find a receiver to complement Laurent Robinson. If they didn't get Blackmon or Michael Floyd, they would have been no closer to knowing if Blaine Gabbert can develop into a franchise quarterback. Andre Branch can start early. He's better when he goes wide -- he won't be able to rush through tackles -- but he's a viable guy for a team lacking any punch in the pass rush. Bryan Anger was the top punter on my board, but taking him in the third round, with several guys who profile as potential starting right tackles available? I didn't like that pick. The Jags also didn't adequately address the secondary. Their only pick at corner or safety was Mike Harris. He was my No. 27 corner prospect."

Tennessee Titans

Overall grade: C+

Kiper: "Tennessee goes into 2012 with a vastly improved group of wide receivers. I didn't see this as a top need, but with Kenny Britt back, the addition of Kendall Wright means Jake Locker has the necessary weapons to succeed if he starts the season. If you know you have the weapons, you can better assess if you truly have your franchise quarterback. I can see the strategy. Wright was no steal, however. I thought it was possible he could fall to Round 2. Zach Brown is an athlete, but he's not physical at all. He's better chasing down plays from the weak side than he will be taking on blocks. Taylor Thompson will be a fun one to watch as he converts to tight end. He caught passes there in high school, so it won't be a foreign concept. Coty Sensabaugh has a chance to stick, but I expected earlier urgency for a cornerback. Markelle Martin might be the best value pick for Tennessee at No. 190."

Houston Texans

Overall grade: B

Kiper: "I had Whitney Mercilus as a good fit at defensive end as high as No. 19 with the Bears, so he's a pretty good value at No. 26. He isn't Mario Williams, but the defense made a huge leap in 2011, and the Texans clearly want to make sure Wade Phillips has the tools he needs. He's not a great value at No. 68 overall, but I'm intrigued by the DeVier Posey pick. He had to sit out so many games last year I don't think scouts saw enough of him. He has really good hands, can create some matchup problems, and might be a little underrated in his ability to stretch the field. I also really like Keshawn Martin. He creates space and should stick with this team. Ben Jones and Brandon Brooks help the interior of that offensive line. I was surprised the Texans didn't get a linebacker. At one time I saw Jared Crick as a second-rounder. If he regains form, that's a good value in the fourth."

» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South


Despite talk of grabbing the best player available, it’s funny how often needs and picks seem to line up.

Of 31 picks, I count four that don’t technically qualify as addressing needs: Jaguars fifth-round linebacker Brandon Marshall, Titans fifth-round tight end Taylor Thompson, Jaguars sixth-round cornerback Mike Harris and Colts seventh-round quarterback Chandler Harnish.

We saw the Texans replenish at outside linebacker, on the offensive line and at kicker and add to their options at receiver. The Colts loaded up on help for No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck -- seven of their other nine picks bring offensive players to Indianapolis . Jacksonville addressed its big needs right out of the chute, then made a couple of odd selections. Tennessee didn’t take two players at the same position.

BEST MOVE

The Jaguars came into the offseason in dire need of upgraded weaponry for Blaine Gabbert. They started last season with wide receiver Jason Hill as a starter, and he was cut before the season ended. Mike Thomas was miscast as a top-of-the-group guy when he should be a No. 3. Cecil Shorts showed he needs a lot of time to develop.

Mike Mularkey hired a solid receiver coach, Jerry Sullivan. He’s a tremendous upgrade from Johnny Cox, who was quickly fired after Jack Del Rio was dismissed during the 2011 season. Free agency brought Laurent Robinson, who should help, and Lee Evans, who’d be gravy if he can revive his career.

The Jaguars successfully sold pundits on the idea they’d be trading down, then only gave up a fourth-rounder to move up from No. 7 to No. 5 to draft Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon. He’s a dynamic receiver who can catch balls outside his frame and cause matchup problems.

Outside of Luck, no team in the division got a player who can cure an ill better than Blackmon can fix what ails the Jacksonville offense. Now it’s on Gabbert to show he can effectively get the ball to the new star receiver.

RISKIEST MOVE

The Titans didn’t touch a defensive end until Scott Solomon in the seventh round, and they didn’t add an offensive lineman at all. And pass rush and run blocking were two areas that qualified as weaknesses at the end of last season.

Tennessee hosted Scott Wells, Chris Myers, Jeff Saturday and Dan Koppen and saw all four sign elsewhere. On Saturday, coach Mike Munchak made those meetings sound like information-gathering get-togethers rather than courtships, a stance that’s pretty insulting to veterans who wouldn’t waste time making visits without the possibility of a contract.

The defense of incumbent starters on the interior -- Eugene Amano and Leroy Harris -- has entered a new round now. Munchak said the team felt no “dire need there” and that “we have guys we can win with.” Still, watch for a key undrafted addition or free agent or two.

The Titans added one big piece this offseason to its insufficient pass rush in the form of free-agent end Kamerion Wimbley, who was a cap casualty in Oakland. He may provide a big boost but also probably shouldn’t be on the field for every play. Tennessee’s only attempt to bolster itself on the edges came with the 211th pick, end Scott Solomon from Rice.

The Titans face a pretty good slate of quarterbacks this season. Those passers may have a lot of time to throw.

MOST SURPRISING PICK

We hit it hard Saturday night, but the Jaguars' selection of Bryan Anger in the third round was a baffler. Yes, the team will benefit from a big leg and stands to gain field position.

But Jacksonville overrated special teams’ impact by deciding to draft Anger so early rather than addressing other needs where it could have selected a player with a chance to play.

The Jaguars have a recent history of messing up at the position, and teams that struggle with stability at a spot are prone to overreach in an effort to correct it.

I believe that’s a good piece of what happened here. They could have gotten him or a punter who still would have been a big upgrade later.

The Jaguars found Terrance Knighton, Derek Cox and Will Rackley in the third round in Gene Smith’s previous three drafts. They are all starters who affect games more than a punter can.

They can rationalize this pick. And we can stridently disagree.

FILE IT AWAY

Six receivers came into the division -- Blackmon, Kendall Wright in Tennessee, T.Y. Hilton and LaVon Brazill in Indianapolis and DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin in Houston. That’s two first-rounders, two third-rounders, a fourth-rounder and a sixth-rounder.

The countermeasures?

Just two incoming cornerbacks -- Titans fourth-rounder Coty Sensabaugh and Jaguars sixth-rounder Harris.

Secondary depth could be severely tested by good quarterbacks and receivers, especially when the division faces the NFC North and the high-powered passing offenses of Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago.

The Colts have no proven corners beyond Jerraud Powers. The Texans lost Jason Allen, who played a reasonable amount. The Titans need to unearth a new nickelback now that Cortland Finnegan is gone. Only the Jaguars have fortified the spot, adding two-time Super Bowl winner Aaron Ross, presumably getting Cox and Rashean Mathis back healthy and drafting Harris.

The AFC South is a big running back division, but it’s become more equipped to sling it and may not have the people needed to cover offenses with a lot of downfield weapons.

“It tells you that this is a wide-open league, the offensive focus is on scoring points probably more than ever,” Titans general manager Ruston Webster said. “It’s becoming more of a quarterback-wide receiver league probably every day.”

Notes from the fine folks at ESPN Stats & Info on the four newest members of the AFC South…

Quarterback Andrew Luck of the Colts

• A QB has been selected with the first overall pick 12 times in the last 15 drafts (1998-2012).
• The Colts have drafted an offensive player with five of their last six first-round picks.
• Luck is the fourth Stanford QB to be picked 1st overall in the history of the NFL draft, joining John Elway (1983), Jim Plunkett (1971) and Bobby Garrett (1954). Stanford is the first school to have four quarterbacks drafted first overall and the first school to have four No. 1 picks at any single position.
• The Colts had the lowest Total QBR (11.9) inside of the red zone of any team in 2011. Luck has excelled in the red zone throughout his career, throwing 52 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 183 pass attempts. Since the start of 2010, no player in FBS had a higher touchdown to interception differential than Luck’s +45.

Wide receiver Justin Blackmon of the Jaguars

• Blackmon ranked third in FBS in receptions last season, fourth in receiving yards and second in receiving touchdowns.
• Blackmon replaced Dez Bryant in 2010 and caught 111 passes for 1,782 yards -- breaking Larry Fitzgerald's FBS record for sophomores -- and 20 TD
• He set an NCAA record with at least 100 yards and one touchdown in all 12 games in a season
• The Jaguars seek a first-round home run at receiver for the first time. Matt Jones (2005), Reggie Williams (2004) and R. Jay Soward (2000) were busts.

Wide receiver Kendall Wright of the Titans

• Wright is the fourth time the Titans-Oilers franchise has drafted a receiver in the first round and first since Kenny Britt in 2009.
• Wright and No. 2 pick Robert Griffin III were one of two QB-WR combinations selected in the first round. Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon were also first-rounders. Only three times before in the common draft era have a quarterback and receiver from the same school.
• Want big plays? Wright was targeted on throw of 20 yards or more. He caught 14 of them, producing eight touchdowns and 14 plays of 30 yards or more.

Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus of the Texans

• Mercilus led the FBS with 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles, and had 22.5 tackles for a loss.
• Texans first round picks in their rookie season under Gary Kubiak have started 94 of a possible 96 games. Mercilus could break that trend, as he should be the team’s third outside linebacker in their base personnel, coming in to offer some relief to Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed and as part of a nickel package.

It’s very likely that after the second round is over Friday night, we’ll say the same thing about three teams in the AFC South: That they’ve added a receiver and a pass-rusher.

Jacksonville grabbed Justin Blackmon and with the sixth pick tonight, 38th overall, it will eye a pass-rusher.

Tennessee pounced on Kendall Wright and with the 20th pick tonight, 52nd overall, it will eye a pass-rusher.

Houston snatched Whitney Mercilus and with the 26th pick tonight, 58th overall, it will eye a receiver.

Even if things don’t unfold that way, all three of the teams will wind up addressing both receiver and pass-rusher in this draft. The Colts, too, will add in both areas.

Sensing a theme?

Three of these four franchises are run-based teams. Maurice Jones-Drew, Arian Foster and Chris Johnson are top-flight backs, though Johnson has some bouncing back to do. Chuck Pagano is talking of the need for Indianapolis to run effectively, too.

But run-based is going the way of the dodo bird. No matter you’re pre-draft roster, no matter the philosophy in your DNA, no matter the path that’s given you some success, you must acknowledge it’s a passing league.

Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Drew Brees are taking their teams deep into the playoffs and winning Super Bowls by throwing it, not by handing it off. Even if your quarterback is not of that stature, you need to mirror that approach.

You need the guy to throw it, and all the teams of the AFC South now feel they have that guy.

You need guys for him to throw it to. Enter Blackmon and Wright and maybe tight end Coby Fleener for the Colts with the second pick of the second round tonight.

You need guys to harass the guy throwing it for the other team. Enter Mercilus and another influx of rushers I expect tonight.

It’s more than a coincidence that the road into the AFC South is bringing in receivers and rushers.

You need to visit ESPN’s DraftTracker, which has a thorough written and video review of Round 1, and the list of the picks to come.

Here’s a sampling:

Andrew Luck, Colts quarterback:

“How he fits: This appears to be a perfect fit of a quarterback's skill set with the Colts' new offensive philosophy. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will run a Pittsburgh-style scheme with a lot of bunch formations and movement and some no-huddle. Luck will have a lot of freedom to audible at the line of scrimmage. They want to be a much more run-oriented offense which could set up good play action, which is Luck's strength. This is a perfect offense for him, it's just a shame he won't have a better supporting cast in the beginning.”

Justin Blackmon, Jaguars receiver:

“How he fits: This was the worst pass offense in the NFL a year ago. Of course, part of the problem was QB Blaine Gabbert, however, it has been the worst receiving corps in the NFL for the past few years. The Jaguars did sign free agent Laurent Robinson from Dallas and Mike Thomas has a chance to be OK, but now they have a difference-maker and a guy who can stretch the field. All of a sudden, this pathetic passing game now has a three-wide receiver set and a nickel package that can actually threaten some defenses. This has been a short, conservative passing game in the past because they had no choice. Now, they can air it out with Blackmon or they can let him take those short to intermediate passes where he can run after the catch.”

Kendall Wright, Titans receiver:

“How he fits: This position has a chance to really improve if the Titans hit on Wright. Kenny Britt is an explosive playmaker, but he's coming off an knee injury that kept him out of the lineup in 2011, and Nate Washington is coming off a career year, but can he repeat it? If both guys play up to form in 2012, Wright could be the perfect slot receiver inside to take advantage of his quickness, and that would give the Titans a really good three-wide receiver package. Although, this offense was very vanilla in 2011, with a more complete passing game, they could really open things up. You could see Wright really flourish with yards after the catch inside.”

Whitney Mercilus, Texans outside linebacker:

“How he fits: He makes an already productive defensive front even better. Even though the Texans lost their best defensive player in Mario Williams in free agency, they got unexpected production from OLBs Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed. In this 3-4 defense that loves to attack and blitz from all directions with a lot of slants and one-gap penetrating schemes, Mercilus fits nicely as a rotation edge rusher in the 3-4 and possibly a guy who can play DE in 3-4 subpackages.”

Houston Texans



Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle: “No, the projected three-man outside linebacker crew isn’t better with Connor Barwin, Brooks Reed and (Whitney) Mercilus than it was going into last season with (Mario) Williams, (Connor) Barwin and (Brooks) Reed. Mercilus, a 21-year-old from Akron, whose parents are from Haiti, is no Mario Williams. But he might not have to be for the Texans’ defense to again be among the best in the league.”

Indianapolis Colts



Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star: Now that the Colts are off the clock, at least for now, (Andrew) Luck is on it. And cue the expectations. They always come with a top selection, whether he's Troy Aikman, Steve Bartkowski or John Elway. Some of the No. 1 overall quarterbacks have panned out beautifully: The aforementioned Aikman and Elway, Terry Bradshaw, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, all Super Bowl winners. Some have been good: Drew Bledsoe, Carson Palmer, Vinny Testaverde. A few have been busts, like Tim Couch, David Carr and Jamarcus Russell. Take this to the bank: Luck will end up being remembered with that first group.”

Jacksonville Jaguars



Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union: “Sacrificing a fourth-round pick, plus the Jaguars' No. 7 overall choice, seems like a reasonable price to pay for a two-time winner of the Biletnikoff award, given to college football's top receiver. It's hard to imagine there'll be a whole lot of second-guessing from Jaguars fans that have been screaming for receiver help since Jimmy Smith left after the 2005 season." This is a nice situation, where what the fan base craved lined up with what Smith did, and that will buy the team some good faith for sure.

Tennessee Titans



David Climer of The Tennessean on Kendall Wright: “In the NFL of 2012, you can never have enough receivers. The name of the game is outscoring the opponent, not shutting him down. So quibble about the identity of the Titans’ first-round pick if you want. But don’t criticize the position they prioritized. I for one applaud that the Titans have switched gears and gotten with the program." He’s on point. These are not Jeff Fisher’s Titans.

INDIANAPOLIS -- In Kendall Wright, the Titans add an explosive receiver who can go deep and should be a help to quarterbacks Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker.

Kenny Britt is still recovering from a torn ACL. But even before he’s healthy, I don’t hesitate to call Britt, Nate Washington, Wright, Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins the best group of receivers the Titans have had since relocating to Tennessee in 1997.

I’ve written tonight about how the Colts have an obligation after adding Andrew Luck to give him weapons to work with.

This pick by Tennessee suggests the Titans feel a similar obligation to Locker, the quarterback they picked eighth overall a year ago.

In 2011, Washington blossomed in a way I figured was not possible for a seventh-year man. Some of that came from his willingness to embrace an opportunity to work out of the slot when the Titans went three-wide.

Going forward they will have some options as to where to line people up when three receivers are on the field. And it should be more often than ever since the run-and-shoot days of the Oilers.

Wright should be a home run hitter.

And a Britt-Wright pairing should give the Titans a duo that can pull them further in line with the mindset of today’s winning NFL formula, where things center a lot more on throwing it than running it.

Thoughts on the Titans' draft from two people involved in evaluating personnel for NFL teams:

Guy No. 1:

“If guys like David DeCastro, a third offensive tackle and Ryan Tannehill go before 20, that will help push someone the Titans like a lot to 20.”

“They could like Michael Floyd, they could like Kendall Wright. But I don’t think a receiver is going to outweigh a defensive player.”

“Dre Kirkpatrick could be there for them. He’s a playmaker. He’s been coached hard. He can help them."

“There may be a lot of options for them at defensive end and defensive tackle, and I wouldn’t dismiss linebacker, either.”

Guy No. 2:

“Last year their big thing was ‘stop the run, stop the run, we don’t like these little defensive linemen.’ Every time I hear something now it’s, ‘We’ve got to rush the passer, put heat on the passer.’

“They’d take Kirkpatrick if he’s there. I don’t think he will be there. Then I don’t think there is a corner that’s attractive at 20.”

“It’s too soon for a guard or center, but if DeCastro fell, I could see them taking him.”

“I’m talking myself into Dontari Poe for them. Jerry Gray has had Pat Williams and Sam Adams. Poe will give some push and chase some sacks to Kamerion Wimbley and Derrick Morgan. Last year they liked Nick Fairley. Poe has a similar profile to Albert Haynesworth but better football character. He hustles, he tries hard. He’s only played five seasons of football.”