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Houston Texans

Former Texans receiver Jacoby Jones welcomes his move to new surroundings in Baltimore. "Change is good in life," said Jones, whose muffed punt in last season's playoffs led to a Ravens touchdown in a game Baltimore won by seven. "It’s always good to have a breath of fresh air.”

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts appear to be feeling the absence of top draft pick Andrew Luck, who is missing this week's organized team activities and can't report to the team's facilities until after his final exams at Stanford. "For him to be here, taking snaps, building chemistry, the timing with the offense, timing with the receivers, all those kind of things ... it’s days lost,’’ coach Chuck Pagano told the Indianapolis Star's Mike Chappell of the quarterback. “It’s like money you never get back."

The team signed four more draft picks Wednesday: fifth-rounder Vick Ballard, sixth-rounder LaVon Brazill, and seventh-round selections Tim Fugger and Chandler Harnish.

Becoming head coach of the Colts "has been a whirlwind" Pagano says in a Q&A with Chappell.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Though he hasn't been cleared for contact, linebacker Paul Posluszny is participating in this week's organized team activities as he recovers from January shoulder surgery. "As far as working out, being functional, the strength, the stability -- everything is back," Posluszny, who expects to be at full strength for training camp, told the team's official site. "I’m still not allowed to be in contact, but other than that, it feels great. It feels normal to me."

The Jaguars don't mind practicing in the rain, writes Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union.

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert isn't taking his starting job for granted, writes Stellino.

Tennessee Titans

As expected, receiver Kenny Britt had minor surgery on his right knee in an effort to boost his return from torn ligaments suffered in September. The procedure will "probably accelerate his rehab," Titans general manager Ruston Webster told the Tennessean. Also in Jim Wyatt's notebook: The Titans have not had any contract talks with franchise player Michael Griffin, but the safety is working out with teammates. And third-round pick Mike Martin signed a four-year deal.

And after thoroughly examining other options at center, it looks like the Titans will go with one of their own this fall, writes Wyatt. Eugene Amano, the regular starter the past two seasons, will have to hold off Kevin Matthews, Fernando Velasco and rookie William Vlachos for the job, Webster said.

The Titans are in the running for former Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell, writes Terry McCormick.

Picking a starting quarterback can be a difficult proposition, but for the Titans, Webster says choosing between Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker could come down to a simple "gut feeling," writes Elliot Harrison of NFL.com.

With the departure of Peyton Manning and Mario Williams, the AFC South lost two overall No. 1 picks.

The loss of star power led me to wonder about what our teams have left in terms of high-ranking draft picks, and how they compare to one another and the rest of the league.

John McTigue of ESPN Stats & Information looked at the average draft slot of the top 10 highest-drafted players -- how ever deep that goes beyond the first round -- still on each team.

Obviously, where a team drafts is based on how it finishes. Certainly higher draft picks hardly guarantee successful choices. But if you’ve got higher picks, you’ve got a better chance of hitting.

As the chart at right shows, all four AFC South teams fall below the league average of 35.1: The Texans are at 35.4, the Jaguars 38.1, the Titans 39.3 and the Colts 46.8.

The Texans and Colts clearly suffer from losing Williams and Manning. The Jaguars have only four home-grown first-rounders on their team after a bunch of busts. The Titans' number inflates because Adam Jones and Vince Young didn’t stick around. The Colts have been consistently good, so they’ve consistently drafted late. Their averages are about to rise.

As the chart below shows, the top 10 highest-drafted players still in the AFC South average a draft spot of 11.1. The only division whose top 10 remaining home-grown draft picks were selected at a worse average position is the NFC East (13.9).

It's interesting that first-rounders remaining were drafted, on average, inside the top 12.

Last year, when Bill Polian was still running the Colts, he said he expected a higher hit rate when picking before and after 12th through a draft.

“I think you have to divide it into top 12 and bottom 20," he said. "If you’re in the top 12, it ought to be in the .640 range. That’s about 4.5 guys on average per year out of the seven. You measure that at the end of three years and what you are measuring is whether or not those guys become winning players, guys that contribute to wins. Bottom 20 is .571, that’s four out of seven."

Keith Hawkins of ESPN Stats & Info limited his search to the average draft position of first-rounders remaining with the team that drafted them (chart at right). This seems less telling to me as you eliminate first-rounders who busted, and first-rounders who have left.

Buffalo’s the high at 7.7, the Giants are the low at 25.2.

Jacksonville comes in at 14.0, Houston at 15.0, Tennessee at 19.4 and Indianapolis at 24.2.

Here are the top draft guys in the division now, pending the Colts' pick at No. 1, and the Jaguars' pick at No. 7.

• Texans receiver Andre Johnson, third overall
• Titans quarterback Jake Locker, eighth
• Jaguars left tackle Eugene Monroe, eighth
• Jaguars defensive tackle Tyson Alualu, 10th
• Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert, 10th
• Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, 11th
• Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, 11th
• Texans inside linebacker Brian Cushing, 15th
• Titans defensive end Derrick Morgan, 16th
• Titans safety Michael Griffin, 19th

GMAC from Nashville writes: Offering our 20th pick for [Dwight] Freeney? Are you kidding me? I hope Ruston Webster doesn't read you. You didn't even mention the botched trade, when we sent our first to the Rams for Kevin Carter in 2001. He made the probowl one year and was gone after his fourth... and he was 28 at the time. You think he wanted to play here? C'mon man. I'd rather have a top 20 prospect, who is committed to the team that drafted him than watch Freeney (32), who probably bleeds colt blue, be injured for most of the duration of his contract here. A third at most. I won't make this any longer because you probably won't respond anyway. Keep up the good work.

Paul Kuharsky: Yeah, I won’t respond. I am known for hiding.

People are overly protective of draft picks. Who’s this great pass rusher they will get at 20? Will he be as good as Michael Griffin’s been as a safety after being the 19th pick?

They need a special pass-rusher. Freeney is one. There aren’t many, if any, in this draft. They are gone by 20. Seven of the last 21 defensive ends drafted BEFORE 20th rate as busts at this point to me.

I said start off by offering a second-rounder.

Kevin Carter wasn’t great, but he was a pretty effective player for the Titans. Absolutely he wanted to play for the Titans. Why wouldn’t he have?

Ron from Murfreesboro, Tenn., writes: Any chance the Titans pursue the Saint's Carl Nicks. He's a great player at a position of need for the Titans. Not sure what his price range would be like. If we go out and get him then I think we can focus the rest of the offseason on improving the defense. What are some other offensive line candidates the team will look at both in free agency and the draft?

Paul Kuharsky: Nicks will be the costliest guard in the league. Someone other than the Titans will very likely be writing those checks. A mid-range free agent or draft pick is most likely. Can’t tell you names.

Garrett from Missoula, Mont., writes: If Peyton Manning goes to Miami, what are the chances Reggie Wayne joins him? It seems like a perfect fit with Miami's roster and the history Wayne has there, especially if Manning goes.

Paul Kuharsky: With or without Manning, I would think Miami would be a favorite to land Wayne. He could be great for another QB too.

Larry Dorsch from Pittsburgh writes: Where do you see Tommie Campbell "fitting it" with the Titans?

Paul Kuharsky: He will compete for third corner. He will be the third, fourth or fifth corner and a key special-teamer.

Amy Hamilton from Indianapolis writes: It makes no difference how long we had to prepare. It is profoundly depressing. Sure, it's only a game. I keep telling myself that to no avail. There is no comparison to Favre or Montana. Peyton revolutionized the game and put us on the map. I really don't care if Andrew Luck is the right choice - you stick with Peyton until he's ready to be done. Maybe we Hoosiers are unusual in that respect.

Paul Kuharsky: Revolutionized the game? A bit strong, I think. He’s a fantastic player and unique. Others can’t do what he does (or did) in terms of altering plays at the line. But for that to be a revolution, we’d have to see more guys starting to do it. And they aren’t.

And Joe Montana won four Super Bowls. I know it’s about the team, not just the quarterback, but you needn't be dismissive of Montana in order to be complimentary of Manning.

It was not my sense that most Hoosiers said the Colts had to stick with Manning given the circumstances, just that he deserved to go out gracefully.

Aaron from Jacksonville, Fla., writes: Hey Paul, why is everyone thinking that Miami is "close to a championship" and ideal for Manning? Do they not remember that just last season the Dolphins won only 6 games and also fired their head coach? Sure coaching may be a FACTOR but you have to figure the fault lies with the players as well. Just curious.

Paul Kuharsky; I am with you. I think they are being over-rated – in large part because, while I like Joe Philbin, I know nothing of how he will be as a head coach.

Gavin from Fairmont, W.Va., writes: I am a long time Colts fan and come often to your blog. I keep seeing that Luck is the most NFL ready QB, and I wanted to know your thoughts on this. Doesn’t that, being the most NFL ready QB, mean he has little to no room to improve so you are basically getting what you see.

Paul Kuharsky: No, it doesn’t mean that at all. NFL-ready means ready to play in the NFL. It means he’ll be better at the beginning.

It doesn’t mean has maxed out or won’t have room to learn and get better.

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans

Arian Foster had his knee scoped last week and passed a physical before signing his new five-year contract, writes John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

Ex-Oilers say they didn’t have any sort of bounty program, writes John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

Lance Zierlein, the Chronicle blogger, likes the job Texans Rick Smith is doing right now.

Indianapolis Colts

Robert Mathis’ contract is for four years and $36 million, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star. “It includes a $15 million signing bonus, guarantees Mathis $17 million in the first year and pays him $24 million over the first two years.”

Chappell takes on some questions including the likelihood that the Colts would find a way to keep a healthy Peyton Manning.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags tagged kicker Josh Scobee, but hope to reach a long-term deal with their kicker, says Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union.

Gregg Williams’ style resonated with a couple Jaguars during his one year in Jacksonville, writes Tania Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

Michael Griffin is going to be motivated by the franchise tag, he told Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

How the 21 franchise tags from around the NFL affect the teams of the AFC South.

Houston Texans

Salary cap limitations likely mean the Texans are not active in free agency. The market may have shifted on a guy like Reggie Wayne, who could have been attractive with Dwayne Bowe, DeSean Jackson and Wes Welker out of the unrestricted free agent picture.

More significantly, the price defensive end/outside linebacker Mario Williams will be able to attract if he gets to free agency is likely up. The Colts tagged Robert Mathis, the Lions tagged Cliff Avril and the Cardinals tagged Calais Campbell, and they were the next-best pass-rushers for needy teams to target.

Indianapolis Colts

Those three receivers -- Bowe, Jackson and Welker -- disappearing from the market mean that two Colts unrestricted free agents to-be probably fare a bit better. Pierre Garcon has speed and youth to sell and Wayne has veteran wiles and reliability.

The Colts could make another charge at signing Garcon before March 13th, but he may be determined to see what free agency can bring him.

I don’t think they will have much money to spend on free agents, but the offensive line and defensive tackles pools -- their biggest positions of need beyond receiver -- are unchanged.

Jacksonville Jaguars

No one needs a big-time, team-leading wide receiver more than the Jaguars do. I don’t believe they would have been players for Jackson or Welker. But Bowe could have been a guy they were interested in.

Whether or not they will be players for Williams, plan B should have been Mathis. The hit to the potential defensive end market hurts as a big-time pass-rusher is the big defensive need. Cornerback could still be OK with Tennessee’s Cortland Finnegan, Kansas City’s Brandon Carr and San Francisco's Carlos Rogers on track to reach free agency.

Tennessee Titans

That San Francisco tagged Dashon Goldson and Oakland franchised Tyvon Branch severely thinned the safety market, which helped prompt Tennessee to tag Michael Griffin. I would have loved to have seen their approach is the two guys from the West Coast were heading for unrestricted free agency.

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reported that Mathis would have been a target and general manager Ruston Webster had said a special, pass-rushing defensive end was one position for which the team might have been willing to overpay. He didn’t say overpay by a gigantic degree, however. With a bid for Williams unlikely, who’s the next best rusher now?

Franchise tags have to be given out by 4 p.m. ET, 3 p.m. CT today.

The Titans are tagging safety Michael Griffin at $6.2 million. The Jaguars have tagged kicker Josh Scobee at a number that will be around $2.65 million.

Are there other possibilities in the AFC South?

Houston Texans

It would take some incredible accounting work to clear $22 million to tag outside linebacker Mario Williams and that number would hang over the team. It’s one thing to buy time with it, but what if he signed it and you’re stuck with a number for him that accounts for 17 or 18 percent of your cap? Do you cut people and limit what you can do going forward by taking on that number? Williams can be a tremendous player, but those two 2s look like a pair of handcuffs to me.

Center Chris Myers is a guy they really can’t afford to lose. But a tag number of $9.5 million factors in left tackle contracts as there is one tag number for all offensive linemen. I think they should put it on him if they can, hopefully as a stopgap to buy time to negotiate something long term. I don’t know their cap specifics right now, but believe it would be awfully difficult to make this work.

Indianapolis Colts

So the choice appears to be between defensive end Robert Mathis and receiver Pierre Garcon.

Mathis is over 30, so a one-year measure would make sense though he wouldn’t be happy about it. Once he came to terms with it, however, I would think a new defensive staff could sell him on some hybrid work when they shift to 3-4. How much do you factor in where he might land? If you set him free, you could face him twice a year as a member of the Jaguars or Titans.

Garcon is young and has one super-valuable commodity -- speed. But he’s inconsistent and unreliable and it would be hard to predict how he would react to a big-money guarantee.

Either will be a hot commodity on the open market. I think the reliable Reggie Wayne might actually be the best choice because of how he could help Andrew Luck. But between Mathis and Garcon, I’d go Mathis.

Ideal scenario: Tag the one you're furthest apart from in contract talks and get the other signed before March 13th. Unlikely, I know.

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean solidified the presumption that the Titans would likely put the franchise tag on safety Michael Griffin, reporting it will happen.

The team’s first-round pick from 2007 has been inconsistent in five seasons. He may be better than most of the alternatives at a thin position in both free agency and the draft, but a guaranteed one-year salary of $6.2 million qualifies as dangerous to me.

Griffin is a complicated, moody guy. He’s at his best when the players around him are excelling, and tends not to play well when they aren’t playing well. While he got a big contract as a rookie, we have no real idea how he will react to the tag when he surely believes he’s worthy of a long-term deal. In my view, with Chris Hope gone, the Titans lack a strong leader in the secondary.

I question the move. My franchise player needs to be a guy who sets the tone, not a guy who needs the tone set for him. And while $6.2 million is hardly exorbitant, I’ve said I think the Titans could find someone at half that price to produce as Griffin did in 2011. It strikes me as a) settling and b) playing somewhat scared. I won't go so far as to call it panic.

Tennessee stood to lose three of its four starters in the secondary, with Griffin, cornerback Cortland Finnegan and safety Jordan Babineaux all heading for free agency. Indications are the team will quickly sign Babineaux once free agency opens March 13. A rule pertaining to Babineaux’s expiring contract prohibits him being re-signed before the new league year begins.

So while I expect Finnegan to be gone and the Titans to add a safety and a corner for depth, they could well go into the 2012 season with a secondary that looks a lot like last year’s. Cornerback Jason McCourty, Griffin and Babineaux will remain in place. Alterraun Verner will start in Finnegan’s place and the Titans will have a competition to see who takes over Finnegan’s nickel role.

An upgraded pass rush is a priority, and it will help all those guys on the back end.

But the Titans could have been more ambitious and/or creative at safety.

Here’s hoping they get someone in place behind Griffin who’s ready to take over in 2013, when he will be a free agent again.

Trace in Jacksonville, Fla., writes: I keep seeing all these things about making Mario Williams the "highest paid defensive end in NFL history." Why is this? I mean, he's definitely good, but he's coming off an injury, and he's not even the best DE in the league, much less "in NFL history."

Paul Kuharsky: Not just the highest-paid defensive end in league history, but the highest-paid defender in league history.

It isn’t about being the best defender in league history. It will be the product of several things: He’d be the most impactful defensive free agent coming available. Such commodities can rarely be had for just money. Prices go up each year and the best guy in each, more expensive year, has a chance to get near the top. Williams' physical skill set and body are ridiculous. Pass-rushers may be at an all-time high in value -- it’s such a quarterback league that flustering the quarterback is the next most important thing to having a quality QB.

It’s also not about what he’s done, it’s about what he will be expected to do.

And the next time a top pass-rusher comes available, Williams will become the highest-paid in history. A lot of it is dumb luck on the timing and coming free.

Kevin in Richmond writes: Will the Titans still be eligible for a compensatory draft pick if Randy Moss is signed by another team or does his retirement negate that?

Paul Kuharsky: While the compensatory draft pick formula is complicated and secret, it’s intended for a team to be compensated if the free agent losses it suffered outweigh the free agent gains it made.

What loss did the Titans suffer with Randy Moss? They let a guy they didn’t play reach free agency, and he wasn’t signed elsewhere. I can’t imagine he factors into the compensatory draft pick formula on their behalf.

Ryan in Omaha writes: I read up on that article about Josh Scobee possible on the franchise candidacy for Jax and I can't see that as making any sense at all! Can you explain the logic of throwing 2 million dollars to an upper echelon kicker for a year when we could tag Jeremy Mincey or more likely Dwight Lowery for a year and get a lot more bang for that buck, am I right?

Paul Kuharsky: Two million isn’t a lot in relative terms. I don’t see how you can complain about spending $2 million on Scobee and say you’d rather spend $10.6 million on Mincey. Mincey is not worth close to that. Lowery is good and needs to be re-signed. But $6.2 million seems pretty high for him too.

Tony in Austin, Texas, writes: I agree with your assessment that Titans Safety Griffin has been inconsistent and underperforming. But to upgrade, they need someone better to replace him. Do you see any F.A. candidates? Their draft position doesn't lend itself to picking up either of the top 2 safeties without reaching. I think they need to Tag Griffin, no?

Paul Kuharsky: Well two upgrade candidates have disappeared. SF’s Dashon Goldson and Oakland's Tyvon Branch have been tagged. Washington’s LaRon Landry and Jacksonville’s Lowery may still hit the market.

Even if you don’t get one of them: Do you pay Griffin $6 million out of some sort of fear? You don’t think they can find a safety who can play as poorly for say, $3 million?

Kyle in Kihei, Hawaii, writes: Are there NFL rules prohibiting teams from loaning players to other teams? If Peyton is healthy, why not keep him for a couple more years and loan Luck to the Redskins for cash considerations. I can't get Schefter or @JimIrsay to pay attention to me (although the Rams and Eagles scouts said this was a creative idea) so forward this to the Colts brass so they can at least get it rejected by the competition committee themselves.

Paul Kuharsky: What would the Redskins gain by borrowing Luck? They could develop him to hand him back to the Colts only to have a gaping hole at the spot, again?

What would the Colts gain by lending Luck (beside borrowed time for Manning)? A team isn’t going to hand a guy of such value over to a rival to train in different methods, to get hurt in a different stadium, etc.

Can you imagine the Colts playing the Redskins and setting their own pass-rushers free on their loaned-away franchise quarterback?

It works for some international soccer clubs, not for the NFL.

Mr. Marsh in Dallas writes: Wow, I originally thought this was a comparison article. The column started out discussing RG3 and Luck and their interview performances. But somehow it ended up being an propaganda piece for Luck. One more example of why more diversity is needed within the media.

Paul Kuharsky: I presume you are talking about this piece, though you did not specify.

I don’t really get how diversity is at question when I am writing from my point of view and what I believe will be the Colts’ point of view. Luck is better. I believe so. Every scout and coach I have talked to believes so. The Colts are going to draft him, which more than suggests they believe so.

I don’t know why I would pretend otherwise. Writing well of the best guy is now propaganda, huh?

Joe in Louisiana writes: I seen one story about a month ago about Titans fans trying to advertise for Peyton to come back to Tennessee.... is this talk a dead trend or is there still a chance he could come and be a Titan in the state where he had so much success?

Paul Kuharsky: I don’t really understand the state part of it. Surely he could have success in Washington or Florida as easily as in Tennessee, no? I don’t see geography playing any role in linking the previous and future success.

Some fans have pushed for it. The Titans have made it clear it’s not going to happen.

The Tennessee Titans might be looking for help at safety early in the draft. Could an injury that kept a prime prospect out of the combine help that prospect slip to the Titans at No. 20?

Alabama safety Mark Barron looks to be a player who could solve a big issue in Tennessee. He’s a big (6-foot-1, 213 pounds), rangy playmaker who should be an opening day starter. He played both free and strong safety for Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.

“Big safety, athletic, smart, rare size and frame,” a scout told me at the combine. “Runs the show in a difficult defense to absorb. Very good kid. No issues. Coaches love him and trust him. Immediate starter wherever he goes. Injury is the only way he is available at 20.”

Barron underwent double sports hernia surgery after the Crimson Tide won the national championship, so he’s still in a rehab stage and didn’t work out at the combine.

“I feel good,” he said. “As far as me working out, I’m just doing rehab. I feel good, I feel like I can do whatever I need to do. I just haven’t been cleared to do certain things. That’s where I’m at right now ...

“I don’t have an exact time for when I’ll be 100 percent but I plan on working out late March … From what I’ve heard, it’s not going to really affect anything as far as where I get drafted.”

ESPN’s resident physical therapist Stephania Bell said once Barron is fully healed from the sports hernias, he won’t have a health issue.

Titans GM Ruston Webster said he doesn’t think an injury that won’t be a concern down the road generally has much impact on the draft position of a player.

“People are going to draft off what they see on film,” he said. “… Mark Barron is a big, tough, instinctive safety. He’s got size, he can play in the box and he can play deep.”

Like guards, safeties are generally not regarded as first-round priorities. Jeremy Mills of ESPN Stats & Information said 4.4 percent of first-round picks have been used on safeties over the past 10 years. Nearly three times as many first-round picks have been used on corners in that time frame.

I understand that draft strategy when there isn’t much talent there, as the case was last year. Rahim Moore was the first safety off the board in 2011, 13 picks into the second round to Denver. There wasn't a safety selected in the first round in 2009, either.

But a chance to draft a difference-making safety should be regarded the same as one at any other position. Maybe it should be viewed as an even bigger opportunity, because it's rarer.

“I feel like it’s very hard for us safeties to get in the first round, so I think that shows you that the position of safety is being undervalued,” Barron said. “… If a guy’s a good player, then he’s just a good player. I don’t see why, position-wise, if you have a better player that’s a safety and then you have a corner that might not be a better football player, I don’t see a reason why the corner should go ahead of the safety.

“I’ve seen it happen. I just don’t understand it but that’s not my position to pick.”

When the Titans drafted Texas safety Michael Griffin 19th overall in 2007, they were oddly wary of how the move would be regarded. They went on an extensive, pointless charade of calling him a cornerback. After they wasted a lot of time with him at corner, he started the seventh game of his rookie season -- at safety.

Now he’s heading for free agency. The Titans would be wise to attempt to upgrade rather than retain him, as he’s far too inconsistent, missing tackles at key times and playing his best only when those around him are doing the same. I want my safeties to be steady.

The Titans' GM-turned-president, Mike Reinfeldt, was a successful NFL safety. Griffin was Tennessee’s first first-round pick with Reinfeldt at the helm. Webster is now the GM who will have the strong hand in making the draft-day calls, and the Titans shouldn’t be wary of taking a safety in the first round again if Barron is there -- provided they haven't restocked in free agency.

The importance of a player like him is on the rise.

He can be a key countermeasure in gaining ground in nightmare matchups with tight ends such as Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez of the Patriots and Jimmy Graham of the Saints.

“He can cover tight ends,” ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said of Barron. “I need him to cover Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez and he can do that.”

Not all analysts are in love with the Alabama safety, however.

“I think there is a good chance there will be no safeties that get drafted in the first round,” said Russ Lande, a former scout who now is a draft analyst for The Sporting News and GM Jr. “The reality is Barron is a good football player, but he’s not a premier athlete and there are teams that definitely have questions about his ability to be effective in deep pass coverage.

“Although I think he’s a good player who’s going to be a solid starter, I think there is a real likelihood he will be there at 20, that he will even be there in the second round.”

One of the things most teams do like about Barron is his experience at Alabama. He was the glue of a complex defense. The Titans' D will likely be more straightforward, but they sure could use a guy like that.

The team that drafts Barron will be expecting an intelligent player who can be plugged in, learn quickly and reliably play a scheme.

“We played in a very difficult defense, first of all,” Barron said. “We did a lot of different schemes. As far as communicating, I had a lot to do with that on the back end. I feel like sometimes I brought some energy with the hits that I made and things of that nature. So, I did a lot of different things.”

The money isn’t mine. I’m not certain about what you can afford and what the market will pay when free agency opens on March 13. I’m not positive about your plans and schemes.

But I’ve got a good sense of your team. We've looked at the free-agent list.

And here’s what I’d try to do with your major issues:

1) Let cornerback Cortland Finnegan go. He’s a good player, not a great one. The Titans will miss his feistiness more than his production, and you don’t pay huge dollars for feistiness. He’s not in the ranks of corners worth in the neighborhood of $10 million annually. Let Alterraun Verner join Jason McCourty in the starting lineup. Let Ryan Mouton, Chris Hawkins, Tommie Campbell and a draft pick and/or a mid-range veteran vie for the nickel role. (Mouton would play inside, in other scenarios Verner would move inside.)

2) Let safety Michael Griffin go. He can be a good player, but is far too inconsistent. He’s at his best when those around him are playing well. But at the price he’ll have now, he should be a guy who sets the tone, not a guy who needs it set for him. Look closely at free agents safeties like Tyvon Branch from Oakland, Dashon Goldson from San Francisco and Dwight Lowery from Jacksonville.

3) Pursue Colts defensive end Robert Mathis if he gets to free agency. He’s got a super motor and, while he just turned 31, I’d bet he can play three more good years. Structure a deal so you can get out after two if you have to and look to him to set the tone for your other primary rushers, Derrick Morgan and a draft pick.

4) Sign Philadelphia guard Evan Mathis to replace Jake Scott. Mathis is older than Baltimore’s Ben Grubbs, but will also be less expensive. In seven seasons with Carolina, Miami, Cincinnati and Philadelphia he’s played in 73 games with 37 starts. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. says he’s a great fit for Tennessee.

5) Re-sign safety Jordan Babineaux. This appears to be just about done. A rule regarding Babineaux’s previous contract prevents the team from completing a new deal before the start of the new league year. But they could have a deal ready to go on March 13.

6) Offer Jason Jones a contract based on moving him back to defensive tackle, admitting he’s better and more productive inside than out. (They’ve said they still see him as an end, and they aren’t in sync with me on this one at all.)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Yes, last year was a particularly odd one because of the lockout.

But if any positional hole tested a team’s patience, it was what the Titans dealt with at quarterback.

They had nothing and had no choice but to wait. They got Matt Hasselbeck three days into free agency. They drafted Jake Locker. And they wound up fine at quarterback.

This time, operating with a more traditional timetable, they could start the 2012 NFL year with three holes in the secondary: Starting cornerback Cortland Finnegan and starting safeties Michael Griffin and Jordan Babineaux are all heading for free agency. (So is safety Chris Hope, who the team doesn't figure to even attempt to re-sign.)

The Titans could move quickly on Babineaux, but it won’t be a surprise if they don’t move at all on Finnegan and Griffin.

And newly promoted general manager Ruston Webster said that while it would hardly be an ideal situation, it won’t create panic either.

“It would be unsettling, it would definitely be unsettling,” he said at the combine. “Not because we don’t trust our other guys. But because there is that transition and that unknown of what’s going to happen. Those guys have been pretty good players, so yeah, that would be a little unsettling.

“I think that’s the trick at this time of the year, is being patient, not panicking or anything like that. It’s very difficult to think of having those holes, and what are we going to do? But you always have to remember that you have a draft which will also help …

“I’m a pretty patient guy by nature in those type of deals, but you want to give yourself the best chance to win every year. But you don’t want to get caught, you can’t look at it like rebuilding. You’ve got to try to win every year. So it can keep you up at night.”

Webster and coach Mike Munchak said the Titans can be OK at cornerback if they move on without Finnegan, even without an addition.

Jason McCourty would be joined by Alterraun Verner in the starting lineup. Then Tommie Campbell or Chris Hawkins could win the third spot, coming onto the field as an outside corner with Verner moving inside.

Or Ryan Mouton, who missed 2011 hurt, could come in and play in the slot.

Who played the most on defense in the AFC South in 2011?

Here’s a rundown, with percentage of defensive snaps played:

DE – Jeremy Mincey, Jaguars, 93.5

DE – J.J. Watt, Texans, 77.37

DT – Tyson Alualu, Jaguars, 83.74

DT – Jurrell Casey, Titans, 58.24

MLB – Paul Posluszny, Jaguars, 95.57

ILB – Brian Cushing, Texans, 93.32

OLB – Connor Barwin, Texans, 94.92

OLB – Pat Angerer, Colts, 93.11

FS – Michael Griffin, Titans, 99.91

SS – Dawan Landry, Jaguars, 99.61

CB – Cortland Finnegan, Titans, 100

CB – Johnathan Joseph, Texans, 89.13

Some notes:

Posluszny resents that he was labeled as injury prone as he left Buffalo as a free agent. He did get hurt, but the shoulder problem that needed surgery didn’t occur until the Jaguars’ finale.

Griffin missed one snap of the 1,123 defensive snaps the Titans played. Like Finnegan, the lone defender in the division not to miss a single play, he’s heading for unrestricted free agency.

Landry missed just four of 1,015 snaps for Jacksonville. Houston’s Glover Quin was close at 98.7 percent.

Mincey is a great effort player, who is heading for free agency. He could probably benefit from at least a little bit less playing time, with more energy to offer on pass-rush snaps.

Alualu played the fourth-highest percentage of snaps for a defensive tackle for anyone in the league. That’s a lot considering he was working with a bum right knee.

Jim Wyatt indicates in a report in today’s Tennessean that the Titans and Jordan Babineaux could be ready to strike a deal as soon as March 13 rolls around.

Babineaux’s previous deal makes it so the Titans can’t sign him before free agency opens.

Wyatt says Babineaux made $860,000 last season and counted $575,000 against the cap. (A CBA rule softens the cap hit of long-time veterans making the minimum.)

Tennessee has big holes coming at safety. Michael Griffin and Chris Hope are heading for unrestricted free agency along with Babineaux, who also played for Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray in Seattle.

Safety is regarded as a thin position around the league, so the Titans won’t be alone in having need.

Which means someone else could be interested in Babineaux.

ESPN’s Josina Anderson talked to Babineaux on Monday. She passed this exchange on.

"I wouldn't want to necessarily leave if Tennessee makes me feel at home," Babineaux said.

When asked how the Titans would make him feel at home, Babineaux replied, "Cha-ching."

Early thoughts on the Titans' players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents come March 13, with thanks to Mac’s Football Blog, where you can find complete team-by-team lists that include exclusive rights and restricted free agents.

The Titans have already re-signed three players who were heading for free agency: tight end Craig Stevens, tackle Mike Otto and receiver Lavelle Hawkins.

Fullback Ahmard Hall -- He’s a great locker room guy, but did not have a great season and the Titans have Quinn Johnson in house.

Wide receiver Donnie Avery -- Couldn’t push his way into action and presuming the team drafts at least one receiver, it should have no interest.

Guard Jake Scott -- Team will say thanks for solid service and look to get younger and better on the interior.

Defensive end Dave Ball -- He’s not the solution, but he’s a quality complementary part who can get into the backfield.

Defensive end William Hayes -- Just hasn’t panned out. The team needs at least one new end and there won’t be room for him any longer.

Defensive lineman Jason Jones -- Was not as good at end in the new defense as he was at tackle in the old one. He can still be a very good player.

Linebacker Barrett Ruud -- Didn’t play well before he was hurt, then got displaced by rookie Colin McCarthy.

Cornerback Cortland Finnegan -- I don’t think the Titans want him at anything near what he’ll be able to command.

Safety Jordan Babineaux -- Played well enough that safety-starved Tennessee should want him back.

Safety Michael Griffin -- Does the best when everything around him is going well. But the price he’ll want gets paid to a leader, not a follower.

Safety Chris Hope -- Made a difference on the field and in the locker room for a long time, but his time is now past.

Other UFAs:

• LB Patrick Bailey
• LB Tim Shaw
• S Anthony Smith
• LS Ken Amato

One in five of the top unrestricted free agents-to-be hail from the AFC South, according to Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com.

The division was the worst in the NFL in 2011 with a combined 26 wins, and if a lot of this talent leaves the division it won’t help things improve. (Though some could leave their team and remain in the division, a la Clint Session last year.)

Here are the players Prisco lists with my gut feeling on if they will be back.

1. Mario Williams, DE, Houston Texans

Prisco: “The Texans used him as a 3-4 rush outside linebacker last year, but I think his best spot is as a 4-3 end.”

Kuharsky: Likely gone.

12. Robert Mathis, DE, Indianapolis Colts

Prisco: “He is coming off his best season but turns 31 this month and is older than some teams would like for free agents. He has improved against the run and could easily make the transition from 4-3 end to 3-4 rush 'backer.”

Kuharsky: Likely gone

14. Cortland Finnegan, CB, Tennessee Titans

Prisco: "He just turned 28 this month and will be a hot commodity on the open market. It doesn't appear he's coming back to Tennessee. The Lions would seem to be a team that will make a push."

Kuharsky: Gone

21. Jeremy Mincey, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Prisco: "This is a try-hard player who did some good things against some good tackles last season. He isn't a speed player, but he is a solid 10-sack, good-run player. He turns 29 in December."

Kuharsky: Likely gone

22. Chris Myers. C, Houston Texans

Prisco:" He was one of the better centers in the NFL last season, a perfect player for their cutback schemes. He turns 31 in September."

Kuharsky: Likely stays

31. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Prisco: "The question with Wayne is how many more years he has left to give. He can still be good for three or so, but how do you structure the contract? He turns 34 in November."

Kuharsky: Gone

34. Pierre Garcon, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Prisco: "He caught a career-high 70 passes last season without good quarterback play. He can fly, which will make him attractive to other teams. He turns 26 in August."

Kuharsky: Likely gone

38. Jason Jones, DT-DE, Tennessee Titans

Prisco: "He has flashed at times in his four seasons with the Titans, but he should be doing more. Has played both inside and outside for the Titans. He turns 26 in May, so he has time to become a really good player."

Kuharsky: No feeling right now

40. Dwight Lowery, S, Jacksonville Jaguars

Prisco: "This former corner made a nice home at free safety for the Jaguars last season. He played above the level of expectations. The Jaguars want him back, but in a league where safety talent is at a minimum this former Jets player will get a nice deal. He just turned 26 in January.

Kuharsky: Likely stays

46. Michael Griffin, S, Tennessee Titans

Prisco: "His play has tailed off some this past season, but he's only 27. When he's at his best, he is a good, solid player. He's never been as good as his reputation."

Kuharsky: Likely gone