NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It’s an absolute blockbuster.
After months of discussions about whom the Titans would take with the No. 1 pick, they are no longer on the clock.
Instead, they’ve collected a bounty of picks from the Los Angeles Rams.
If aggressive Titans general manager Jon Robinson can do good work with what he’s collecting in exchange for the pick, he can turn the Titans’ 3-13 season in 2015 into a foundation for a much better team going forward.
Here’s a recap:
Titans receive from Rams:
First-round pick (No. 15 overall)
Second-round pick (No. 43)
Second-round pick (No. 45)
Third-round pick (No. 76)
First-round pick in 2017
Third-round pick in 2017
Rams receive from Titans:
First-round pick (No. 1 overall)
Fourth-round pick (No. 113)
Sixth-round pick (No. 177)
I’m a full believer in quality over quantity. But the fact is that even with the No. 1 pick, there is no guarantee of quality.
The Rams almost certainly will be taking Carson Wentz or Jared Goff and hoping for a franchise quarterback. The Titans already have theirs in Marcus Mariota.
If either Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil or Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey turn out to be a Hall of Famers, the Titans might “lose” the trade in the long run. Those were the two players most likely to be the No. 1 pick before this deal.
But trying to get quality through quantity is a smart move. The more at-bats with runners in scoring situations, the better, and the haul of picks -- six in the top 76 -- is a run-producers dream.
Robinson was hired because he’s a top talent-evaluator.
He’s got a ton of draft capital now -- and later.
The conversation’s been reset.
The question’s gone from who’s No. 1 to who’s No. 15 – and who’s 33, 43, 45, 64 and 76.
