The Titans have done everything this offseason to convince wide receiver A.J. Brown that they want him on their football team, short of offering him the contract he apparently desires. 
We’ve seen reports from general manager Jon Robinson that Tennessee has no plans to trade their star wide receiver, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, and, rightly, they shouldn’t want to. Despite a small history of injuries in his three-year career, Brown is one of the Titans’ most explosive and consistent playmakers, even in an offense last year that was missing former-Titan Corey Davis and running back Derrick Henry and had Julio Jones looking like a shell of his former self.
Head coach Mike Vrabel expressed his love for Brown on the “Rich Eisen Show,” and made it clear that Brown won’t be traded “as long as (he’s) the head coach,” according to Dianna Russini of ESPN. Russini went on to report that Brown has no interest in participating in any team events without a new deal.
The sides are working towards an extension, but, so far, haven’t found room to meet in the middle. Former-Colts punter Pat McAfee spoke with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport concerning an alleged phone call between disgruntled 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel and Brown, who share an agent. In the call, the person assumed to be Brown claims an offer from his team of $20MM per year, with no clarification on the deal’s length. Rapoport, who admittedly did not corroborate that the video of the phone call was real, said that $20MM would be a good starting point for negotiations, as teams don’t tend to put their best offers out their to start.
Before this offseason, it would make sense for Brown to be getting a deal around $20MM per year. The numbers that he’s put up in his career are similar to other receivers who make that much, such as Mike Williams, Chris Godwin, and Amari Cooper, and, with Brown being a bit younger than those three, he might command a bit more money with the expectation that he’ll be around longer in his prime. The deal that most likely changed Brown’s expectations, was the contract the Jaguars gave to Christian Kirk. If Kirk can command $18MM per year having never recorded a 1,000-yard receiving season in his four-year career, surely Brown should command far more after doing so in both of his first two years in the league.
In his worst statistical year last season, where Brown played in the least amount of games of his career and was the only player defenses needed to focus on, Brown still produced, catching 63 balls for 869 yards and 5 touchdowns in 13 games. It was the first time he failed to amass 1,000 receiving yards and 9 total touchdowns in a season.
Seeing how important Brown is to the Titans’ offense, combined with the expected holdout Brown has threatened, Robinson and Vrabel will likely be feeling the pressure to concede sooner rather than later. Salaries are constantly rising to new heights in the NFL, and, if Tennessee loves their star receiver as much as they say they do, why not make an example by giving him a contract that shows it?
I think it’s reasonable to say AJ Brown is worth more than Chris Godwin with a torn ACL and Mike Williams.
That is really safe to say.
It really seems like these three WRs got.together, and are deciding to stick together to each receive their new deals..
Is that collusion on the part of the players union?? Wouldn’t people be up in arms screaming collusion if three NFL Teams banded together to keep down top up.ajd coming WR salaries??
I mean good for them, I’m a 49ers and a Deebo superfan, but man I’d also hate to see him go due to him.and his agent pushing so hard for a new deal and/or to be traded out…
Deebo, in particular, better be careful what he wishes for. Right now he’s got it made with a coach that knows how to best utilize his overall skillset. He could go somewhere where he ends up underutilized with a bad QB, and his overall numbers and perception suffer and decline as a result.
Players can’t “collude” because no matter how much they might try, they couldn’t leave teams without options. The team(s) may not like the options as well, but they have them. It’s not the same as the owners getting together and all agreeing not to pay any WR more than 15m.
Correct. Collusion can only happen with people who write checks. Labor coming together to ask for things like fair wages is called collectively bargaining and is legal. These poor NFL owners will just have to suffer through this rough patch. Will billionaires ever get a fair shake in America?
Or the owners can just refuse to meet the contract demands. The players can refuse to report and lose out on income. Simple
They could, yes, but then they’re not fielding their best players, which makes the on field product suffer. Then attendance dips, and so does those billionaires income.
The NFL is a business. You have to spend money to make money. If those poor owners don’t want to spend, don’t buy a football team. As you said, “simple.”
Sure. No one is forcing anyone else to do anything. One owner can refuse to meet demands, but another owner is giving Christian Kirk 18 million a year. So players are asking to work for those owners instead of the ones that refuse to meet demands. This is what the article is about. WR around the league saw Jacksonville reset the market and are trying to figure out if they work for a franchise that will pay them the “new market rate” or if they need to go work for a different franchise.
Exactly. Forming a mini wr union is funny and smart. These guys have learned to manipulate a system that has long undervalued their talent. RB should be the highest paid position in football. But it’s set up based on fan fare and not team win value and CTE risk.
Package the 26th pick and him to move up into the top 10? Every team drafting in the top 10 needs a WR1.
The giants have 2 top 10 picks and don’t need one. The Seahawks don’t need one either.
Seahawks have their own mess at WR! But Houston, Jets, Panthers, & Falcons could use a legit WR.
My point is get creative. The going rate for a stud WR is $25m now. If you don’t want to pay it, look at packaging him and their 1st to move up.
DK seems to be staying out of this for now. Seahawks would be smart to sign him before Brown and Deebo. DK would be smart to wait and see what they get.
DC’s WR is also looking to bank.
The “going rate” is what teams are willing to pay. If teams aren’t ready to pay these stupid contract demands, it’s no longer the going rate
Players don’t have to sign contracts that they believe are below value either. Hopkins, Hill & Adams have reset WR1 price tag. The Jags’ Kirk got $18m and never has a 1,000 yard season. There’s a new rate for WR’s.
Exactly, Arty. It’s a passing league now, and good WRs are rightfully being compensated. I’d tell anyone who says WRs are disposable, and “teams don’t have to pay” to simply watch GB this year. You’re going to see a HoF QB with virtually no skill players, and it won’t be that pretty.
I agree, but also if the team decides the player is not performing up to the contract they signed they can be cut, and if a player believes the market has shifted before their contract is up, then they want a new deal or demand to be traded. Guaranteed contracts would fix this.
He can be cut at an amount that still hangs on the cap. It’s why those players sign for a lot of money up front. I don’t feel bad for guys that sign 5/75 and get 40-50M in the first two years and get cut year 3 or 4.
I don’t feel bad for any of them. Non-guaranteed contracts is causing this situation was my only point. No one needs tears, but as long as contracts can be terminated before they are over, players will demand trades and extensions and “new money” before the contracts over.
They don’t have to do anything with Brown. They want to. They can even tag him after this year. Who knows if he will stay healthy. Make a reasonable offer. Then take a WR at #26 and another one around the 4th round that has developmental upside. The Titans need another WR and slot today. They are depending on an injured Woods to recover for the other WR. They need quality depth ready to step in and be the man.
I don’t consider 3 years in a row of injuries to be a “short history”. Especially at the start of a career, not at the back end. No doubt he’s a great receiver, but I can see why Robinson is hesitant. On the other hand, their offense takes a huge hit without him so, I don’t think a trade happens.
Given the rather minor nature of the injuries (combined 6 games missed), I don’t think it’s as worrisome as some make it out to be
Giving up top picks and $25M/per is insanity for a WR.
It’s not like they’re low balling him. 20M for a low-end #1 is a fair price(it’s what he is). On the open market, he probably can get more. And if he gets there, go get it. But you paint yourself as the problem if you’re claiming they’re low-balling when the offer is 20M per year.
He’s a top 5. With poor staff to bring him to his potential. Most under developed under utilized player in the nfl besides any te the Seahawks sign. Lol
Top 5 what? He’s had one season where any of his stats show he would be top 5. But if you’re saying he’s dependent on his surrounding cast to be that, why would you pay him 20M+?
Unfed raw talent.
So what was the reasoning of trading your 2022 picks for Jones, then just letting him walk in FreeAgency…kind of a smh type thingy.I think that would be a Lions thing to do and yes, I’m a Lions fan.33 years and counting.Now the Titans are not so sure if A.J.Brown wants to be there.
He got hurt? Did ya watch last season?
Not many Titan gms I didnt.Still just waste of picks thrown away.Good receivers in this years draft.I would have let Jones rot in Atlanta.He lost a step.