I'm in Aruba right now so of course the Titans just decided to make the biggest trade in franchise history. (My wife and I have been on vacation together without kids just twice. The first time we were in Las Vegas and Texas A&M joined the SEC, and now this happens in Aruba. I've got to make up for the time I spent working this morning. But, as always, money never sleeps.)
I just finished a live Outkick show from the beach on Facebook and Periscope. You can watch the Facebook show here.
But here are my two biggest takeaways.
1. I love the trade for the Titans.
You get the a first rounder, two second rounders, and a third rounder from the Rams. Plus, and this is key, you get the Rams top pick in 2017 and their third rounder that same year too. Given that Jeff Fisher pretty much always goes between 9-7 and 7-9, you're likely looking at a mid-first rounder in 2017 as well. But Titan fans should be rooting for the Rams to tank, because the real fleecing in this deal would come if the Rams stink and end up giving the Titans a top ten pick in 2017 as well.
The Titans have a ton of needs -- specifically in the offensive line, in the defensive backfield, at wide receiver, and, like just about every team in the league, they could use a great pash rusher. But Marcus Mariota is a stud -- aloha, bitches -- and this way you get a ton of young talent to surround him.
This also means that Titan GM Jon Robinson -- who I'm slowly falling in love with -- has faith in Taylor Lewan at left tackle and wasn't convinced taking Laremy Tunsil was the best move for the team.
2. If the Rams get the right quarterback it's a good trade for them too.
Interestingly, Jeff Fisher is basically flipping the script here on 2012. In 2012 the Rams got a king's ransom from the Washington Redskins for the number two pick. The Redskins took Robert Griffin, III and the Rams got a bevy of picks. But both teams have had pretty much the same records since then. That's because RGIII didn't pan out, but neither did Sam Bradford's health.
Every NFL team is only as good as his quarterback. And there are only about 12 good quarterbacks in the league. Either you've got one of those 12 or your team isn't able to win a Super Bowl. Parity is an illusion. That's the simple truth.
So if Carson Wentz, who I believe Jeff Fisher will draft, is a stud quarterback, this is a great trade for the Rams too. Everybody likes to talk about the Herschel Walker trade, but the simple fact is this -- if you get a top ten quarterback for the next 10-15 years there is literally no amount you can give up that costs too much.
I've said this for years -- the Titans could have given up every draft pick for multiple years in 1998 to draft Peyton Manning and it would have been a good trade. Until you have a top quarterback, nothing else matters.
Plus, this is an exciting introduction for the Rams as they enter the LA media market. The day after Kobe Bryant retires the Rams announce they have the number one overall pick? This timing was no accident.
Personally, I think Jeff Fisher is trying to recreate his Super Bowl Titans team. He's got Todd Gurley in the Eddie George role and Carson Wentz looks an awful lot like Steve McNair -- small school quarterback, big, physical talent, rocket arm. That's exactly what he's doing. (Unless Fisher takes Jared Goff.)
Anyway, check out my Facebook show linked above.
Now I'm headed back to the beach.
Go Titans.
