The Tennessee Titans lost cornerback Cortland Finnegan when he agreed to a $50-million contract with the St. Louis Rams almost immediately after the 2012 free-agency period began in March. Titans general manager Ruston Webster must decide on whether he's happy with his current assortment of cornerbacks or if additional options should be sought from the draft, free agency or trade.
Terry McCormick from TitanInsider has reported that the Titans are interested in Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel. The 31-year-old cornerback had 34 tackles with three interceptions in 2011. That was his lowest total of interceptions and second-lowest total of tackles since he was with the New England Patriots during the 2005-06 season. Samuel has 45 career interceptions, including 23 since joining the Eagles four seasons ago.
The Eagles are supposedly demanding a third-round pick for Samuel. Samuel also has two years remaining on his base salary at a combined $21.3 million. The Titans weren't willing to pay a similar base salary (on average) for Finnegan, who was younger and had been with the organization from 2006 through 2011. Samuel's agent, Alonzo Shavers, has indicated that Samuel would be open to restructuring the deal if he were traded.
The Titans allotment of cornerbacks currently includes Jason McCourty, Alterraun Verner, Ryan Mouton, Chris Hawkins and Tommie Campbell. The biggest concern from this group is the inexperience from Mouton, Hawkins and Campbell. These are the players who'd replace Finnegan in his nickelback role.
I've always liked Samuel. He has playmaking ability that reminds me of Charles Woodson. I'm not too worried about the decline in his statistics because the Eagles were undergoing a change with defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, who had previously served as the Eagles' offensive line coach. I didn't feel like Castillo utilized his players' talents that well.
The Titans only had 11 team interceptions in 2011. There were only seven teams who had fewer than that. Compare that to Samuel, who has had two seasons where he has had at least nine interceptions with the Eagles or Patriots.
While I doubt this happens, I do think that a trio of cornerbacks with McCourty, Verner and Samuel would be amongst the NFL's best. Samuel should be able to capitalize on his playmaking ability if Kamerion Wimbley is the answer to the Titans' pass-rushing woes.
A fourth-round pick is fair. A third-round pick is tolerable with a restructured contract. I just don't want to see them overpay for Samuel and then not have enough money to re-sign McCourty when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2013. The Titans should consider giving McCourty a long-term deal before then.
Joshua Huffman graduated from Middle Tennessee State University as a marketing major in 2009. He's been a Middle Tennessee resident from 1986-88 and 2001-present. He lived in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin from 1988-01 and for approximately eight months in 2009-10 as he completed a 20-game volunteer position with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers. His favorite sports organizations include the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. He can be found on Twitter HERE.
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