Draft analysts predicted that the Titans would not be able to pull off an RGIII-type haul in trading the No. 1 pick of the NFL Draft. The theory: Teams only would want to move to the top for a quarterback, and the top two passers — Carson Wentz and Jared Goff — were not of the Andrew Luck talent level to warrant a blockbuster deal.
Fortunately for the Titans, the experts were wrong.
Tennessee general manager Jon Robinson parlayed the competition between the Rams and Eagles, with the Rams’ belief that one of these quarterbacks will become a franchise-level, Pro Bowl/Super Bowl-caliber quarterback.
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This could be a rare trade that turns out to be a win-win for both teams. The six high picks that the Titans received set up Tennessee to make a big jump over the next few years. But the pressure now is on Robinson and his scouting staff to use them wisely. With just five wins in each of the past two seasons, the Titans already have a franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota but need a big upgrade in his supporting cast, plus more playmakers on defense.
With the Titans now holding 11 picks in the first three rounds of the next two drafts (including three first-rounders), they should be able to find a premier offensive tackle to help the NFL's poorest protecting line (54 sacks given up last year), a big play wide receiver and perhaps a good running back to pair with newly-acquired DeMarco Murray. Robinson has the picks to fortify the secondary and add a big-time pass rusher to the defensive mix, too.
Tennessee found the perfect trading partner in Los Angeles. The RGIII trade, ironically, is why the Rams with quality young players felt fortified enough to step up and make the biggest trade involving the top pick since the Eli Manning-Philip Rivers deal between the Giants and Chargers 12 years ago.
The RGIII trade brought the Rams starters in linebacker Alec Ogletree, tackle Greg Robinson and defensive tackle Michael Brockers. Some of the acquired picks either didn't pan out or are already gone.
Despite all the high picks, the Rams have not solved their most crucial issue: Finding an elite quarterback after former top overall pick Sam Bradford couldn't get it done. Now they have another opportunity, and early reports indicate their pick could be Goff, who they can pair with an excellent young running back in Todd Gurley and a quality defense.
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As for the speculation that Wentz and Goff are not likely to be future stars worthy of the king's ransom paid by the Rams — not so fast.
Carson Wentz and Jared Goff (Getty Images)
A well-respected NFL coach with an offensive background told me he feels Wentz, with his excellent arm strength and good mobility for a big guy, can be an Andrew Luck. The same coach loves Goff's creativity and playmaking ability. He feels both can develop into Pro Bowl-caliber players and predicts they'll wind up as better quarterbacks than last year's top two picks, Jameis Winston and Mariota.
This opinion likely is shared by some (not all) GMs and scouts. The Rams obviously agree — GM Les Snead and coach Jeff Fisher know they need to become a playoff team quickly (no easy task in the NFC West), which is virtually impossible to do in today's NFL without a top quarterback. They needed to make a bold move, and they'll need their new quarterback to quickly develop into a premier player.
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Another key element for the Rams: They want a new, exciting quarterback to help them make a splash in the Los Angeles market. Case Keenum and Nick Foles were not going to excite their new fan base, which has plenty of sports options in the nation's second largest market.
The Titans, meanwhile, benefited from the competition that emerged for the top pick, especially from the Eagles in the final days before the trade was consummated. Robinson worked the phones with the other GMs, and he worked the media to increase the speculation that a trade was becoming more likely.
Competition is the key to any major trade. The best trade I made as a GM involved quarterback Brad Johnson in 1999. He was our Vikings starter in 1998 until he was injured in Week 2 and replaced by Randall Cunningham, who had an MVP season in leading us to a 15-1 record.
We made the decision to trade Johnson and had an offer for a first- and third-round pick from the Ravens, whose new coach Brian Billick had been our offensive coordinator in Minnesota and knew Johnson well. The Redskins entered the bidding, and I told them we preferred to trade Johnson out of the NFC. I said they needed to make a better offer than the AFC team with which they were competing. Washington stepped up and paid a first- and third-rounder in 1999, plus a second-rounder in 2000 for a very good quarterback who was not going to be our starter.
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In the Titans’ case now, I think Robinson would have preferred to trade with the Eagles at No. 8 overall compared to the Rams at No. 15 ... until the Rams’ offer was too good to pass up. Most GMs feel there are about 8-10 blue chip players with Pro Bowl-level talent in a given draft.
With the Rams' two second-rounders and third-rounder added to the Titans’ picks (and the 2017 first- and third-round picks they gained in the trade), Robinson has the draft firepower to move back into the top 10. In that scenario, his target could be offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, who many feel is close or equal in ability to Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil, the player most observers expected the Titans to take if they had stayed at No. 1.
Think about how staying put would have worked out for the Titans and their rookie GM, who knows that the recent track record of offensive tackles drafted first or second overall is not great.
So if the Titans trade up and take Stanley in the latter part of the top 10, they'll hope to get a top pass protector for Mariota and help their running game as Stanley develops at left tackle and 2014 first-round pick Taylor Lewan moves to right tackle (or vice versa). And the Titans still would have the four or five remaining picks from the Rams deal to fortify so many other positions.
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The Titans may ultimately decide to hold at No. 15 and select another good tackle prospect or a player to fill one of their needs.
There are so many options for the Titans, but just one option for the Rams: Pick their highest-rated quarterback, and the Goff or Wentz era will begin in Los Angeles.
Jeff Diamond is the former president of the Titans and the former vice president/general manager of the Vikings. He was selected NFL Executive of the Year in 1998. Diamond is currently a business and sports consultant who also does broadcast and online media work. He is the former chairman and CEO of The Ingram Group. Follow Jeff on Twitter: @jeffdiamondNFL.
