The OG conundrum - What Should the Titans Do?

There is little question the Titans have to address their interior offensive line. It is widely expected the Titans will look to the draft at the position, and it is also widely reported they are looking at Buffalo guard Andy Levitre. My initial thought was that it didn't make a lot of sense financially to sign Levitre and after looking at the issue I remain convinced it's not. Why do you say? Well, let's take a look.

First, let's debunk the myth that it is financially unsound to draft an offensive guard in the first round. Chance Warmack has long been on my wish list. Does it make sense economically to draft him at #10? Well, let's look at what the 10th round draft pick received as his rookie deal. All contract information came from the excellent website www.rotoworld.com

2012 NFL Draft #10 – Stephon Gilmore

4 year 12.084 million dollar fully guaranteed contract

7.228 million signing bonus

2013 939,280

2014 1,488,559

2015 2,037,839

TITANS STARTING OFFENSIVE LINE CONTRACTS

Steve Hutchinson 

3/15/2012: Signed a three-year, $16 million contract. The deal contains $6 million guaranteed, including a $4.5 million signing bonus. 2013: $4.75 million (+ $500,000 roster bonus), 2014: $5 million, 2015: Free Agent

Eugene Amano

2/15/2010: Signed a five-year, $26.247 million contract. The deal contains $10.337 million guaranteed -- a $7.25 million signing bonus and $3.087 million of his first-year salary. 2013: $3.685 million, 2014: $4,187,500, 2015: Free Agent

Michael Roos

4/25/2008: Signed a six-year, $43 million contract. The deal contains $15 million guaranteed, including a $9 million signing bonus and a second-year roster bonus of $4 million. Another $1.5 million is available through escalators. 2013: $6 million, 2014: $6.625 million (Voidable Year), 2015: Free Agent

Dave “Big Country” Stewart

6/27/2008: Signed a six-year, $38.9 million contract. The deal contains $10 million guaranteed, including a $6 million signing bonus and a first-year roster bonus of $2 million. 2013: $5 million (+ $1 million roster bonus), 2014: $6.4 million (Voidable Year), 2015: Free Agent

The Titans are talking to Leroy Harris about his return to the team, and I don't hate that move if they are looking to move him back to center where he played much better. The Titans are expected to tender RFA Fernando Velasco a guard the Titans moved to center last season when Amano was lost for the season and who played very well.

TOP OFFENSIVE GUARD CONTRACTS

Jahri Evans

5/5/2010: Signed a seven-year, $56.7 million contract. The deal included a $12 million signing bonus. An annual $200,000 workout bonus is available throughout the life of the contract. 2013: $3.04 million (+ $4.16 million "signing" bonus), 2014-2015: $6.8 million (+ $500,000 roster bonuses), 2016: $8 million (+ $500,000 roster bonus), 2017: Free Agent

Evan Mathis

3/17/2012: Signed a five-year, $25 million contract. The deal contains $7 million guaranteed, including a $5 million signing bonus. Another $6.25 million is available through incentives. 2013: $2 million (+ $1 million roster bonus due 3/24), 2014: $5 million, 2015: $5.5 million, 2016: $6 million, 2017: Free Agent

Marshal Yanda

7/29/2011: Signed a five-year, $32.5 million contract. The deal included a $10 million signing bonus. 2013: $4.5 million, 2014-2015: $5.5 million, 2016: Free Agent

Alex Boone

12/8/2011: Signed a five-year, $7.450 million contract. The deal contains $2.24 million guaranteed, including a $1.7 million signing bonus. Annual $50,000 workout bonuses are available throughout the contract's life. 2013: $950,000 (+ $600,000 roster bonus), 2014: $950,000 (+ $400,000 roster bonus), 2015: $1.2 million (+ $400,000 roster bonus), 2016: Free Agent

Mike Iupati

7/30/2010: Signed a five-year, $18.25 million contract. The deal contains $10.8 million guaranteed. 2013: $1.002 million, 2014: $1,600,500, 2015: Free Agent

Josh Sitton

9/2/2011: Signed a six-year, $34.95 million contract. The deal contains $8.9 million guaranteed, including a $6 million signing bonus. Annual $300,000 workout bonuses are available in years two through six. 2013: $3.4 million (+ $650,000 roster bonus), 2014: $4.5 million (+ $400,000 roster bonus), 2015: $4.85 million (+ $400,000 roster bonus), 2016: $5.9 million (+ $400,000 roster bonus), 2017: Free Agent

Ben Grubbs

3/14/2012: Signed a five-year, $36 million contract. The deal contains $15.9 million guaranteed, including a $10 million signing bonus and all of his first two base salaries. Grubbs is eligible for annual $100,000 workout bonuses throughout the contract's life. 2013: $1.2 million (+ $4 million "signing" bonus), 2014: $6 million, 2015: $6.5 million, 2016: $7.2 million, 2017: Free Agent

Jon Asamoah

Rookie contract - 7/22/2010: Signed a four-year, $2.702 million contract. The deal included a $912,120 signing bonus. 2013: $1.323 million, 2014: Free Agent

Rob Sims

10/8/2010: Signed a five-year, $8.051 million contract. 2013: $1.85 million, 2014: $2.2 million, 2015: Free Agent

Kevin Zeitler

5/25/2012: Signed a four-year, $7.544 million contract. The deal contains $6.124 million guaranteed -- a $3.926 million signing bonus and Zeitler's first three base salaries. 2013: $732,918, 2014: $1,075,836, 2015: $1,418,754, 2016: Free Agent

Chris Snee

6/24/2008: Signed a six-year, $41.25 million contract. The deal contains $17 million guaranteed, including a $13.5 million signing bonus. Another $2 million is available through escalators. 2013: $6.7 million, 2014: $6.95 million (Voidable Year), 2015: Free Agent

Chris Chester

7/28/2011: Signed a five-year, $20 million contract. The deal contains $6.5 million in bonus money. An annual $400,000 roster bonus is due to Chester in years two through five. 2013-2014: $3 million (+ $100,000 workout bonus), 2015: $3.5 million, 2016: Free Agent

While not a top 15 guard but informational 

Richie Incognito

3/03/2011 signed a 3 year 12.9 million dollar guaranteed deal

3.25 million signing bonus and 1.1 million in incentives

2013 4 million + 100,000 workout bonus

THE FREE AGENT MARKET AT GUARD

Top free agents offensive guards are Andy Levitre and Louis Vasquez although it is widely reported Vasquez will get a new deal from San Diego. Brandon Moore (almost 33) is a guy I wouldn't mind the Titans looking at. He is unlikely to command the attention (or money) that Levitre and Vasquez will and is highly regarded in both pass protection and run blocking. 

Levitre (almost 27) plays left guard is expected to command between $6 million and $8 million ANNUALLY on the open market and if Vasquez (almost 26) who plays right guard hits it he will get similar numbers. Of the two Vasquez is considered the better run blocker so he would make the most sense for the Titans. Levitre’s run blocking has been described as average. Ouch.

What I Would Do

Steve Hutchinson is still a decent option at left guard and the real issue for the Titans is RIGHT guard and center. Assuming the Titans tender Velasco and another team doesn't snatch him (which I doubt), then center seems to be addressed for the moment. 

At the guard position, I would sign Brandon Moore who plays right guard, and draft at least one guard in the draft and I would take Warmack if he is there at 10. Kyle DeVan and Deuce Lutui are both free agents and I would let them walk and give some undrafted free agents a chance to make a mark in camp.

Let's not forget that for all the money the Titans have tied up at tackle, Roos and Stewart are 30 and the Titans will need to address that area sooner rather than later. Tying big money up for Levitre or Vasquez doesn't make a ton of sense to me when you are looking to rebuild an offensive line.