1. (20th overall) _ Dre' Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama _ If Stephon Gilmore is still on the board as well, the Titans could choose to pick him over Kirkpatrick. But either way, the Titans will add a player who can come in and contribute right away at a position of need, since Tennessee is down to two starting corners in Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner.

2. (52nd overall) _ Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina _ The Titans are mostly addressing defensive needs, but a player with Jeffery's skills would be hard to ignore at this point in the draft, and with NFL playbooks becoming more pass-oriented, adding another weapon wouldn't be a bad idea.

3. (82nd overall) _ George Iloka, S, Boise State _ The Titans are looking for help at the safety spot, and Iloka has a rare size and speed combination not often found in defensive backs.

4. (115th overall) _ Malik Jackson, DE, Tennessee _ The Titans' needs at defensive end are well-chronicled, and after bypassing a need position through the first two days, Jackson brings another potential solid pass rusher on board.

5. (155th overall) _ Terrell Manning, OLB, N.C. State _ Tennessee wants to continue to add help at outside linebacker, and Manning, whose draft stock as slipped somewhat, could fill the bill. He has good size (6-3, 237) and possesses some pass rush skills as well.

6. (190th overall) _ Marcus Forston, DT, Miami _ Forston continues the Titans' desire to get bigger on the defensive interior. His 6-1, 301-pound body is plenty big enough and he has good athletic ability, though his college career was plagued by nagging injuries.

7. (227th overall) _ Derek Carrier, TE, Beloit _ Tight end isn't really a strong need for the Titans, but Carrier is a remarkable athlete who played on the Division III level in order to be able to play both football and basketball. Given how athletic tight ends are rewriting the way the passing game is used, Carrier is worth a late flier.

link

Getting Jeffery would be HUGE in the 2nd. His floor is super high. Physical monster.

We should legitimately have interest in every member of the Top 11. I like Evan Mathis as an under-the -radar guy, he was the best G in the league per their rankings. Erin Henderson could be an option is we want to lock down the other OLB spot; he's only 25.

Titans on the list:

5. Cortland Finnegan, CB

The Andre Johnson punching bag isn’t the most popular player in the league, and that kind of unpopularity can take away from what a good player he can be. This year, where he seemed less interested in antagonizing receivers, and more focused on shutting them down–may have been his finest year to date. Not just playing outside, but doing an excellent job in the slot, Finnegan may be the most versatile cornerback available.

We underrate his ability to guard the slot.

21. Jason Jones, DT

With Jones you almost have to completely discard his 2011 year where the Titans used him at defensive end. You go back to when he was used at DT and you’ve got a guy too quick for guards, making plays on every down. Put Jones back in the right scheme, and at the right spot, and you have one of the most explosive tackles in the league.

100% true. Can't see us not resigning him.

Top 50 FA's

I know it's early but PFF came out with their top fantasy free agents list so I figured we could start the discussion.

Quarterback				Halfback				Wide Receiver
Player	Team	Type		Player	Team	Type		Player	Team	Type
Drew Brees	NO	UFA		Ray Rice	BLT	UFA		Wes Welker	NE	UFA
Matt Flynn	GB	UFA		Matt Forte	CHI	UFA		Vincent Jackson	SD	UFA
Josh Johnson	TB	UFA		Marshawn Lynch	SEA	UFA		Dwayne Bowe	KC	UFA
Alex D. Smith	SF	UFA		Michael Bush	OAK	UFA		Marques Colston	NO	UFA
Kyle Orton	KC	UFA		Peyton Hillis	CLV	UFA		Steve Johnson	BUF	UFA
David Garrard	N/A	UFA		Cedric Benson	CIN	UFA		Brandon Lloyd	STL	UFA
Donovan McNabb	N/A	UFA		Tim Hightower	WAS	UFA		DeSean Jackson	PHI	UFA
Jason Campbell	OAK	UFA		Kevin Smith	DET	UFA		Pierre Garcon	IND	UFA
Dennis Dixon	PIT	UFA		Mike Tolbert	SD	UFA		Reggie Wayne	IND	UFA
Drew Stanton	DET	UFA		Jason Snelling	ATL	UFA		Robert Meachem	NO	UFA
Chad Henne	MIA	UFA		BenJarvus Green-Ellis	NE	UFA		Mario Manningham	NYG	UFA
Shaun Hill	DET	UFA		Ryan Grant	GB	UFA		Plaxico Burress	NYJ	UFA
Vince Young	PHI	UFA		Justin Forsett	SEA	UFA		Terrell Owens	N/A	UFA
Rex Grossman	WAS	UFA		Earnest Graham	TB	UFA		Danny Amendola	STL	UFA
Chad Pennington	N/A	UFA		Derrick Ward	HOU	UFA		Steve Smith	PHI	UFA
Caleb Hanie	CHI	UFA		LaDainian Tomlinson	NYJ	UFA		Mark Clayton	STL	UFA
Brady Quinn	DEN	UFA		Cadillac Williams	STL	UFA		Josh Morgan	SF	UFA
Chris Redman	ATL	UFA		Maurice Morris	DET	UFA		Jerome Simpson	CIN	UFA
Charlie Whitehurst	SEA	UFA		Ronnie Brown	PHI	UFA		Braylon Edwards	SF	UFA
Mark Brunell	NYJ	UFA		Tashard Choice	BUF	UFA		Eddie Royal	DEN	UFA
Luke McCown	JAX	UFA		Jackie Battle	KC	UFA		Mike Sims-Walker	N/A	UFA
Byron Leftwich	PIT	UFA		Thomas Jones	KC	UFA		Roy E. Williams	CHI	UFA
Charlie Batch	PIT	UFA		Mewelde Moore	PIT	UFA		Roscoe Parrish	BUF	UFA
David Carr	NYG	UFA		Chester Taylor	ARZ	UFA		Harry Douglas	ATL	UFA
Derek Anderson	CAR	UFA		Rock Cartwright	OAK	UFA		Early Doucet	ARZ	UFA
Jake Delhomme	HOU	UFA		Kevin Faulk	NE	UFA		Deion Branch	NE	UFA
Kyle Boller	OAK	UFA		Jerious Norwood	STL	UFA		Ted Ginn	SF	UFA
Kellen Clemens	STL	UFA		Lorenzo Booker	MIN	UFA		Derrick Mason	N/A	UFA
A.J. Feeley	STL	UFA		Sammy Morris	DAL	UFA		Devin Aromashodu	MIN	UFA
Josh McCown	CHI	UFA		Matt Lawrence	BLT	UFA		Lavelle Hawkins	TEN	UFA
Tyler Palko	KC	UFA						Anthony Gonzalez	IND	UFA
Jeff Garcia	HOU	UFA		Arian Foster	HOU	RFA		Chaz Schilens	OAK	UFA
				LaRod Stephens-Howling	ARZ	RFA		Jerricho Cotchery	PIT	UFA
Brian Hoyer	NE	RFA		Kregg Lumpkin	TB	RFA		Domenik Hixon	NYG	UFA
Chase Daniel	NO	RFA		Lex Hilliard	MIA	RFA		Donte’ Stallworth	WAS	UFA
Richard Bartel	ARZ	RFA		Kahlil Bell	CHI	RFA		Andre Caldwell	CIN	UFA
Tom Brandstater	STL	UFA		Stefan Logan	DET	RFA		Patrick Crayton	SD	UFA
				Cedric Peerman	CIN	RFA		Bernard Berrian	N/A	UFA
Max Hall	ARZ	ERFA						Legedu Naanee	CAR	UFA
				LeGarrette Blount	TB	ERFA		Eric Weems	ATL	UFA
				Isaac Redman	PIT	ERFA		Donnie Avery	TEN	UFA
Tight End				Lance Ball	DEN	ERFA		Greg Camarillo	MIN	UFA
Player	Team	Type		Antone Smith	ATL	ERFA		Jerheme Urban	KC	UFA
								Rashied Davis	DET	UFA
Jermichael Finley	GB	UFA						Bryant Johnson	HOU	UFA
Fred Davis	WAS	UFA		Fullback				Maurice Stovall	DET	UFA
Tony Gonzalez	ATL	UFA		Player	Team	Type		Matt Slater	NE	UFA
Jeremy Shockey	CAR	UFA		Ahmard Hall	TEN	UFA		Michael Spurlock	TB	UFA
Jacob Tamme	IND	UFA		Jacob Hester	SD	UFA		T.J. Houshmandzadeh	OAK	UFA
Martellus Bennett	DAL	UFA		Le’Ron McClain	KC	UFA		Brett Swain	SF	UFA
Joel Dreessen	HOU	UFA		Moran Norris	SF	UFA		Isaiah Stanback	SEA	UFA
John Carlson	SEA	UFA		David Johnson	PIT	UFA
Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	UFA		Owen Schmitt	PHI	UFA		Mike Wallace	PIT	RFA
Scott Chandler	BUF	UFA		Jim Kleinsasser	MIN	UFA		Kevin Ogletree	DAL	RFA
Craig Stevens	TEN	UFA		Mike Cox	ATL	UFA		Adrian Arrington	NO	RFA
Kellen Davis	CHI	UFA		Spencer Larsen	DEN	UFA
Randy McMichael	SD	UFA						Preston Parker	TB	ERFA
Daniel Fells	DEN	UFA		Marcel Reece	OAK	RFA		Jordan Norwood	CLV	ERFA
Billy Bajema	STL	UFA		Brock Bolen	JAX	RFA		Jesse Holley	DAL	ERFA
Alex Smith	CLV	UFA		Chris Pressley	CIN	RFA		Stephen Williams	ARZ	ERFA
Matthew Mulligan	NYJ	UFA		Brit Miller	STL	RFA		Dominique Curry	STL	ERFA
Justin Peelle	SF	UFA
Kris Wilson	BLT	UFA
Anthony Becht	KC	UFA		Kicker
Donald Lee	CIN	UFA		Player	Team	Type
Stephen Spach	STL	UFA		Neil Rackers	HOU	UFA
Reggie Kelly	ATL	UFA		Matt Prater	DEN	UFA
Clark Harris	CIN	UFA		Nick Folk	NYJ	UFA
Richard Quinn	WAS	UFA		Mike Nugent	CIN	UFA
				Rian Lindell	BUF	UFA
Bear Pascoe	NYG	RFA		Josh Scobee	JAX	UFA
Zach Potter	JAX	RFA		Phil Dawson	CLV	UFA
Kory Sperry	SD	RFA		Jay Feely	ARZ	UFA
				Connor Barth	TB	UFA
Jake Ballard	NYG	ERFA		Steve Hauschka	SEA	UFA
Michael Palmer	ATL	ERFA		Dave Rayner	BUF	UFA
Jeron Mastrud	MIA	ERFA		John Kasay	NO	UFA
				Ryan Succop	KC	RFA
				Graham Gano	WAS	RFA

Obviously we are set at QB and Kicker.

TE: We have Cook and Graham back. Stevens could be back at cheap. I'd like to explore locking Cook up.

RB: Will we stay with Johnson, Ringer, Harper. Hall has to be resigned unless they think Harper can play FB.

WR: Here's upgrade time. Britt should be at 100%. Washington and Williams make a perfect 3 and 4. Mariani stays on as returner. #1 is obviously Wallace but no way Pitt lets him go. I think the best fit is Stevie Johnson. Elite speed to stretch to field (will fit great with Locker's arm) and is only 25. Plus he runs routes so well he actually excels against Revis. Just my opinion. Would also like Bowe or Colston.

O-Line- We need a middle of the line upgrade badly. Our 18-24 pick can net you the #1/#2 G/C in the draft. My pick is David Decastro. Carl Nicks and Ben Grubbs are also FA. Also Chris Myers is a FA. He's the best C in football.

Defense:

DT: We're set with Casey, Klug, and Smith. Marks is an X-Factor.

DE: Morgan is starting to turn the corner. The rest of the guys are pretty one dimensional. Could be our few round pick. Abraham or Mathis would be a studly stopgap. Mario Williams would be a coup.

LB: Ayers and McCarty are long-term starters. We have Witherspoon next year. One more guy would be nice. Third round pick?

CB: The big question is whether we resign Cort. McCourty, Verner, and Mouton should be sufficient.

Safety: Hope has to go. I'd love to resign Jordan B. Campbell shows potential. Griffin should be resigned too.

It's been a while since we had one so I thought I would restart.

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe wonders if the Red Sox would offer some combination of Kevin Youkilis, Josh Reddick, Lars Anderson and Jed Lowrie in a trade for starting pitching.

 

I'd love Youks but he's expensive and we don't really have a spot for him.  Reddick is going to be a stud but alas is another lefty. Ceccini is the guy I want from them. Young 3b spec.

Who are your guesses for our September callups?

 

Guys on the 40 man not on the 25 (we also have an empty spot right now):

 

Jairo Asencio

Cory Gearrin

Dustin Richmond

Julio Teheran

Anthony Varvaro

Boscan

Hicks

Wilkin Ramirez

Matt Young

 

Hurt on the 40:

Tommy and Nate

On the 60 day DL:

Moylan (likely to be back) and Medlin (not).

 

I'd like to see Gartrell or Mauro Gomez get a look too.  Gearrin and Varvarvo are obvious choices.

The player I was most surprised to see go undrafted was former top-30 talent Michael Dunigan. He has good size, a solid head on his shoulders and did well this past season in Estonia. In fact, I actually thought he might be a better player than new Golden State Warriors big man Jeremy Tyler.

Kawhi Leonard's teammate at San Diego State, Malcolm Thomas, is another player I was surprised to see didn't have his name called by deputy commissioner Adam Silver. Joshua from The Mikan Drill wrote up a solid review of Thomas's game here and there's no doubt he had more talent than some of the second round selections.

Julyan Stone was supposed to be drafted, at least according to the rumors, but that didn't work out when all was said and done. He's a legit prospect, however.

Greg Smith is another player who surprisingly went undrafted after leaving Fresno State following a solid -- but not outstanding -- sophomore season in which he averaged 11.7 points and 8.1 rebounds. At 6-foot-10 with an 8-foot-11 reach, one would have to think he was probably worth a pick based on size and upside if nothing else.

Other notables that went undrafted include Rick Jackson, Matt Howard, Jamie Skeen, Scotty Hopson, Jacob Pullen, Greedy Peterson, Diante Garrett, David Lighty, Demetri McCamey and Ben Hansbrough. 

There were two other players I liked but didn't think they'd get drafted in St. Mary's point guard Mickey McConnell and Richmond's Kevin Anderson.

 

Who should we look at? I like Lighty and Hopson.

 

http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2011/6/24/2241002/nba-draft-2011-best-undrafted-players

The Nets will have plenty of cap space for free agency, although this year’s crop isn’t as prolific as the last and, conceivably, the next. One player who should garner their attention is Philadelphia forward Thaddeus Young, a restricted free agent after this season, who dominated the Nets on Friday by scoring 22 points on 9-of-12 from the field.
 
Even before Young’s standout performance in Philadelphia's 115-90 victory, coach Avery Johnson was gushing about the 22-year-old. He’s not on the level of New Jersey’s 2012 target, Dwight Howard, but he’s the type of versatile forward the Nets are missing (and thought they were getting with Travis Outlaw).

“If (Young) didn’t have the type of year he’s had, I don’t think the (76ers) would be a playoff team,” Johnson said. “He’s kind of the MVP of the team.”

The 76ers will likely extend an offer sheet to Young and try to match whatever else surfaces, but are in a tough spot because he plays behind Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala and their big contracts. Both Brand and Iguodala are signed through the 2012-13 season. Young was the subject of trade rumors before the February deadline seems intrigued by free agency.

“In order to find out what I’m worth, it’s a must,” he said. “You have to find a team in order to get paid being a restricted free agent.”
 
Ironically, Young’s current GM – Rod Thorn – is responsible for negotiating a good portion of the contracts on the Nets’ roster. Thorn brought in Outlaw, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar and Johan Petro over the summer.
 
“Some have played better than others,” Thorn said. “A couple of them have played well, a couple of them have played as well but overall I think they have a much better bench than we had last year. They have much better players than we had.  So they’re on the right road.”
 
“You have to look at what’s available,” he added. “We made a big push for Boozer. We didn’t get him. We made out push at Tyrus Thomas. We didn’t end up getting him. So it’s who’s available. We had a lot of spots to fill so we ended up signing the guys that we signed.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/nets/2011/04/avery-johnson-loves-thaddeus-young-a-free-agent-to-be?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Fblogs%2Fnets+%28Blogs%2FThe+InterNets%29&utm_content=Twitter

 

I think he'd be a great fit.  Brings alot of what Rudy Gay does.  Should be cheaper than Chandler and averages similar numbers.  Could frontload the deal.  Him, Afflalo, and Hump would be a nice offseason for me. Thoughts?

Hollinger proposed:

"O.J. Mayo to the Bulls (The Trade)

The Bulls have an obvious need for a young shooting guard who can spread the floor, and the Grizzlies have just the guy to do it. That's a start, but there are some theoretical issues with Mayo to Chicago -- his aversion to defense, for instance, or the fact that Memphis and Chicago don't line up well as trade partners.

But offensively, it's too tantalizing for the Bulls to pass up -- a Rose-Mayo-Deng-Boozer-Noah lineup is a scary proposition for the rest of the East. So I recruited New Jersey as a third party. The Nets offload Travis Outlaw's hideous contract and get back some flotsam from the Bulls (Keith Bogans and C.J. Watson) while also getting to roll the dice on Grizzlies draft bust Hasheem Thabeet. New Jersey would also send a protected first-round pick to Chicago as thanks for taking Outlaw off its hands, and $3 million of Mikhail Prokhorov's bankroll to Memphis.

For the Grizzlies? They walk out of the trade with a real bench by nabbing Kyle Korver from Chicago and Jordan Farmar from New Jersey. That's not quite fair value for Mayo, but they weren't going to be able to pay him anyway."

 

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=48auwpr

 

 

I'm down for it.  Thabeet has potential still and the downgrade from Farmar is worth it to get OutLOL off our hands.

gregg (d.c.)

The only plausible move for the Cavs at this point is to blow the whole thing up and rebuild. What kind of market do you see for Andy, Mo, Antawn, etc.?

Chad Ford   (1:18 PM)




Actually Varejao will be the easiest to move if the Cavs are content getting cap relief & a future asset (which they may need to be at this point). Teams always need bigs who can rebound and Varejao would help a lot of squads. Antawn probably has a market too, again if the Cavs are willing to just take back an expiring. Mo Williams will be a little tougher to trade. There's a lot of really good point guards in the league right now. Hickson has a market too.

Hey Chad, big fan...It seems like Alvin Gentry ask for some kind of trade yesterday when he said "I don't know if we can play as many guys as we're playing, we have too many perimeter guys we are trying to work into the lineup. It doesn't work." What do you think?

Chad Ford   (1:26 PM)

I think anyone can see what Gentry is seeing. Robert Sarver's team of small forwards is interesting to watch, but the Suns aren't going deep with that squad. The problem is ... who do they trade? Jason Richardson has some value because of his contract ... but the rest ... not sure how it nets them a big man.

Andy or JRich would be a perfect fit.  Varejao would give us frontcourt toughness.
JRich is a pure scorer.  Esp. if we could resign him.  He's only 29 and basically gives you everything Melo does plus a 3 point shot.

 

 

 

For those proposing us giving up CLee or TWill to move up one spot; it doesn't take that much if history is any judge.

 

 

Portland moved up 2 spots (4 to 2) for TThomas and only gave up a 2nd and  the rights to Victor K.

Foye was traded straight up for BRoy (7 for 6)

In '04 the Clippers traded #2 pick to the Bobcats for #4 and #33 picks

You also have to think about the 500k you save by getting a 3rd pick over a 2nd.

 

A second rounder or cash would likely be enough.

From Chad Ford:

Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors also got a boost from the measurements. He's a legit 6-foot-10, has a 7-2 wingspan and a 9-2 standing reach. Those numbers are actually very close to Dwight Howard and better than the Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford. If Favors projects as a center in the NBA, he too could get some strong consideration with the No. 2 pick.

"Favors doesn't have the offensive game that DeMarcus Cousins has," another GM told me. "But he's a better athlete, a better defender and when the two of them met head-to-head in high school, Favors kicked Cousins' butt. Had he got going earlier at Georgia Tech, he could've been, probably should've been, the No. 1 pick."

Woohoo.  Looks like we'll either steal Turner or get a great pick at #3.

Anyone else want him like I do?

 

Pros:

- Should be pretty cheap

- One of the best defenders in the league

- Good height for his position

- Decent on Offense

 

Cons:

- A bit of a prick (I like a guy with edge every once in a while, esp. for a defensive stopper)

 

Thoughts as a rotation guy for a few mil?

 

Perfect Case (not counting trading guys):

Wall/Harris

Harris/Lee/CDR

TWill/Barnes/CDR

Boozer/Yi/#27 pick

Brook

If we do trade him in the offseason (not saying we will), who do you want/think we can get back (remember the salaries need to be close)? 

Note: We can take back more than than we send as we're under the cap or add a player to balance.

 

http://hoopshype.com/salaries.htm

Salaries:
Harris (27) - 9 mil next yr, signed through '12/13

Candidates:
Deng (25) - 11 mil next yr, signed through '13/14 (Not likely with Rose/Heinrich)

G. Wallace (27/28) - 9.8 mil next yr, signed through '11/12 (12/13 PO).  Felton is a FA and Augustine is ehh.

SJax (32) -  8.45, signed through 12/13.  Same as Wallace, but too old really.

AI (26) - 12.3, signed through 12/13 (13/14 PO)

Odom (30/31) - 8.2, signed through 11/12 (12/13 TO)