Head coach Mike Vrabel has suggested rival teams think twice about trying to lure Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown, whose name has been attached to talks about an extension and a potential trade this offseason.
The Titans, who are 25/1 to win Super Bowl LVII, also made it clear they weren't looking to offload Brown when quizzed on the matter at the Annual League Meeting last month.
Jon Robinson, the general manager, explained that the team's goal was to reach agreement over a contract extension for their 2019 second-round draft pick.
But Brown's name has come up in reports over which wide receivers could be snagged by desperate teams willing to part with some high draft picks, particularly as the market for that position could make it difficult for the Titans to thrash out terms.
Brown in demand?
Tennessee have under $2million in cap space right now and are projected to be tight at $10.5m under the cap in 2023, which could force them into backloading any long-term extension for Brown - or even into drastic decisions over other stars on the team.
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However, the Titans can easily clear over $31m next year just by cutting quarterback Ryan Tannehill and newly-acquired wide receiver Robert Woods.
Vrabel defiant
Head coach Vrabel made his stance pretty clear on Thursday when he was asked if Brown was on the trade block.
"Not as long as I'm the head coach," he said on the Rich Eisen Show. "I love A.J. professionally, personally. I've gotten to know him well as his coach and enjoy seeing him as much as I possibly can.
"Saw him here working out here earlier, said hi. As long as I'm the coach here, I would want to have A.J. Brown on my football team."
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