Michael

Griffin

His status for Week 7 against Houston is uncertain, but the Titans are already missing SS Chris Hope. They have a welcomed bye in Week 6. Griffin, who says he’ll try to play through it, has 21 tackles on the season. Jordan Babineaux is now the starting strong safety. Anthony Smith is behind Griffin at free.

The bye in Week 6 helps his cause, and with SS Chris Hope out this is excellent news for a unit that just got carved up by Ben Roethlisberger. The Titans get the Texans in Week 7, who could be getting Andre Johnson back.

Griffin will be a franchise tag candidate if no deal is struck, and has stated publicly that he’s open to it. Otherwise, the Patriots and Rams have been floated as potential suitors. Though Griffin struggles as a tackler, he’s showed big-play ability throughout his career and can play both safety and corner.

We wouldn’t be so sure that Nelson gets away from Cincinnati. The Bengals have plenty of room under the cap and have identified Nelson as a top priority after a career year in 2011.

He’ll sign an injury waiver that covers him in case he gets hurt. Griffin is holding out hope for a long-term extension, but aims to “assume more of a leadership role” following the departures of Cortland Finnegan and Chris Hope. Writers love covering for Saints franchise player Drew Brees, but he could be doing the same in New Orleans without a long-term deal.

More specifically, Reiss thinks Griffin’s durability and flexibility make him the type of player typically “near the top of the Patriots’ wish list.” The 27-year-old can play both free safety and corner. Likely in the market for safety help, the Pats figure to do their homework on all free agent safeties.

This all but ensures that CB Cortland Finnegan is headed to the free agent market. Griffin, 27, has 17 interceptions and seven forced fumbles over the past five seasons and will cost just over $6.2 million under the safety tag. The Titans identified him as more of a priority then Finnegan because of their depth at corner and lack of it at safety. While Griffin is a bit of a timid tackler, he is one of the better “centerfield” playmakers in football.

Whereas it would have cost Tennessee over $10 million to use the cornerback tag on free agent Cortland Finnegan, the safety tag only costs about $6.2 million. The Titans have Alterraun Verner in place to start for Finnegan, but safeties with playmaking ability like Griffin’s are hard to come by. Griffin would be the third NFL safety tagged so far, joining Tyvon Branch and Dashon Goldson.

The move should soon become official. The tag will guarantee the Titans’ 2007 first-round pick $6.2 million in 2012. Griffin graded out as the league’s 14th best safety by Pro Football Focus in 2011.

A reshuffled Titans front office has remained mum on its intentions for the tag, but franchising Griffin could be wise if they are already resigned to losing Cortland Finnegan. If the Titans let both Finnegan and Griffin hit the open market, a pass defense that was rock solid for most of last season would be in danger of entering 2012 without two of its long-time linchpins.