As Rosenthal detailed in May, Titans cornerback Jason McCourty has pulled ahead of Ryan Mouton in the competition to start opposite Pro Bowler Cortland Finnegan. Mouton was a higher draft pick last year and the Titans spent a fourth-round selection on Alterraun Verner in April, but McCourty saw the majority of first-team reps during OTAs.
Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean reconfirmed McCourty’s stance atop the depth chart in a late-June blog post, calling the starting job “his to lose” and indicating that McCourty was one of the team’s top practice performers of the offseason.
As made aware to us by agent Nate Haber, fellow agent Andy Simms has announced via Twitter that McCourty recently signed on with PlayersRep sports agency. McCourty has three years remaining on his rookie deal, so he’s likely not in search of a new contract yet. A sixth-round pick in 2009, McCourty played sparingly on defense as a rookie.
If he keeps the job for 16 games this year, though, the precedent the Titans do or don’t set with regard to running back Chris Johnson’s contract could conceivably come into play. In search of a raise, Johnson has two years left on his rookie deal. McCourty will be in the same position next offseason.
