Now that he’s gone through the first wave of player interviews, the man who controls the first pick in the 2016 NFL Draft has narrowed his list.
A little.
Via Jim Wyatt of the team’s official website, Titans General Manager Jon Robinson said he’s culled the field of candidates for the top pick.
“I would say it is not 20, but it is more than one,’’ Robinson said.
Of course, we’re nearly two months away from him actually having to use that pick, and the pro day schedule is just beginning. So he’s still getting to know the players he’s choosing from, after a round of 15-minute interviews at the Scouting Combine.
And while other teams are pushing the boundaries of what they can legally ask in a job interview, Robinson said he’s willing to give a little latitude to certain players as he’s putting together a roster.
“The most important thing is: Are they going to make an impact on our football team on the field?” Robinson said. “But I would say 1A is: Are they going to embody the traits that Mike [Mularkey] and I have laid out with being tough, coachable, team-first guys, guys that are dependable guys on and off the field.
“It is as much their personality and fit here as people as it is on the field. I’m not saying we want a roster of 53 Boy Scouts — and that’s not a dig at the Boy Scouts — but there’s no question that’s a big part of it. Do they embody everything we stand for as Titans?’
Of course, most well-organized troops could have beaten the Titans the last few years. And by taking Marcus Mariota last year, the Titans have solidified the character portion of the equation, giving themselves a little flexibility in the future as they try to balance out their 53.