It seems as if 2014 will be a make or break year for Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker.
The Tennessean reported the Titans will not exercise the fifth-year option on Locker’s contract, meaning the quarterback has this season to convince the team he’s worthy of a new deal beyond this year. The team has until May 3 to make its final decision.
This comes as no surprise, as Locker has been plagued by injury in each of his first three seasons in the league, as well as inconsistent play. To pick up Locker’s 2015 option would cost Tennessee about $14.6 million, per the report, a large sum of money for a quarterback that was drafted under the previous coaching staff.
Locker has this season to prove to first-year Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt he can not only stay healthy but be the team’s franchise quarterback. He’s almost six months removed from foot surgery. In three seasons, Locker owns an 8-10 mark as a starter, has thrown for 3,974 yards and completed 57.2 percent of his passes. He has 22 touchdown passes compared to 15 interceptions.
The Titans have done their due diligence in terms of meeting with quarterbacks in the 2014 draft class. The team has oft been linked to former Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr, a projected late first-round or second-round selection. Indications are that the team is “especially curious” about Carr, who proclaimed himself the best quarterback in this crop.
Tennessee offensive lineman Chance Warmack has openly campaigned his team to consider drafting his former Alabama teammate A.J. McCarron. The two-time national championship-winning quarterback has widely been viewed as a mid-round pick, but recently stated a team told he could come off the board between Picks 16 and 35. He missed his pre-draft visit with the Titans due to an illness.
The team has also hosted Zach Mettenberger of LSU, Aaron Murray of Georgia, and Jimmy Garoppolo, among others, for pre-draft visits, according to the report. They have also done their homework on top prospects such as Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M, Blake Bortles of Central Florida, and Teddy Bridgewater of Louisville, who is an intriguing name considering his recent slide on draft boards.
