For most teams, the Collective Bargaining Agreement makes negotiating rookie contracts a breeze. But the Titans are not like most teams.
With Marcus Mariota still unsigned, the Titans are the only team in the NFL without its first-round pick under contract. Just like they were last year, when tackle Taylor Lewan was the last first-round pick to sign his contract. And just like they were two years ago, when guard Chance Warmack was the last first-round pick to sign his contract.
Warmack’s negotiations lasted so long that he missed the first four practices of training camp. The year before that, Titans first-round receiver Kendall Wright missed the first three practices of training camp during contract negotiations. The Titans (who are still negotiating offset language on Mariota’s contract) are willing to wait for their first-round picks to sign a team-friendly contract, even if that takes a while.
But while it’s one thing for offensive linemen and wide receivers to miss the first few days of training camp, it’s quite another for the starting quarterback not to be there. If Mariota isn’t there at the beginning of camp, it will slow down his own development, and it will delay the process of getting his timing down with the rest of the Titans’ offense.
So it would be good for both Mariota and the Titans to get this deal done before camp opens. Unfortunately, it’s possible that neither side is willing to budge.