NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -The Tennessee Titans remain interested in San Diego running back Michael Turner and have talked enough with his agent that working out a new contract could be done quickly.
The biggest problem? San Diego’s high trade demands for LaDainian Tomlinson’s backup.
Chargers general manager A.J. Smith wants first- and third-round draft picks for Turner, a price he hasn’t eased as Saturday’s NFL draft nears. He said Wednesday that teams have offered less for Turner. The Titans wouldn’t give up that much because they also need help at wide receiver, defensive end and cornerback.
Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt said Thursday that draft-day trades can happen quickly when two teams have a “meeting of the minds.”
“We have a broad range of (what’s in) the ball park,” Reinfeldt said of what it would take to sign Turner to a long-term contract after a trade. “We’d have more discussions if it got closer, if it did turn out that way.”
Reinfeldt said no trade could happen until Turner signed his $2.35 million tender offer from San Diego, which Turner did Thursday. His agent, Bus Cook, was in New York and did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.
“I think something could be done if things fell into place,” Reinfeldt said.
The Titans go into this draft with lots of holes to fill, including at running back where they released top rusher Travis Henry in March to cut salary. Turner is a very attractive option for a team that needs some experience to go with LenDale White, a second-round pick last year.
They need a wide receiver as well, which is why the Titans want to hold onto the No. 19 pick overall, where they could likely choose from Robert Meachem, Ted Ginn Jr. or Dwayne Bowe. They also need a defensive end and help at cornerback because of the season-long suspension of Adam “Pacman” Jones.
Coach Jeff Fisher wanted to remind fans that the draft – with 10 picks – won’t fill all of the Titans’ needs and pointed out that the Titans added players released in the NFL’s final roster cutdowns last September.
“I feel like as far as an organization we’re on the same page, we know exactly what we want. We don’t know how we’re going to get there, but we’re really looking forward to this weekend as an opportunity to fill some of those needs,” he said.
This is the first draft headed by Reinfeldt, who was hired as general manager in February. The team’s draft board has been set with players rated. Only some last-minute tweaking remains pending a final session with assistant coaches.
“I think it’s an exciting time,” Reinfeldt said. “It’s a grind and you go through so much, but at the same time I think the adrenaline starts pumping and to me it’s like Christmas. Saturday morning to me will be like Christmas.”
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