Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson said it would take a “king’s ransom” for the team to give up the No. 1 overall draft pick.
Robinson, speaking at the annual Sportsfest in Nashville, Tenn., said the Titans would consider trading down but only for a load of picks.
Most mock drafts, including NFLDraftScout.com, have the Titans selecting Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil with the first overall pick.
Robinson made it clear again at the NFL Scouting Combine last month that one of his primary missions is to find ways to protect and upgrade the talent around quarterback Marcus Mariota, who missed four games because of injury last season.
–New York Jets manager Mike Maccagnan is determined to bring back quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick even though contract negotiations continue to be stalled.
Fitzpatrick believes the Jets are offering him the equivalent of a low-end starter or high-end backup salary. Maccagnan said he is willing to improve the team’s current offer to the journeyman quarterback.
The Jets have offered Fitzpatrick between $7 million and $8 million per year, according to ESPN sources. Fitzpatrick is thought to be seeking twice that amount.
Fitzpatrick, 33, had a career year with the Jets under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, throwing for 3,905 yards with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in his first season with the Jets. Fitzpatrick led the Jets to a 10-6 record and set the franchise mark for touchdown passes.
Meanwhile, free agent quarterback Robert Griffin III met with the Jets last week.
–Peyton Manning was back where his NFL career began in Indianapolis for Friday’s announcement that the Colts will retire his No. 18 jersey and erect a statue of the quarterback outside Lucas Oil Stadium.
Manning spent the first 14 years of his career in Indy and won a Super Bowl for the franchise before finishing with four seasons in Denver, winning his second Super Bowl title with the Broncos.
“It was my honor and privilege to play for this organization for 14 years,” Manning said. “I’ll always be a Colt.”
Manning announced his retirement on March 7 in Denver. But he won four league MVP awards and led the Colts to a 141-67 record and 11 playoff appearances. The Colts released him in March 2012 after he missed the 2011 season with a neck injury.
—The Miami Dolphins signed wide receiver Griff Whalen to a free-agent contract.
Whalen spent the past three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, where he played 33 games and started three, with 45 receptions for 487 yards and three touchdowns. He added 46 punt returns for 376 yards (8.2 average) and 25 kickoff returns for 645 yards (25.8 average).
In 2015, Whalen played a career-high 14 games for the Colts, catching 19 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown. He also had 12 punt returns for 85 yards (7.1 average) and nine kickoff returns for 244 yards (27.1 average). Whalen was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 21 and the Colts waived him on Jan. 1.