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As first-round selections from the 2016 NFL Draft begin to see their respective clubs pick up their fifth-year options, one who won't is former No. 8-overall pick Jack Conklin of the Tennessee Titans.
That's according to Pro Football Talk, who first reported the news, which was also the deadline for teams to pick up the options.
Titans will not pick up Jack Conklin's 2020 option, per source
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 1, 2019
Conklin garne First-Team All-Pro honors as a rookie in 2016, but his play has declined in the two years since. In 2017, even though he completed another 16-game season, he took a step back in his level of play. In 2016, he graded out as Pro Football Focus' fourth-best player at his position. In 2017, he graded out as PFF's 14th-best player at his position. That year, Conklin tore his ACL in a playoff game , causing him to miss half of 2018.
Last year, he graded out as the 18th-best right tackle, allowing four sacks in nine games. For comparison, Conlkin allwed four sacks in his previous 32 games, combined.
Good illustration of what kind of season it was for #Titans' Conklin. Another illustration: He gave up 4 sacks in 9 games last year, per @PFF, compared to 4 sacks in his first 32 games. Tough to sink the big $$ into that situation. https://t.co/3v9EZn7Qxr
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) May 1, 2019
Given the medical history and the downward trajectory of his play, the Titans weren't necessarily wrong to pass on his $12,866,000 fifth-year option, which would've been guaranteed for injury. Although he's now scheduled to hit free agency next offseason, that doesn't mean Conklin can't still return to the Titans, either.
The team could still sign him to a new, lucrative deal if his play returns back to All-Pro form. If it doesn't, the Titans could still resign him to a less expensive deal if they decide to keep him around.
Their decision might've made sense, but that still doesn't make it an easy one to swallow.
