Alterraun Verner isn't rushing to flee Tennessee, but the Titans cornerback knows his days in Rocky Top might be winding to a close.
After the team chose not to use its franchise tag on the cover man, Verner acknowledged that he isn't about to guarantee a "hometown discount" to the Titans in free agency.
"I love being here, I love my teammates and I love Tennessee. When it comes to the money, it is not like I need to be paid super high," Verner told The Tennessean on Monday. "But I am not going to be a fool and take anything that is super small. From a business standpoint, you don't know how long you are going to play in this league, so you have to take advantage when you can."
Ranked as Around The League's top free-agent cornerback, Verner is on target to make a killing. Especially after 30-year-old Brent Grimes set the market with a four-year, $32 million contract extension from the Dolphins laced with $16 million in guarantees.
With so much money already invested in fellow defensive back Jason McCourty, the Titans don't appear interested in a bidding war. Verner said he isn't asking the team "to spend all of their salary cap just to keep me," but he's a solid bet to make $10 million per year.
Teams will fall for the combination of his age -- just 25 -- and last season's game film, which revealed a sticky cover man who finished as the NFL's eighth best corner, per Pro Football Focus. Just three of his peers held quarterbacks to a lower passing rating than Verner's 55.8.
His breakout season was perfectly timed, and the Titans appear ready to let him walk. Look for Verner to be the belle of the ball come March 11.
The latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast" weighs in on Monday's franchise-tag surprises and unpacks all the 49ers drama out west.
