NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The addition of free-agent Malcolm Butler further identifies the trait the Titans want in their cornerbacks.

While Adoree’ Jackson certainly brings elite speed, the defining characteristic of their top-line trio of Butler, 

Logan Ryan and Jackson is toughness.

The addition is a giant free-agent move with giant money connected to it. We always need to see how a deal breaks down to really understand what it is worth. But Ian Rapoport’s initial reporting says it includes over $30 million guaranteed.

The #Titans are signing CB Malcolm Butler on a 5-year contract worth more than $61M with more than $30M guaranteed, source said. Wow.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2018

For those kinds of dollars, I’d expect a truly special player.

But from what scouts I know tell me, special isn’t the first word they’d attach to Butler.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The loud segment of Titans fans that is preset to bemoan a lack of spending in free agency is already at full social-media volume.

It’s my favorite thing!

I said on The Midday 180 in Tuesday that it’s a big disappointment to me that as a prominent voice covering the team I’ve failed to educate or influence enough people on the subject.

Well, they're watching the parade go by. Anybody working in the office? Robinson, watkins, Norwell, Hitchens all gone and all players titans could use. Is this team ever going to get serious about improving the team and winning?

— juice francois (@therealjuice331) March 13, 2018

Titans won’t do anything. Already valuable players off the boards

— Zach (@zach_bk10) March 13, 2018

Jags just PAID Campbell. Bouye, Bortles, & SEVERAL others & are signing the top OG on the market to a $60 Million+ deal.... How can people continually defend the Lazy/Cheap approach this team takes to Free Agency?? @Titans Keep raising Ticket Prices & sign NO IMPACT PLAYERS Hmmmm

— Jason conner (@Jasonco23350449) March 13, 2018

Sure, the Jaguars crushed it in 2017, layering A.J. Bouye, Calais Campbell and Barry Church into their team that finally broke through and advanced to the AFC Championship Game.

But why should that now be the standard?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Any underground, deep background conversations can move into the light today, as NFL teams are allowed to start courting free agents.

Wednesday, free agency officially opens at 3 p.m. CT and Jon Robinson will begin to shop, this time for Mike Vrabel, Dean Pees and Matt LaFleur.

Fans who are big-name hunters may well be disappointed, as per usual.

The Titans have roughly $63 million in cap room and many fans will insist the team is failing if it does not pour gold doubloons into the pockets of Andrew Norwell or Malcolm Butler.

Maybe they take a big swing, where Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson could be attractive to a team lacking proven wideouts that will be playing far more three-wide receiver formations.

But I won’t have a big beef with the Titans if they are budget shoppers again.

Robinson’s free-agent batting average is hardly great, but his best finds have been reasonable values: Logan Ryan and Rishard Matthews are the headliners.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Congratulations on making it through the darkness.

Sunday there will be extended light.

I do not want to hear a single complaint about a lost hour of sleep donated to springing ahead. Springing ahead is amazing. The payoff is huge.

I hope you didn’t miss our Periscope on Friday, but in case you did, here it is.

Watch on #Periscope: .@pickersvodka #Titans talk, March 9 https://t.co/gx7tZOwpcL

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) March 10, 2018

Send questions for this popular weekly file to @PaulKuharskyNFL on Twitter or through the member Facebook page. (Keyword there, member.)

In your mind how similar is free agency to college recruiting and will Vrabel be able to influence a player’s decision as much considering the moneyaspect? #PKMail

— The General (@mac9nj) March 9, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – We now know, according to ESPN, that free-agent cornerback Richard Sherman ranks the Titans as an interested team.

What we don’t know is the degree of interest, and how that compares to the interest level of the 49ers, who Sherman is visiting already, as well as the Lions, Raiders, Texans, Buccaneers and Packers.

ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported Sherman saying those are franchises he has heard from.

As he recovers from Achilles repair, he said he wants to be with a contender. Every one of those teams can sell themselves as one, with the Bucs having the hardest case to make.

Money will certainly play a role – it always does.

But I’ve gone too long here letting those of you who are big-name hunters get excited.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans have told DeMarco Murray he will be released, and a team that spent a 2016 second-round pick on Derrick Henry is ready to move forward at running back.

Murray brought the team the sort of intensity that had often been missing during the Ken Whisenhunt regime and his work in 2016 shouldn’t be forgotten.

Murray was Jon Robinson’s first big move. He swapped fourth-round picks with Philadelphia as the Eagles undid a free-agent signing that did not work for Chip Kelly. And to bring Murray to Tennessee Robinson got him to agree to a re-worked contract.

The running back helped the Titans re-establish themselves with 293 carries for 1,287 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes for another 322 yards and an additional score.

He was a reliable third-down player, good running routes and effective at keeping blitzers off of Marcus Mariota.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No position is of bigger need for the Titans heading into 2018 as edge pass rusher.

Their depth is lacking and their two incumbent starters, Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan, are getting older and heading into the last year of their deals.

We will look at a lot of guys at the spot, but as I discussed one of them -- Ohio State's Sam Hubbard --  with a scout, he gave me a comparison that I couldn’t wait to discuss.

“Good player, smart guy, very tough,” he told me. “Average athlete. But makes plays. Reminds you of a young Mike Vrabel.”

It’s clear how much Jon Robinson liked Vrabel’s playing style and leadership. It’s clear how much Vrabel prided himself on using his smart to help him be a playmaker.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Like most writers/reporters/analysts who closely follow a team, I have certain insight into the Titans.

It doesn’t make me good at predicting things about them, because, as I say, again and again, the single biggest attraction the NFL has is its unpredictability.

The desire fans have for predictions is strong, but it’s not as strong as the urge to bash people for missing on predictions.

Sometimes I have a strong feeling about whether they will win or lose the upcoming game. But I don't know who's going to win on a given Sunday. Such fortune-telling better coming from Vegas guys, who advise you on which way to bet, as it's their job.

For a writer/reporter/analyst/columnist, the job is to find out new information, to tell you what new information means when it surfaces and to craft opinions based on information and what we see and hear.

When I recently wrote about how NFL reporters seem wary of saying they were wrong, I saw, again, how people mix things up. A news report that is wrong is a far different than a game prediction that is wrong.