National Football League

Titans agree to terms with first-round draft choice Taylor Lewan

Published Jul. 24, 2014 3:02 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with left tackle Taylor Lewan on Thursday, making the 11th overall selection out of Michigan the last of this year's draft picks to reach a deal.

The Titans announced the deal Thursday. The Titans report for training camp Friday.

The team did not release terms. Lewan reportedly received a four-year deal worth $11.5 million with a signing bonus of $6.7 million.

The 6-foot-7, 309-pound Lewan was an AP All-American and a two-time Big Ten offensive lineman of the year.

The third tackle selected in the draft after Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews, Lewan practiced at both tackle spots this offseason for Tennessee and will be competing with right tackle Michael Oher and veteran left tackle Michael Roos.

This is the second straight year that the Titans were the NFL's last team to sign all of their draft picks. Right guard Chance Warmack, the 10th overall selection, missed the first four practices of training camp before getting his deal.

General manager Ruston Webster said in a radio interview Thursday that Lewan will be ready for camp.

The first practice is Saturday.

"He'll compete in multiple spots," Webster said of plans for Lewan. "When we took him, we want guys to come in and contribute right away and play. But we also had an eye for the future, so we'll see where it goes. We feel great about our depth at tackle and just our group in general at the offensive line."

The Titans drafted Lewan despite having signed Oher to a four-year deal in March, even with the tackle facing charges in Michigan for allegedly hitting an Ohio State fan after the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines last season.

Lewan is charged with one count of aggravated assault and two counts of assault and battery, and jury selection for a trial is scheduled for Oct. 27 in Ann Arbor District Court during the Titans' bye week.

According to an Ann Arbor police report obtained by The Associated Press, Lewan told police he only was separating people but later acknowledged he "could have pushed someone."

James Hughes of Denver said Lewan hit him in the face. Alexandra Dileo, whose brother was a college teammate of Lewan's, said "Taylor is lying" about his actions on Dec. 1.

"He knocked the guy to the ground, and he punched him," she told police in a telephone interview Jan. 29, according to the report. She recalled hearing Lewan tell his mother, "I knocked a guy out," the next morning while they were having breakfast.

Lewan gave his side of the story before the NFL Draft to many teams, including the Titans.

"I'm happy that they believed in my character, the kind of person I am," Lewan said during a conference call the night he was drafted. "My job is to not do reckless things off the field. My job is to make sure my quarterback is safe and my running backs are in good positions to gain yards."   

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League