Lewan seeks extension, skips Titans minicamp
NASHVILLE — Taylor Lewan is sending a message: He wants a new contract, and he’s done playing nice.
The Titans‘ two-time Pro Bowl left tackle, entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, is not participating in the team’s mandatory three-day minicamp, which began Tuesday at Saint Thomas Sports Park.
Lewan is scheduled to make $9.341 million in base salary this season.
Titans general manager Jon Robinson said the team has been working to negotiate a long-term deal.
“As we start the mandatory veteran mini-camp, we were informed by the representatives for Taylor Lewan that he would not be attending the camp,” Robinson said in a written statement. “We have had several constructive conversations over the last 5-6 weeks about his contract status. He is currently under contract and we are working to keep Taylor as part of this organization for a long time.”
The Titans drafted Lewan out of Michigan with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 draft.
He’s started 53 of 58 regular-season games, including every game the past two seasons and the first 15 games in 2015.
Until last week, the 6-foot-7, 309pound Lewan had participated in the team’s voluntary offseason workouts since players first reported on April 9.
The Titans can fine Lewan up to $84,435 for skipping all three days of minicamp: $14,070 for Tuesday, $28,150 for Wednesday and $42,215 for Thursday.
“I have a lot of faith in Jon and our organization and the front office, and certainly Taylor’s got a situation,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said, “but where we’re at, I think Jon pretty much covered it with the statement ...
“We all have a contract. I understand that. Everybody in this building has a contract, and so I understand that there sometimes becomes issues with those, so I think that they’re best handled internally, and that’s where we’ll go.”
Lewan addressed concerns about his contract situation late last month.
“I understand that this is a business, and so if something gets done here that’s great,” Lewan said. “But if not, I understand and that’s how it is. That’s how this game works, so whatever happens, happens.
“If something gets done and both parties are happy, then I think something will get done. If not, then it’s a business. I can’t sit here and say what the future’s going to be. But as of right now, I’m playing on my fifth-year option and I’m going to do my best to make sure that this team is as successful as possible this year, and hopefully continue for this offensive line to take steps forward and try to be the best left tackle I can be.”
Lewan, who turns 27 in July, said he considers himself the best left tackle in the league.
The Giants made Nate Solder, 30, the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL this offseason, signing the former Patriots lineman to a four-year, $62 million contract with $34.8 million guaranteed, an average of $15.5 million per season.
Lewan should approach, if not surpass, those numbers.