Titans Announce Changes to Front Office: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

With the 2015 NFL draft still a few months away, the Tennessee Titans decided the time is now for a major front office shake-up.

The team announced Friday that it parted ways with Lake Dawson, Tennessee's now former vice president of player personnel, in addition to a few tweaks to the management structure. The Titans posted a statement from general manager Ruston Webster on Twitter:

The decision to let Dawson go caught quite a few NFL fans and insiders off guard. Albert Breer of NFL Network noted that he was a general manager candidate for a few different teams in the past few years:

Dan Phillips of Fox 17 in Nashville hinted that the team is scapegoating Dawson to cover for larger issues in the organization:

"

One thing seems pretty clear to me now. The #Titans problems this past season were due to 1 man. #LakeDawson.

— Dan Phillips (@DanoFox17) January 30, 2015"

Dawson had spent the last eight seasons inside the Titans organization, starting out as the director of pro personnel in 2007 before assuming his most recent role in 2011. He worked in the Seattle Seahawks' personnel department before arriving in Nashville.

The Titans haven't made the playoffs since 2008 and have just one winning season during that time. After last year's 2-14 record, many fans in Tennessee will agree that something needs to change in the front office for the franchise to be competitive again.

Ultimately, though, Tennessee will need to improve its on-field product, and that starts with the draft. The Titans have the second overall pick in the first round, and it's imperative that they nail the selection.

Letting Dawson go is likely a part of the franchise's long-term plans.