Titans Reportedly Won't Pick Up Jack Conklin's 5th-Year Contract Option

The Tennessee Titans reportedly aren't planning to pick up the fifth-year option in the rookie contract of offensive tackle Jack Conklin.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the update Wednesday.

Tennessee selected Conklin with the eighth overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft.

The 24-year-old Michigan State product was named First Team All-Pro during a standout rookie season. He's failed to match that level of performance over the past two years, though.

Conklin posted an Approximate Value of 15 in 2016, but that figure dropped to seven in 2017 and five during an injury-plagued 2018 campaign, per Pro Football Reference.

The Michigan native was limited to nine games last year because of two separate knee injuries and a concussion. Pro Football Focus graded him as the league's No. 45 tackle when healthy last season.

In November, Conklin said he hadn't lived up to his own expectations in 2018.

"I feel like I need to play better," he told reporters. "There is definitely stuff out there I'd like to have back, and it's something I have to keep adjusting to and keep getting better and do a better job. We are a good o-line, and we have to show that on Sundays."

Although the decision to decline the option prevents Conklin from taking on a massive jump in cap hit for 2020, it doesn't mean he can't still return beyond next season via a different contract extension.

A lot will depend on his performance in 2019. He's still slated to serve as the team's starting right tackle.