Titans swipe Falcons director of college scouting to be assistant GM

First-year Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon took the first step to put his stamp on the team’s scouting department after naming former Atlanta Falcons director of college scouting Anthony Robinson as an assistant GM, per SI.com’s Albert Breer.

Robinson will oversee the Titans scouting department and he joins fellow assistant GM Chad Brinker as second-in-command under Carthon.

During his tenure in Atlanta, Robinson helped scout and draft receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and running back Devonta Freeman. The four players combined for two first-team All-Pro selections, six second-team All-Pro selections and 11 Pro Bowls. Jones led the NFL in receiving yards twice while Freeman led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2015.

Robinson took an unconventional path to the NFL. He quit his six-figure job as a car salesman at the age of 22, moved to Florida and enrolled in community college after a phone call with then-Ravens director of college scouting and current Ravens GM Eric DeCosta.

Robinson wanted to be an NFL scout but had no college degree or scouting experience. Four years later, Robinson landed an internship with the Ravens working with player personnel, thus launching a career that eventually led him to the Falcons scouting department.

Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk expressed a desire for someone with a strong background in player evaluation and roster building in her search for Tennessee’s next GM after firing Jon Robinson in December.

Like Robinson, Carthon checked those boxes during his time with the San Francisco 49ers where he had a hand in several late-round draft picks including All-Pro tight end George Kittle, All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, running back Elijah Mitchell and quarterback Brock Purdy.