NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- In Jon Robinson, the Tennessee Titans get a young general manager who has a solid résumé as a player evaluator.

He comes to Nashville after two years in Tampa Bay as director of player personnel, but worked for the New England Patriots from 2002-13.

Jon Robinson will look to build around quarterback Marcus Mariota. Jim Rogash/Getty Images

During his time with the Patriots, Robinson worked with smart and powerful people. He was part of a group that identified receiver Julian Edelman as a seventh-rounder in 2009, defensive back Devin McCourty as a first-rounder in 2010, tight end Rob Gronkowski as a second-rounder in 2010, tackle Nate Solder as a first-rounder in 2011 and defensive end Chandler Jones as a first-rounder in 2012.

If he can help the Titans make selections that are anywhere near on par with those, it’ll be a win.

The question as he arrives is about his power.

He clearly coveted the job. But when he took it, did he accept a condition from his bosses that the team will hire ownership-favorite and incumbent interim coach Mike Mularkey as the head coach?

If that's how things pan out, Robinson will look weak from the start.

I've been told a reason Jon Robinson emerged with #Titans was his willingness to retain Mike Mularkey as HC. Also has history with McDaniels — Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) January 14, 2016

Having worked with a coach doesn’t ensure a personnel executive will hire him, but Robinson has recently worked with Lovie Smith, Dirk Koetter, Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia, which is a good pool of head-coaching candidates.

But the Titans aren't scheduled to talk to any of those guys, and are instead interviewing former Bills coach Doug Marrone on Thursday and Mularkey and Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Friday.

If the Titans don’t talk to Smith, Koetter, McDaniels or Patricia, it will signal to me that Robinson joins the team without the sort of clout I’d want my GM to have.

He doesn’t necessarily have to hire the coach. But bringing in a new GM only to thrust someone else's choice of coach on him is not traditionally a successful recipe.