Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward THREATENS Tennessee Titans, Cam Ward's Upside Advantage & Tee Higgins Tag Ends Dreams

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

The Tennessee Titans are staring down the barrel of the number one pick and while that gives them a chance to add a great talent, it also gives them a chance at a big miss and top quarterback prospect Cam Ward reminded the Titans of that in some recent comments. Ward's upside gives him a major edge in this draft, but the polish of a Shedeur Sanders does make sense as as well. There are two major figures in the Titans organization who have gone down different quarterback paths. Finally, Tee Higgins has long been a target for the Titans amongst the fan base, but after being tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals, that dream is likely dead. Higgins isn't the only player the Titans should be worried about getting tagged... Subscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitans TicTacTitans Merchandise: https://dixons-dream.square.site/shop/tictactitans-gear/C3AAPNWXSXA6SBYG3USV2I7R?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=asc Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitans Follow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPod Subscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitans/videos Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuelRight now, new FanDuel customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins!Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Cam Ward just let the Tennessee Titans know they'd be making a big mistake if they passed on him I'll tell you what he said on today's edition of Locked on Titans You are locked on Titans your daily Tennessee Titans podcast part of the locked on podcast network your team every day Welcome to the Locked On Titans podcast. I am your host Tyler Rowland, Titans fans on today's edition of the Locked On Titans podcast. We're gonna take a look at Cam Ward's threat

to the Tennessee Titans and the rest of the NFL. We're gonna talk about the upside conversation surrounding the top two quarterbacks and do a little update on the franchise tag and why some Titans fans dreams may have turned into a nightmare before we get into all of it. Do want to thank you for making the locked on Titans podcast. You are first listen each and every day. Remember Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for

free. You're not going to beat that anywhere else. Make sure that you get subscribed. Stay subscribed. It's your team every day here on the Locked on Titan podcast. Speaking of every day, shout out to my every dayers out there tuning in Monday through Friday. Couldn't do it without you guys.

If you aren't an every dayer, you need to be one because there's breaking news all the time this time of year. I have bonus episodes whenever big stuff drops. Plus there's free agency, the draft roster decision, so much going on. You want to make sure you're the most informed Tennessee Titans fan that you could possibly be, and you'll get that here with the lock on Titans podcast. But with that being said, Cam Ward officially let NFL teams know that you'd be making a big mistake if you passed on me and Ward talked to ESPN

and he said, okay, you're either going to draft me or you're not. If you don't draft me, that's your fault. You've got to remember you're the same team that's got to play me for the rest of my career. And I'll remember that. That's the quote from Cam Ward. And look, we'll say this up top, Josh Rosen said, oh, I'm going to remember all the teams that passed on me. There are plenty of examples of people saying, hey, you know, this and that, I'll remember. And then they didn't turn anything. But there's also the Amon Ross St. Brown

situations where he can name the 20 wide receivers that got drafted in front of him. And he's one of the best players in the entire NFL. The Tennessee Titans took desk Fitzpatrick traded up to take desk Fitzpatrick in front of a mile and raw St. Brown to the dismay of a lot of people, not just me at the time, but, uh, anyways, moving right along. The point is I get that cam ward saying, Hey, you pass on me. You're going to regret it.

I'll remember that. That doesn't mean that cam ward's going to be great, but it does let me dip my toe in to this conversation. I'm going to be honest. I'm scared to pass on quarterback. Look, I think the Abdul Carter is the best player in the draft. Travis Hunter. We don't talk.

I got some things in my mind that I want to say about Travis Hunter. We don't talk enough about Travis Hunter as an option for the Titans. I think people are scared away from the cornerback situation, but I have thoughts on that, that I'll get to at a later time. But the point is I want the Titans to do the best thing for the Tennessee Titans future right now, I believe that that's Abdul Carter. I believe that that's Travis Hunter. I believe that that's Travis Hunter. I believe that's a trade back, but we have to acknowledge here, even people

who agree with me, even people who are on the Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter trade down train, even people who are aboard, who have had their ticket punched, we have to admit that there's a chance that passing on a quarterback is a terrible decision. Now we're talking about cam ward and listen, I think cam ward has higher upside than Chedur Sanders. I think that's obvious to me. And we're going to talk about the upside conversation and how there's people in

the Tennessee Titans organization that have a lot of say that have done it both ways. But outside of the upside conversation, whether we're talking about cam ward, cause he's the one who made the comments, whether we're talking about a Chedur Sanders, which again, I continue to say my preference is Abdul Carter trade down Travis Hunter. But if the Titans love one of these quarterbacks and fall in love with them during the meetings and already like their tape, then take the quarterback. I'm down for it. I'm in. I'm ready to ride. All right. But I have to tell you, even while preferring Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter in the trade back, I can't sit here and lie to you guys and tell you that I'm not scared

to pass on a quarterback. Like, or I'm not not scared for a double negative for you guys. Like I am a bit worried about passing on the quarterbacks. I certainly am. The Titans clearly have a big need there. And while all the things that I've said that lead me to. Prefer the player trade down route. All of those things are true. The Titans don't have a good enough roster to fully support a quarterback. The Tennessee Titans need to trade back, maximize as many picks as they can possibly get, which they told us they want to do. So that they can build out a roster that's far away. That, I mean, the reality is, as we could sit here and I could predict and tell

you what this and that, but the reality is, is we can't know and needing a quarterback as desperately as the Titans do and needing some pop, man, the Titans are one of the most boring teams ever. Like having Chaudure Sanders or a Cam Ward. Cam Ward doesn't have all the pizzazz that Chaudure Sanders name has because Sanders is Deion Sanders' son. He's a more popular person just in general speaking. But Cam Ward has some swagger to him and a comment like this and the way that he carries himself and the self-confidence that he has, like that can make him a monster star as well.

And there's big time upside here with a guy like Cam Ward. And there's a consistency factor with a guy like Shadr Sanders. That again, I still prefer the option to pass on quarterback, but we cannot sit here and lie and act like you're not at least a little bit worried about passing on that quarterback. Just a little bit scared. There's already the Titan self hate of if we take him and no suck, if we pass, he'll be great.

But I get it. I get it. We're Titans fans. It's tough out here. It's never easy. It always goes wrong. I get it. But at the end of the day, man, it would be tough to be a Mike Borganzi shoes right now.

Cause all of the concerns that people who want quarterback, all of those concerns that they bring up, they're valid concerns. Are you going to be in a position to get a good quarterback next year? Are you going to be able to get enough in a trade to allow you to make a trade next year to get a quarterback? Are you certain that the quarterbacks next year are going to be any better? Like those are all valid concerns to have. So if you're the Tennessee Titans again, I do not envy the job

that Mike Borganzi has here. We can talk about the possibilities, talk about our preferences, talk about our opinions, but Mike Borganzi has to make this decision and if he were to pass on cam warder Chedur Sanders and one or both of those guys turns into good NFL quarterbacks that are consistent starters that you can build a team around well, he is going to look like a moron and ultimately that's probably going to get him fired in a couple of years if cam ward is a pro bowl level quarterback for Chedur Sanders is a pro bowl level quarterback for chedur sanders is a pro

bowl level quarterback and they lead their teams to playoff appearances while the titans are still in the bottom of the league in two years mike borghansi is probably going to get fired for that so it's definitely a dangerous dangerous game to play and i guess i'm just here to admit that while I still prefer the other route passing on quarterback again is a dangerous dangerous game but with that being said let's talk about the upside of these quarterbacks because I think it's really going to matter when the titans make their final decision behind closed doors I do want to let you guys know that today's episode is sponsored by Intuit Turbo Tax. Taxes was waiting and wondering and worrying if you were going to get any money back and

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Now this is taxes. Get an expert now at turbotax.com, only available with TurboTax Live full service, real time updates only in the iOS mobile app. See guaranteed details at turbotax.com slash guarantees. Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans fans. Let's continue today's edition of the locked on Titans podcast. We talked about cam wards threat to the Tennessee Titans and the fear of passing on a quarterback, even if people say it's not a good draft, blah, blah, blah,

this and that you're passing on a quarterback when you need one. It's definitely a scary situation, but now I want to move to a conversation more about the difference between these quarterbacks and people are going to go back and forth and there's going to be a lot of argument, a lot of discussion about which quarterback the Titans should prefer. And honestly, I see it both ways and I see a path to both of these quarterbacks being good players. But to me, there is one thing that is undeniable.

And it's probably going to keep the Titans up because I have a feeling I know where the Tennessee Titans lean. But the undeniable fact that we're going to discuss will probably make them have some pause. So here's the fact and here's the reality. Cam Ward has higher upside than Chedur Sanders. Now you could say that Chedur Sanders readiness and all these other things are going to ultimately matter more. Listen, talent doesn't always work out. Having the guy who's the better player, more reliable player, more consistent player right now.

Okay. I get that sometimes that's what works. It's not, you know, Trey Lance didn't work out Brock Purdy did. It's not always the guy with all the talent in the world that works. Like I understand that, but it is undeniable that cam ward has higher upside. He has a stronger arm. He's more mobile. I don't think either of these guys is Lamar Jackson by any means,

but I would compare Shandor Sanders mobility to like Baker Mayfield or Joe Burrow. Where Cam Ward, in my opinion, has the ability to be a Dak Prescott or a Jalen Hurts. So, I think with the added mobility, even if it's not, you know, this huge monster gap, Cam Ward is the more mobile athletic player. He has a stronger arm. He has better playmaking ability. The best version, if you took the best version, the very best version of Cam Ward in the NFL against the very best version of Chedur Sanders at the NFL level, Cam Ward is the better player. Cam Ward would be with, again, the Jalen Hurts, the Justin Herberts, right outside of the elites, the best version of him.

I think this Chedure Sanders is probably a couple of ticks below that because of the limited arm strength and I don't mean limited and like, you know, he's got a noodle arm. It's not that bad, but it's just not on Cam Ward's level. Cam Ward has a stronger arm and he's a more mobile player. He's a bigger player. So the upside undeniably is higher with Cam Ward. There's no doubt about that. And when the Tennessee Titans go to take a quarterback, number one overall, they're going to say, man, you know, this player fits our, fits Callahan system better. This player may be more reliable, more accurate, the things Brian Callahan likes. He's got more of them, still a good player in his own right.

But man, we're passing up on this guy who could potentially be one of the best talents at the position in the entire NFL. So like it's hard when something is telling you hey this guy fits way better but man this guy's talent if it ever goes right and if you're the Titans and you have Mike Borganzi as your new general manager. Mike Borganzi went out and got Patrick Mahomes. He didn't go after. He wasn't with the Chiefs when they went after the guy who maybe was a better fit when they had Alex Smith at the time. Going out and get a rookie quarterback who was more like Alex Smith. They said, no, we're going to bet on the undeniable talent.

A guy who I really like is draft content, Emory hunt recently. He compared cam ward to Patrick. Um, a guy who spotty record in college, but has some elite traits, not a freak mobile guy like Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen, not a freak like that, but obviously can make you play, can play, make, can throw the ball from all different angles. Like Cam Ward has such high end upside that Mike Borganzi might look at that and say, Hey, the other guy may be a better fit.

But if we're picking a quarterback number one overall, we can't pass on this level of talent and what this could be even at the risk of here's my thing. The Titans are already taking a risk by taking a quarterback in this draft class. It's much more risky to take either of these two quarterbacks high in this class than it would have been then to take Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels or Drake may last year high in that class. This is a much more risky draft class. Again, that that's undeniable. So if you're going to take a risk anyway, no matter who you pick, why not take the risk on the higher

upside? Now, the thing about that is why Mike Borghansie was around for the Patrick Mahomes situation. And I think the Titans would love to get Derek Carr and Cam Ward at the same time and let Derek Carr play right away, let Cam Ward sit a little bit and then put him in later. I think that would be their ideal situation. But on the other hand, Brian Callahan came from Cincinnati where Joe Burrow is a better athlete than people give him credit for and his ability to maneuver in a pocket is way underrated by some people.

He's a pocket Jedi. Joe burrow is no, you know, super mobile quarterback, but his ability to kind of dip, duck, dive, dodge and dip, you know, like the five D's of dodge ball, his ability to do those in the pocket is a special, special talent. And I think Chaudhary Sanders maybe isn't on that level, but he has the ability to be with a little, special talent. And I think Chedur Sanders maybe isn't on that level, but he has the ability to be with a little bit better protection. Now, he'll drift and he does hold the ball too long. He's not quite as good in the pocket as a guy like Joe Burrow,

but I think that's the vision. And when Brian Callahan is talking about precision, timing, accuracy, the things he's looking for, and he looks at Joe Burrow, who is the perfect quarterback for him, he says, well, I don't care that Cam Ward is a little bit better of an athlete. Shadr Sanders can use his legs to pick up key first downs. Shadr Sanders has playmaking ability to make something out of nothing if the play breaks down. Shadr Sanders may not have the strongest arm ever, but he can make all the throws.

I don't need the high upside guy. I had Joe Burrow who's more like Shadr Sanders. So give me that. So you have Brian Callahan who's done it this way. Mike Borghansy who's done it the other way and then the upside conversation it makes for a difficult choice. And let me also say this. I will continue to say that I think it's dangerous to draft a quarterback. Number one overall, who fits

your head coach's system better when your head coach is on the hot seat. Brian Callahan may not be the head coach by the time that the rookie quarterback gets to play. So you're gonna pass on the higher-upside guy for a guy who's a better fit with a coach that may not be your coach in a calendar year. That is a dangerous game too. So again, I prefer Cam Ward, I lean Cam Ward, but the point is I totally understand both sides of it. But at the end of the day, the reason I lean Cam Ward, despite Shiner Sanders being a better fit is because Cam Ward has high-end upside to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. And I think the best version of Shiner Sanders is probably just a second tier quarterback. That's where I'm at right now. So with that being said though, franchise tag window is open in the NFL. Got some bad news for Tennessee Titans fans and

maybe some even worse news on the way. Do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. When the game tips off, the NBA action is just getting started. There's no better place to get in on it than FanDuel, America's number one sportsbook. With FanDuel, you can place live bets throughout the game. So even if you miss opening tip ball, you could still bet on a fourth quarter comeback and stay in the action. And if you're looking for a bigger payout, you could combine your live bets for a same game parlay.

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That's Fandool.com for your shot at $150 in bonus bets. Make every moment more with Fandle, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Titans fans. Let's cap off today's edition of the locked on Titans podcast. We talked about cam wards threat to the NFL and the Tennessee Titans and why it makes you be a little scared about passing on a quarterback. We talked about the upside conversation between the two teams and why there are multiple people in the organization who have seen it go different ways. But now I want to transition to something that's a little more topical in terms of happening right

now in the NFL and the franchise tag window open. I talked about it at the beginning of yesterday's show, but the reality is that the Tennessee Titans are not going to be using the franchise tag. They should not use the franchise tag. So it's not really something that Titans fans need to worry about in terms of the franchise tag. They should not use the franchise tag. So it's not really something that Titans fans need to worry about in terms of the Titans roster. But there is some news that we got that could make some Tennessee Titans fans upset. And it is that the Cincinnati Bengals are going to be using the franchise tag

on T Higgins for a second year in a row is reported by locked on Bangles host James Rapin, but I don't think that T Higgins was as hot of a topic this year for Tennessee Titans fans because they signed Calvin Ridley after the season the Titans had last year. There's just not as much of an appetite to go out and be super aggressive. I think most of the fan base has said, okay, yeah, they got to take a step back. Going all out in free agency didn't work. Doing it again doesn't make a lot of sense. So there isn't like Titans fans desperately wanting T Higgins, but there definitely is a contingent and T Higgins has been a focus target for the Tennessee Titans fan base for multiple seasons. Now he's from Tennessee, the Brian Callahan connection, his skill set, and how it would fit with the Tennessee Titans.

So it all makes sense. But the reality is the Cincinnati Bengals absolutely cannot let T Higgins go. They simply can't. So they throw the franchise tag on him. That'll give them an opportunity to get a long-term deal worked out. I know that you could instantly say, well, it also gives them the ability to trade T Higgins. And I guess maybe that is what happens, but I just doubt it.

I think with the pressure that Joe burrow is putting on the Cincinnati Bengals to keep the core intact, I think T Higgins ultimately does stay with the Cincinnati Bengals and they get a long-term deal done, but it is a possibility that gets traded. But even if he does get traded, I don't think it's going to be the Tennessee Titans. The Titans aren't giving up draft capital to go after T Higgins and then giving him a big time contract after saying that they want 12 top 100 picks in the next three years and saying that they need to be less aggressive in free agency and signing Calvin Redlee to a $90 million contract last all season. You just simply can't pay both of those guys at the same time and build a competent roster like they need to and that kind

of an aggressive move is just Not in line with where the Tennessee Titans need to go right now as a franchise So I guess I'm here to tell you that if you wanted to see T Higgins on the Tennessee Titans Your dream is basically dead and I'm somebody who was interested in that too. I wanted T Higgins last all season That was my number one target for the Titans if he was to become available, he didn't become available and looky here, he didn't become available once again. So that dream basically died. What I think Tennessee Titans fans need to worry about now more with the franchise tag window is Trey Smith, the all pro right guard for the Kansas City Chiefs. Former Tennessee volunteer.

Very high on my wish list for free agency. If the Titans make one big move in free agency, which I think they will, Trey Smith needs to be that move. Solidify him at right guard. Then you get a value deal at right tackle with a veteran. You also draft an offensive tackle early in the draft. And then you attack it that way. So, Trey Smith at this time, there's some conversation that the Kansas City Chiefs may use, maybe not the franchise tag, which is like 21 to $23 million for a guard.

I think it's an average of the top five at the position. They could use the transition tag, which is the average of the top 10 at the position position and it functions kind of like the franchise tag does There's a little more wiggle room in terms of the transition tag Um But either way Uh, it gives Basically, it gives the team the ability to match any kind of deal that a club would give if you give a transition tag, um, they can go out, talk to another

team, but it gives the cheese the right to match. So it really covers them there. That may happen. All right. That may happen. So if Trey Smith doesn't become available, I think the Titans have to consider bringing back Dylan Raidans. Cause at that point, I don't see anybody else on the guard market market who I want to give a bunch of money to long-term.

Mackay Bekton has been a flaky guy throughout his career, goes to Philadelphia, wins a championship. Sure, that's Philadelphia. All right. That's not the situation the Titans are in to keep him in check and have a strong locker room and all of that. Like that doesn't make any sense. Kevin Zeitler was a guy that Matt Bowen from ESPN called a perfect fit for the Titans and his free agency preview thing. Kevin Zeitler is going to be 35 this season. Why would the Titans go out and sign a 35 year old guard?

Doesn't make any sense at all. So I just think Pickens are slim at guard if the Tennessee Titans don't end up with Trey Smith, and we'll talk about that when we do our free agency preview, which I plan to start either later this week or at the beginning of next week as well, just kind of how the days work out. But with that being said, you know, no franchise tag for the Titans, no T Higgins, maybe no Trey Smith. It could be a sad franchise tag window, but we'll keep an eye on it. And if anything happens, obviously I'll be here to break it all

down, but that is going to do it for me today. Folks, make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed as always. I am your host Tyler Roland, and this was Locked on Titans.