Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - HOT TAKE: Anthony Hill is Tennessee Titans BEST ROOKIE in 2026 & Pat Coogan WILL START at Center

Starting point is 00:00:00 This may be a hot take, but I think Anthony Hill will be the Tennessee Titans best rookie in 26. More rookie bold predictions 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 show. I'm going to be doing some bold predictions for the Tennessee Titans rookie class. I'm going to tell you why I think Pat Coogan is going to start early on. I'll tell you why I think Tate and Fault could be off the slower starts.

Starting point is 00:00:48 And I'll also tell you why I think Anthony Hill will be the best rookie in year one. Now, a big part of the Anthony Hill conversation is the fit in Robert Salas defense. His skill set as a player and the type of impact that he can have. at the linebacker position and how critical that is in year one. Again, everything about Anthony Hill has been incredibly impressive to me so far, whether that be Anthony Hill on film, which I did a whole film breakdown over on the Tick-Tac Titans YouTube channel on Anthony Hill as a player.

Starting point is 00:01:21 You guys got to go check that out. If you missed it, he is just a downhill specimen. He gets downhill, plays with violence, great speed, great athleticism, moves around well, he can drop back into coverage. I was kind of expecting Anthony Hill to be worse in coverage than he is. A lot of people complained about his ability to read zone coverage, have awareness, break on the ball underneath. I don't know, I saw Anthony Hill break on the ball underneath quite a bit,

Starting point is 00:01:52 make contact on guys. I saw him take passing lanes away from quarterbacks as well. He has a decent feel out there. Now, I will say coverage is where he needs to improve most. route recognition. There was a rep that I showed where it was a play action bootleg. And rather than flowing with the quarterback, he dropped straight back into his zone and then opened up a wide open hole with a tight end coming across on a crossing route. So like, yeah, I'm not saying that it's perfect, but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I guess some of the scouting reports made it sound or some of the things that I saw early on that people were saying. Like it's just not to that level.

Starting point is 00:02:29 So if you have a guy who is absolutely phenomenal against the run, gets downhill, again, physical, can make plays in the backfield, darting through gaps. Now, I will tell you this. Anthony Hill, much more of a gap shooter at this time than he is somebody who's going to stack and shed an offensive lineman and throw him out of the way. I wouldn't quite say that's his game right now.

Starting point is 00:02:56 He has great length, though, and great strength. So it's not like he's going to be unable to do that, but I think it's a technique thing that he needs to be taught. But again, the raw mold, like the ball of clay that is Anthony Hill, is already tremendous. And I think with the tutelage of Gus Bradley and Robert Sala, he can get even better. And again, that's in past coverage.

Starting point is 00:03:21 But think about the passing game. The passing game is not just about coverage. Anthony Hill is a blitzer. Anthony Hill had a ton of plays in the backfield on blitz, working on twists and stunts. He's mugged on the line of scrimmage, right on top of an offensive lineman. He runs a twist stunt with a defensive lineman,

Starting point is 00:03:45 gets penetration, gets to the quarterback. I've seen where he got to the quarterback, got his hands up, made the quarterback fumble. He had three sacks against Mississippi State and what he called in his interview with Taylor Zarzar of Tennessee Titans.com. his best college football game of all time. So it's like, in the run game,

Starting point is 00:04:03 he could shoot gaps, he can get downhill, he's a solid tackler, in the passing game, he's not terrible in coverage, he made some instinctive plays, he's also really good as a blitzer, getting into the backfield, all of that.

Starting point is 00:04:15 So I'm like, what can't he do at this stage? And again, you take who Anthony Hill is as a player, and you combine that with the teaching that he's going to get from Robert Sala, the teaching that he's going to get from Gus Bradley. Like, you put those things together, and I think this is the Titans most impactful rookie in year one.

Starting point is 00:04:41 I think he's going to start right away over Cody Barton. He's already a better, more athletic player than Cody Barton. I don't even know if Cody Barton's going to be on the roster by the time the season starts. I would not be shocked. I would not be shocked. if Cody Barton was cut and the Titans went out and got another veteran linebacker

Starting point is 00:05:03 to play behind Anthony Hill. Now, as we've talked about, all of that will be dependent on Anthony Hill learning the defense. Anthony Hill, knowing what his responsibility is. Anthony Hill is showing that he's locked in. But everything about his personality that I've seen so far,

Starting point is 00:05:24 whether it be interviews that he did in Texas, or since he's been drafted or talk to people from Texas who saw him as a player grow up there. I have not yet heard a thing that would have me concerned that Anthony Hill mentally could be ready to go. And then again, I am just, I'm smitten by what we've heard from Anthony Hill since he's been drafted. The draft phone call with Gus Bradley.

Starting point is 00:05:55 Like, this was their guy, man. the Titans wanted this guy desperately. Gus Bradley saying, I told you you shouldn't have left. Left his 30 visit that he went on to Nashville. Saying, you know, I told you I'd talk to you soon. Like, Gus Bradley must have been behind the scenes

Starting point is 00:06:16 pounding the table for Anthony Hill. And then Anthony Hill, in his interview with Taylor Zarzar says, I spent two hours in Gus. Bradley's office on my 30 talking about football, talking about life. There is a

Starting point is 00:06:35 kindred spirit element to Anthony Hill and Gus Bradley that is palpable. You can feel it. You can tell when they talk to each other. You can tell when Anthony Hill talks about it. And when you

Starting point is 00:06:51 like somebody that much, you envision them in your deep defense that vividly. You have that sort of connection to each other. And then you add in what I said at the beginning that Anthony Hill is 6'3, 240 pounds, long arms, violent downhill, good enough in pass coverage,

Starting point is 00:07:16 great as a blitzer attacker. You add his skill set to the clear, obvious human connection that Anthony Hill has to Gus Bradley and the defensive coaching staff. I think that it's a setup for this dude to explode. And I remind you, I forget, it was one of the draft grades that we looked at. But somebody literally said they thought Anthony Hill could compete for defensive player of the year.

Starting point is 00:07:41 And I'm not willing to go far enough to say that Anthony Hill is going to be in the defensive rookie. That's what I meant, defensive rookie of the year conversation. I'm not willing to go that far. But I think that Anthony Hill will be a better option for rookie of the year than Keldrick Falts. Corker Cardell Tate in my opinion. That's where I'm at.

Starting point is 00:08:01 I think Anthony Hill will be the most productive and when we leave the season we'll be like, wow, we have a star linebacker in Anthony Hill. So I know that he may be the third rookie that was drafted by the Titans and that makes this a bold prediction or a hot take or whatever.

Starting point is 00:08:20 But to me, I am over the moon excited and optimistic about what Anthony Hill can be in this defense. And him saying that his favorite linebacker and the linebacker that he watched the most was Bobby Wagner. And you're saying that to Gus Bradley,

Starting point is 00:08:40 who got big in Seattle with Bobby Wagner? I'm sorry, folks. I can't help but be incredibly excited. Now again, I recognize that me saying Anthony Hill is going to be the best Titans rookie. I'm not saying long term.

Starting point is 00:09:00 I'm saying in 2026, Anthony Hill is going to be the Titans' best rookie from their rookie class. But I know that saying that, when he was the third rookie picked, makes it controversial. Because I know a lot of you guys are already in the comments saying it's going to be Carnell Tate. And I'm going to tell you why I don't think it's going to be

Starting point is 00:09:19 Cardinal Tate or Kaldrick Falk and I think it's going to be Anthony Hill. Do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by Ruggiat. The NHL playoffs are here where every shift matters, every moment is intense, and the pressure is at its highest. And just like performance matters on the ice,

Starting point is 00:09:42 it matters off the ice too. And that's where Ruggiat comes in. Ruggiat offers treatments designed to help get you ready and stay ready when it matters most. Their top option, Ruggiat ready, combines clinically proven ingredients in a simple mint that dissolves under your tongue. It works fast. often in about 15 minutes and it can last up to 36 hours.

Starting point is 00:10:05 They also offer go long designed to help with both performance and control. It's all about confidence and feeling like yourself again. Head to rougiate.com slash locked on NHL and get 15% off your ED treatment. That's RU-G-I-T dot com slash locked on N-H-L and get 15% off your ED treatment. that's R-U-G-I-T dot com slash locked-on N-H-L for 15% off Ruggian performance medicine for men. Let's continue today's edition of the Locked-on Titans podcast. Again, we're looking at some bold predictions for the Tennessee Titans rookie class. I told you why I think Anthony Hill is going to be the best rookie in 2026.

Starting point is 00:11:06 but that means that I don't think it's going to be Carnel Tate or Caldric Falk and I know that's really where it becomes a bold prediction. Now before I tell you that side of my Anthony Hill reasoning and talk about Nick Singleton, do want to thank you again for making Locked on Titans your first listen each and every day. Remember Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content

Starting point is 00:11:25 all year round always for free. Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day. Speaking of every day, shout out to my everydayers out there. Tuning in Monday through Friday. They couldn't do it without you guys. If you aren't an everydayer, you need to be one again. Make sure you stay locked in with the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world.

Starting point is 00:11:43 Locked on Titans. Let me know your guys as rankings down below of which rookies you think will make the biggest impact in year one. But again, if I have Anthony Hill number one, that means I don't have Cornell Tate and I don't have Keldrick Falk. Number one. Now, Falk is an easy one to meet. Fulk is a project. He's a guy who played in a totally different system in college. is a super young player that's unrefined as a pass rusher,

Starting point is 00:12:09 unrefined in his technique. I don't think that many people would pick Caldric Falk to be the most impactful rookie in year one for the Titans. Now, if he is, that's great news. And as I said before, I think that Caldric Falk could be the best player long term in the future. Keldrick Falk could be the best player and if every single player in Titans draft class

Starting point is 00:12:36 met their max potential, if every single player became the best version of themselves, I think Keldrick Falk is the best player of them all. Like he would be the best player of the rookie class. He has the most high-end potential. But in year one, I think he's going to get off to a slow start. And not only that, but when you have Femmy and Germain,

Starting point is 00:13:01 JFM, Jeffrey Simmons, Solomon Thomas, Jordan Elliott. You have a lot of guys who I guess are just going to limit his opportunities to progress, to advance, to get reps. So I think Keldrick Falk is not a hot take, and it's not a bold prediction to say that it's not going to be Keldrick Falk. Really where the boldness comes in, I would say, is that I think he's going to have a better year one than Karnel Tate. and listen,

Starting point is 00:13:32 Carnell Tate needs to come in right away and be the Titans number one wide receiver. I think just based on talent alone, Carnell Tate is going to be the Titans number one wide receiver. But I worry about the Titans' offense. That's really what it comes down to. I don't know if the Titans' offense is going to be good. I could see Carnell Tate having, you know, 40 catches

Starting point is 00:13:54 for 600 yards and two touchdowns. And everybody in the NFL is saying the Titans were idiots for taking Carnell Tate in the top five when he's not a number one wide receiver. But to me it would be more about, now I don't think that Carnell Tate is a number one wide receiver personally. That's how he's being used and how he's going to be asked to play. That's what the Titans are viewing him as is a number one wide receiver.

Starting point is 00:14:19 So that's what he is. But can he live up to that duty? I already have my doubts there and of itself. I said in the pre-draft process, I do not think that Carnell Tate is a true number one wide receiver. He may be the Titans number one wide receiver. He may be Cam Ward's alpha wide receiver. But compared to the rest of the people in the NFL, like, I think Marvin Harrison Jr.

Starting point is 00:14:46 Has been considered a disappointment after being the number four pick. He had 800 receiving yards his rookie season. I don't think Carnal Tate's doing that. I mean, it's possible, but that's not my expectation. combination of, I don't think that Cardinal Tate is the number one wide receiver. So I don't think he's going to produce like one either. I don't think that the Tennessee Titans offense

Starting point is 00:15:10 is going to be all that good. I think they're going to be bottom 12, bottom 14. So 18 to 25. Somewhere in there in terms of points, yards, whatever you want to measure it by, DVOA, whatever you want. I don't think the Titans' offense is going to be all that good this year. The O line is terrible.

Starting point is 00:15:30 It's a terrible O-line, worse than last year. And everybody was complaining last year about how the offensive line tanked the offense. Well, now it's worse, significantly worse. Austin Schlotman is a way worse player than Lloyd Cushingberry. Jackson Slater, Fernando Carmona, are nowhere near as good as Kevin Zitler. So my Carnell Tate pessimism

Starting point is 00:16:01 is multi-layered. It's about Tate as a player and his limitations. It's about the offense itself and their limitations, and now you've added Wondale Robinson. You bring back Calvin Ridley. You have Gunner Helm.

Starting point is 00:16:17 You have Daniel Bellinger who you added. You still have Chim D.K. You have Elic I-O Manor who looks good this off-season. There may just not be enough production. There may not be enough targets for Cardinal Tate to have a quote-unquote more impactful rookie season than Anthony Hill.

Starting point is 00:16:38 So that's why I'm going with Anthony Hill and it's a bold prediction. I know, but that's what I'm going with. I think he'll be the best rookie. Now, Nick Singleton, after, honestly, I would have Anthony Hill, Cornell Tate, and then Nick Singleton. I think Nick Singleton will be more productive than Keldrick Falk.

Starting point is 00:17:00 Everyone's going to panic after the season about Keldrick Falk. I can already see it coming. The conversation is going to be the Titans drafted a bust, what a waste. They traded up. They gave up 101 and 31 to move up and do this and what a terrible, blah, blah, but he's just going to be a guy

Starting point is 00:17:17 who comes along slowly. So I don't think that Caldric Falk is even in the top three. I might put Pat Coogan over Keldrick Falk in terms of immediate instant impact. But Nick Singleton, my bold prediction

Starting point is 00:17:36 for Nick Singleton is he's going to be the lead running back for the Titans by the end of the season. By the end of the year, the last month of the season, I'll say. Nick Singleton will be a guy who we all look at each other and say, that's the Titans lead running back. He's the best running back on the team. I think Nick Singleton is going to be a more impactful player than Tage Spears right away. immediately. I think that Tony Pollard

Starting point is 00:18:06 could start to break down a little bit by the end of the year. And Nick Singleton, who's young, spry, physical, ready to go, I think he will be a guy who, again, at the end of the season,

Starting point is 00:18:24 we're all going to look at each other and say, this is our lead back next year. So that's my bold prediction for Nick Singleton is I think he will be the Titans running back one in the future by the end of the season. And he may be getting more reps, more touches than Tony Pollard by the time we get to December,

Starting point is 00:18:49 middle of December, January, whatever the last four weeks happen to be, you know what I mean? So, like, I'm high on Singleton, man. He broke his foot at the end of the year, that dropped it. I think he would have been a third round pick, if not for the foot injury. The terrible nature of Penn State's football program in 2025,

Starting point is 00:19:13 them using Ketron Allen Moore, all of that made him drop in the draft. I think that you could look at Nick Singleton and say that he is one of the top three running backs in the entire draft class. Jeremiah Love, Jedarian Price, the two guys out of Notre Dame, and then I would say Nick Singleton.

Starting point is 00:19:32 would be next. And I don't think it would be crazy. This is bold. I don't think it would be crazy to say, now, opportunity is why I'm not going to use this one because Nick Singleton just isn't going to get the opportunity early on in the season. But I think Nick Singleton would be better than Judarian Price.

Starting point is 00:19:54 And the Seahawks took him in round one. What a massive reach on Judarian Price. Massive reach. Crazy. but they needed a running back. They had a need, and they reached to get their guy. The only guy you could even consider at that pick. But again, they got Judarian Price at pick number 32. The Titans got Nick Singleton in the fifth round.

Starting point is 00:20:20 And I think Nick Singleton is better. So my bold prediction, again, is that Nick Singleton will be the lead back for the Titans by the end of the season and will be considered the lead back as we had into the 2027 offseason. But with that in mind, who's blocking for him? Because that's going to be very important. I think that the later drafted player is actually who starts sooner on the offensive line.

Starting point is 00:20:45 Plus, I got a little bit of a bold take for you on the Titans' final pick in the draft, Jaron Kanik. Do want to let you know that today's episode is sponsored by Better Help. All right, guys, here's the reality. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. And it's an important reminder that whatever you're carrying right now, you don't have to go through it alone. Life can feel overwhelming sometimes, whether it's stress, uncertainty, anxiety, or just trying to manage everything on your plate.

Starting point is 00:21:22 And it's easy to feel like you need to figure it out by yourself. But therapy can be a place to help get support, gain perspective, and talk through things with someone who's there to listen and help. Better help connects people with licensed therapists and makes it easier to get matched with someone who fits your needs and goals. and that's my favorite part about BetterHelp. For me, when we're talking about therapy, maybe a doctor, dentist,

Starting point is 00:21:46 anything like that, I need to make sure that I feel comfortable with the person that I'm talking to. And BetterHelp has helped millions of people connect with a licensed therapist. And again, the matching process is designed to help you find someone who works best for your needs.

Starting point is 00:22:01 And if the match isn't the right fit, you can switch therapists at any time. So that's my favorite feature there. You don't have to be on this journey, find support and have someone with you in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com slash locked on once again. That's better help help.com slash locked on. Let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast again. We're doing bold predictions on the Titans rookie class. I think Anthony Hill will be the best rookie in year one.

Starting point is 00:22:51 I think Nick Singleton could be the lead back by the end of the season. Now I want to into the offensive line. But before I do, do want to thank you for making Locked-on Titans, your first listen each and every day. Remember, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content. All year-round, always for free. Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed again. It's your team every day.

Starting point is 00:23:11 Speaking of every day, you guys got to check out the Locked-on Titans every day or club. Hit the link down below in the description to join. You're going to get no commercials in your podcast when they send that podcast to your favorite podcast app. you're going to get added to the Locked-on Titans Every Day or group chat with me and a ton of other everydayers where we're always chopping it up,

Starting point is 00:23:32 always talking Titans, talking NFL, everything. That's worth it in and of itself. But also, you get to support me and support the show for all of the free year-round content that I give you on multiple platforms. But with that being said, again, check out the Locked on Titans every day or club. Hit the link down below in the description to join. With that being said, though, again, the offensive line.

Starting point is 00:23:52 bold prediction Pat Coogan the Titan's sixth round pick will start on the offensive line sooner than Fernando Carmona the Titans fourth round pick or I guess it was a 5th, 142 142 is that 5th or 4th?

Starting point is 00:24:12 I don't really know 5th round pick that's what I'm going with but either way Coogan I think has less competition in my opinion. I think that Jackson Slater is tougher competition at right guard for Fernando Carmona

Starting point is 00:24:28 than Austin Slotman is at center and here's why. Slotman has been a backup for his entire career. I don't think that Brian Daible and Mike Borgonzi are tricking themselves into thinking that Austin Slotman is the center of the future for the Titans

Starting point is 00:24:45 and he's going to be their starting center for years to come. He's already 30. He's a career back. up. I'm sorry, that's not going to be the case. And then at guard, the Titans took Jackson Slater last year in the fifth round. So it's like, there's no reason whereas Pat Coogan has the potential to be the long-term answer at center, which will make the Titans more likely to give him that opportunity.

Starting point is 00:25:15 Jackson Slater is just as likely to be the right guard of the future for the Titans as Fernando Carmona is. Right? It's not like Jackson Slater is a 30-year-old career backup with no long-term potential who it would be easy to leapfrog. So I think that the battle is just totally different. And if the Titans were to bring in another veteran at center or guard in free agency,

Starting point is 00:25:45 what's more likely? It's bringing back Kevin Zitler at Guard. So if Zytler comes back If Jackson Slater wins If Cordell Voleson wins All of that makes it more difficult for Fernando Carmona Now

Starting point is 00:26:03 If Fernando Carmona gets an opportunity at center Now that would maybe even things up But right now if we look at Fernando Carmona as a guard And then we look at Pat Coogan at center and we say Austin Shlopman. And no free agent signing,

Starting point is 00:26:25 which I'm not expecting. It's just less to work through. And let's say this. I think Pat Coogan might be the better player anyways. He just isn't as big which knocks him down in the draft pecking. So Pat Coogan will be a starter

Starting point is 00:26:44 at center for the tightest. by the end of the season, and he will be a starter sooner than Fernando Carmona. That's my take right there for you. Now, I do want to talk about some of these other draft picks because Jaron Kanek, the Titans seventh round pick, 225, out of Oklahoma, former college quarterback, or former high school running quarterback, former college linebacker, former college tight end, who's going to be a tight end now, and I say tight end,

Starting point is 00:27:17 but what I really want to say is fullback. In the interview that Jaron Kanek did with Tennessee Titans media, he said that the NFL player that he likes to watch the most is Kyle Eusecheck the fullback for the San Francisco 49th

Starting point is 00:27:37 and Baltimore early in his career, but he's been in San Francisco with Kyle Shanahan for forever. Jaron Kanik might be more of a fullback. Now, I know in today's NFL, the fullback is almost dead. So if you play fullback, it's probably because you're a tight end.

Starting point is 00:28:00 So I think that Jaron Kanek is going to make the roster. That's my bold prediction for Jaron Kanik. I think he's going to make the roster. He's going to be a tight end style player who plays fullback as well, can be a move option, good with the ball, his hands. Imagine Jaron Kanek lined up in the backfield at fullback.

Starting point is 00:28:20 The Titans run a play action bootleg and jump and dump it to Kanik in the flat. Canick are in a 10.37 40-yard dash in high school. This dude is a track demon. Let's get the ball in his hands. So I think Jaron Kanik makes the roster because he's going to be fullback. Now he'll play tied end to, but I think his primary role on offense will be the fullback spot. And then he'll be a dynamo on special teams.

Starting point is 00:28:52 So you'll have versatility to play tight end and fullback on offense with being one of the Titans' most critical special teams players. That's my vision. That's my bold prediction. I think Jaron Kanak makes this roster. Now, I'm also going to say this. I think Jackie Marshall gets cut. The odds of every single draft pick the Titans made

Starting point is 00:29:13 making the roster is not high. the odds of six, seventh round picks making the roster, not high. So I look at Jackie Marshall, and yeah, he's got some physical upside. He's a good athlete, all of that, converted edge rusher into the interior defensive line. But when you have Jordan Elliott, Solomon Thomas, who you traded for, Jeffrey Simmons, 100 million, John Franklin Meyer, 60 million, Keldrick Fult, first round pick who can also rush from the interior. I just, I don't know where Jackie Marshall's place is on this roster.

Starting point is 00:29:55 I don't know that he is significantly better than some of the other options at other positions the Titans may choose to keep instead. Like, would you rather keep Jackie Marshall or Jalen Harrell? To me it's Jalen Harrell. no question. No doubt. You know what I mean? I would rather keep 10 offensive linemen rather than 9 in Jackie Marshall,

Starting point is 00:30:25 seven wide receivers rather than 6 in Jackie Marshall. I'd rather keep four running backs with Tony, Tajay, Singleton, and Michael Carter. I'd rather keep three quarterbacks than keep Jackie Marshall. If they keep Will Levis around, maybe you can get a trade for him during the season. like they're just, I just have a hard time with all the depth and money that the Titans have on the interior defensive line looking at Jackie Marshall and saying, hey, as a project guy, that he's going to make the team. So again, curious, what are your guys' rookie bold predictions?

Starting point is 00:30:59 Let me know down below. That's going to do it for me today, though. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.

Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - HOT TAKE: Anthony Hill is Tennessee Titans BEST ROOKIE in 2026 & Pat Coogan WILL START at Center

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.