Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Jeffery Simmons is the Tennessee Titans Best Player, Amani Hooker Appreciation & Next Titans Greats

Episode Date: July 2, 2025

The Tennessee Titans have made a ton of changes to the roster over the past few years, but Jeffery Simmons still remains the best player on the team even after two "down" seasons. Amani Hooker and Calvin Ridley fall in line after the big man. Simmons is one player who actually does get his respect, but many players on the Titans do not. Like Hooker, who has been a top safety for years, but isn't appreciated enough even by his own fanbase. Finally, who will carry the torch forward into the future? Cam Ward obviously needs to be on this list going forward. 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!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get $150 in BONUS BETS when your first $5 BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.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)

He may have had two down seasons, but Jeffrey Simmons is still the best player on the Tennessee Titans by far. I'll rank him 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 Rollins Titans fans. Today's edition of the Locked On Titans podcast is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can get $150 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. On today's show, I'm gonna continue, top three week. Who are the top three players

on the Tennessee Titans right now? Obviously number one is Big Jeff, but can't wait to go over my other players in the top three and who just missed the cut as well. Then we're gonna look at three Tennessee Titans who I think are the most underrated players on the football team. And finally, who needs to be the Tennessee Titans top three players in the future? We'll talk about all of that before we dive into it. 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. You're not going to beat that anywhere else. Make sure that you get subscribed. Stay subscribed. It's your team every day. Speaking of every day, shout out to my every dayers out there. Tune in Monday through Friday. If you aren't an every dayer, now is the perfect time to be one. Training camp is right around the corner.

And next week, I'm going to be doing my all-time Tennessee Titans offense and defense to kick things off. You won't want to miss that. So again, it's your team every day here on the Locked on Titans podcast. But looking at the top three players on the Tennessee Titans, again, number one for me, it's not a debate. If you have anybody else, I'm sorry, I vehemently disagree with you. The best player on the Tennessee Titans with no shadow of a doubt is Jeffrey Simmons. Like, it's not even close. Two-time All-Pro, I know that he's had two down seasons in a row. I recognize that. I understand that. I know that's going to be the immediate pushback.

But even considering that, who to be the immediate pushback, but even considering that, who else on the team right now can even come close to Jeffrey Simmons' level of production throughout his career and the high level of player? Think about peak Jeffrey Simmons, the best version of Jeffrey Simmons that we saw 2021, 2022. Nobody on the football team can have that sort of impact and that sort of production. So I know again, I understand it's been two down seasons for Big Jeff. There have been some injuries and things like that. I think he played 12 games two years ago, played 16 last year. So, I mean, it's not like he missed a bunch of time. Now we left early in some of those games and this that it I'm not going to sit here and tell you that Big Jeff has been as good as he needs to be for what

he's getting paid and who he has to be for this team. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that he's lived up to those standards. But if we are ranking who the best football player on the team is, I'm sorry, it's not even close and it's Jeffrey Simmons. And if we look at like the top 100 list and stuff like that, that's gonna start coming out here this week. Now, I think the top 100 list is inherently flawed. I'm not a big fan of the top 100, but there's only gonna be one Tennessee Titan that makes fan of the top 100, but there's only going to be one Tennessee Titan that

makes it in the top 100, and it's going to be Jeffrey Simmons. And that, while I don't like the top 100 necessarily, I think that does tell you all that you need to know. Now, I will say this. When I was sitting here saying, what player at their peak could replicate the production and the impact that Jeffrey Simmons can have? What player could do that? The only other player, the only other player that even could come to mind is my number two player. The second best player on the Tennessee Titans is Calvin Ridley. Calvin Ridley is, and I'm not going to use Calvin Ridley in my most underrated Titans, even though I think that Calvin Ridley is slightly underrated,

but Calvin Ridley has his guys, has people out there who do believe in him and show him love and understand that I have had to go to war with people online trying to disrespect Calvin Ridley. Calvin Ridley had a thousand yards with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph. It's just crazy to me that, you know, people who are Titans fans saw the quarterback play that the Titans got last year. The national folks seem to be aware of the level of quarterback play that the Tennessee Titans got last year.

But some of those same exact people, some of those same exact people will open their mouths and say that Calvin Ridley isn't one of the top 20, 25 wide receivers in the NFL. That Calvin Ridley's not a good player, that Calvin Ridley is overrated. I'm sorry, if you put up a thousand yard season with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph in the Tennessee Titans offense with that offensive line, and not to mention the help around him once DeAndre Hopkins was gone, what are we talking about? The number two wide receiver is Nick Westbrook-Akine. I'm sorry, but you have Nick Westbrook-Akine as your number two wide receiver is Nick Westbrook-Akina. I'm sorry, but you have Nick Westbrook-Akina as your number two wide receiver and then you have Nicholas Petit for air as you're starting right tackle and you have Mason Rudolph and Will Levis throwing

the football and you got a thousand yards as a wide receiver. That's a dang good player right there. I still believe that Calvin Ridley in a, like if you put Calvin Ridley on the Minnesota Vikings last year, he probably has 1,200, 1,300 receiving yards. God forbid you put a Calvin Ridley on the Kansas City Chiefs or with the Baltimore Ravens or on Buffalo. We are talking about a top 10, not maybe in talent, but production. We're talking about a top 10, not maybe in talent, but production. We're talking about a potential top 10 wide receiver in the NFL and production. Calvin Ridley is phenomenal. Calvin Ridley is fantastic.

Is he a perfect wide receiver? Is he Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson, all that? No, he's not on that level. Maybe during his Atlanta years, he was on that level and he's only going to get worse as the seasons go by. He's getting older but I think he'll have a little bit more longevity than most people his age because of the year and a half that he missed with the suspension and the injuries. So I think that kind of takes some of the tread off the tires for Calvin Ridley but at the end of the day and, some people might argue someone else in

the skill positions on offense, and I'll talk about that player in Tony Pollard. But to me, the impact that the big number one wide receiver has, the number one wide receiver on your team, the impact that that player has is far more important than the impact that a running back has. Like, it would be much easier to replace Tony Pollard's production than it would be to replace Calvin Ridley's production. That's why my argument all along was AJ Brown. AJ Brown is the reason that the Tennessee Titans became great, not Derrick Henry. They had Derrick Henry for multiple years, three years, and never did anything. Alright, once AJ Brown showed up,

and of course you got to give Ryan Tannehill his credit, but once A.J. Brown showed up, now all of a sudden the Tennessee Titans offense is phenomenal. So give Derrick Henry his credit, but I'll always value what the pure number one wide receiver can give you over any running back. And I think, look at the salaries in the NFL NFL and NFL teams agree with me on that as well. But that's two players. Who is my number three? Well number three for me is a player that we're going to talk about to start our most underrated. My third best Tennessee Titan on the team is Amani Hooker and he also happens to be the most underrated Tennessee Titan as well. Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook.

Look, summer sports are in full swing. Whether you're all about baseball under the lights, golf on the greens, high-stakes soccer action, Fandle is the best way to make every game even more exciting. You're already following the action, folks. Why not make it just a little more thrilling? With Fandle, you can get in on the game while your friends are getting sunburnt at the beach. Look, I love Fandle because they have new daily promotions every single day, which the daily promotions

is pretty much self-explanatory there, but it makes it so much fun because every single day there's a new way to bet, there's a new way to get value. Also, Fandle was super easy to use. I love the way that the app looks. It's visually stunning, easy to understand, and more importantly, Fandle was fast to pay out. Whether it's a same game parlay or you're looking to make a live bet into

the ninth inning, Fandle makes it feel like you are part of the action. New to Fandle, new customers can bet just $5 and get $150 in bonus bets. If your first $5 bet wins, open the Fandle app today or visit Fandle.com to get started. ["Locked on Titans"] Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We talked about the top three best Tennessee Titans on the team.

For me, it's Jeffrey Simmons, it's Calvin Ridley, it's Imani Hooker. We're going to continue talking about Imani Hooker here when we get into the most underrated Tennessee Titans. Now, I do want to mention though, just to continue our previous conversation. I also considered Tony Pollard. Tony Pollard was fantastic for the Titans last year. Really did a good job carrying the load after Tajay Spears dealt with injuries, so he deserves a ton of credit. I think a new player like Kevin Zeitler probably should be in that mix. Zeitler might even be the third best Tennessee Titan. Might need to put a Monty Hooker at fourth or fifth. Honestly, if I redid my list, I might go that route.

That is worth a conversation. I think you could probably, and a lot, you know, Legerrious Snead, if he plays, I'm sorry, but Snead is more of a ghost to me right now. Now, I think Peter Skowronski belongs in that conversation being in like, if we did like a top five for the Tennessee Titans, I think that would make sense. I would not put like Cam Ward or any of the rookies up that far yet. You do got to kind of prove it to me. Although I think Cam is a top 10 player on the team already as a number one

overall pick, but I think the overall thing that came to my mind while doing my top 10 list just for fun to make my top three Man this team doesn't have a lot of good players like I'm like, oh who should be in the top ten? Latham? Should we put Sebastian Joseph Day in there? Arden Key? You know like, ugh, I don't know It's pretty gross, but regardless of that, that's my top three. Let me know your guys' top three, top five, top ten. It's a very fun discussion at this time of year. But looking at the most underrated Tennessee Titans again, I gotta start with Imani Hooker. Now, Imani Hooker has had some down seasons, and I think they've kind of poisoned the well for some people on on who he is and how like those middle seasons. Twenty twenty one, he played in twelve games, although he was awesome when he played.

And then twenty twenty two, he only played in nine games. And I think, you know, that probably sold some people. But before that, sixteen, sixteen after that, thirteen, 14 last year. He had five interceptions last year. He's had 12 interceptions in his career. Both the last seasons that he's played 14 games or more, he's had at least four interceptions. And not only that, but he's a player who is super willing to come down in the box and play against the run. Last five seasons. Okay? And this includes those seasons where he played 12 games, nine games, 13 games, 16 games, 51 tackles. That was his second season though. Third season,

12 games, 62 tackles, nine games, 46 tackles. Then last two years, 13 games, 85 tackles as a safety. 14 games, 85 tackles as a safety. Last year, 14 games, 71 tackles. Four tackles for loss last year, two QB hits last year, two forced fumbles, nine pass breakups last year, five interceptions in 14 games. Imani Hooker is a pro bowl level safety. Now he's at the very low end of that curve. If you're doing the little bell curve, you know what I mean? He's at the low end of that.

But Amani Hooker is a Pro Bowl level safety. He is a very good safety. He is a top 10 safety, in my opinion. And he's never ranked that way. He's never, like, I saw a list, I thought I saw a list from Pro Football focus or something where he wasn't even the top 32 safeties in the NFL. What are we talking about? What are we doing here? So not only is a money hooker incredibly underrated from a national conversation perspective, but I'm on a money hooker is incredibly underrated by Tennessee Titans fans. Again, I think he's the third best player on the team. Now, I hope that's not the case after the season. And we'll talk about who I think the Titans top three needs to be going into the future at the end of the show. But right now, Imani Hooker is a versatile safety who plays against the run, plays against the pass.

He's a ballhk who creates turnovers, gets his hand on the football. I mean, do you remember the interception from the playoff game against the Bengals? Who showed up to play in a monster moment and made one of the biggest plays in the game? It was a Monty Hooker. I've never doubted a Monty Hooker at any point in time.

Loved the pick all along since he was drafted. He is exactly what we could have hoped he would be as a mid-round safety. I'm feeling better, folks, but we get to the mid-part of the show, and it does start to go a little bit. But, with that being said, the next most underrated Tennessee Titan, in my opinion, is someone who we talked about a second ago. And like I said, I was gonna bring him up and it's Tony Pollard.

When does Tony Pollard ever get mentioned in the, you know, top 10, top 15 running backs in the NFL? When does he ever get that kind of love? All I know is last year, he was a thousand yard back. He scored five touchdowns. He absolutely carried the load for the Tennessee Titans. I think some of it has to do with, I think it's only fair to say that some of it does have to do with Derrick Henry.

Like, you know, you're following up Derrick Henry. It's gonna make it seem like you're not as good as maybe you actually are. But the reality is, losing Derek Henry last year really didn't hurt the Titans. It wasn't... you could put Derek Henry on the Titans last year. I don't think it would change their record. The Titans got good running back play from Tony Pollard. They got really good running back play from Tony Pollard. And I just think that following up Derrick Henry and not being Derrick Henry has kind of sullied how really good Tony Pollard is.

So I think it's not only nationally, but I would say that it's within the fan base as well. And that's been part of this conversation. Tony Pollard was eighth in the NFL in rushing yards last year in 16 games, not 17, 16 games. And look at these rushing totals. Okay. at these rushing totals. Okay. The top six guys, the top six players in rushing yards, Saquon Barkley, Derek Henry, Kyron Williams, B. John Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, and Josh Jacobs. 345 attempts, carries. 325 for Henry, 316 for Williams, 304 for Robinson, 303 for Taylor, 301 for Josh Jacobs, 260 for Tony Pollard. 260 for Tony Pollard. So that is 80 less carries than Tony Pollard, which you could say is maybe five games, four games at max, 20 carries in a football game, 20 carries for a running back in today's league, just not super common. I mean, look at how many times did Tony Pollard carry the football 20 times.

Alright, go through. 22 against Miami, 20 against Detroit, 28 against New England. He got nine against the Chargers, nine against the Vikings, eight against the Commanders. He went for 24 against Houston, 21 against Jacksonville, and then 22 against Houston in the last year, with eight coming against Indianapolis as well. So, one, two, three, four, five, six, six games, six weeks. He got over 20, 20 carries are over. And then there were one, two, three, four, five weeks where he got less than 10. So like, imagine if Tony Pollard got two more games worth of carries. He probably would be even higher on the rushing yards list.

He would, Najee Harris was right above him. Okay. And my mistake, Tony Pollard was 12th in rushing yards, not 8th. I had it done by carries. But, but, imagine if he would have got more opportunities and his yards per average was 4.2. Imagine if the O line was a little bit better. The Titans had a terrible offensive line and Tony Pollard did that. So putting up that sort of level of production in the environment that he did to not get love nationally or even that much locally?

Tony Pollard is super underrated. Now the last player I want to mention is a player who's new to the Titans, but it's Cody Barton. I think Cody Barton's impact on the Titans is going to be massive. Again, I am not a fan of Kenneth Murray. Hated the signing when it happened, rejoiced when the Titans were able to trade and get something for him. To trade away Kenneth Murray and get a draft pick think that Cody, again, Cody Barton's versatility, better in coverage, I think better leadership, more communicative as well. I think not only is Cody Barton a better football player than Kenneth Murray with more versatility, but he's going to be a better leader for the Tennessee Titans culture going forward. And Cody Barton is just another one of those. Linebacker is in a glorious

position in the NFL anymore. It used to be Linebacker and running back were the two most glorious positions in football, you know. Like, think about it. The biggest stars. Of course, quarterback is always important and stuff, but running backs were the guys you built your team around. Linebackers were who you built your team around. And it's not like that anymore. So of course, you know, linebackers don't get as much love, but look at Cody Barton's last three seasons. 136 tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss, two interceptions next season.

121 tackles, three tackles for loss. Interception. Next season. 106 tackles. Two tackles for loss. Two interceptions. This is one of the most productive linebackers in the entire NFL over the last three years, and would your casual fan even know who he is? No, that is called being underrated folks. But with that in mind, we gotta talk about who the Tennessee Titans best players need to be in the future. Because that's really what's most important here. All right, Titans fans, let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Talked about the top three players on the Tennessee Titans, the most underrated players on the Tennessee Titans. But now I need to talk about who's going to be the top three players for the Titans in the future. Before I dive into it, do want to thank you again for making Locked on Titans your first listen.

For your second listen, check out Locked on NFL Scouting. As training camp gets closer and moves are being made, host Kyle Krabs and Joe Marino will make you the most informed NFL fan this off season. Find Locked on NFL Scouting on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast. So talking about who needs to be the top three players in the future for the Titans

and obviously number one is Cam Ward. Like if Cam Ward isn't one of the top five best players on the Tennessee Titans this time next year, it's probably not a good sign. Probably not good. You know what I mean? He's a number one overall pick. We need him to be a franchise quarterback and a good one at that. So whether it be next year, he needs to be top five. Two years from now, he needs to be top three. And quite frankly, it would be best for the Titans if he was top one. If Cam Ward is the best player on the team over the next few seasons

going forward, that would be the best outcome possible. But after Cam Ward, it definitely gets a little shaky. You know, like, I don't think, I don't think I'm not certain, but I don't, I don't think, no, let me say, I don't know. I don't know if the other two players in the Titans top three of the future. I don't know if they're on the team yet. They might be people that the Titans need to draft this year. You know, I think if there is a player on the team right now who will be in the top three players on the Tennessee Titans two years from now, and it'd be a good thing. Let's say that. I mean, Jeffrey Simmons could still be in the top three. You know, there could be a couple of different names, but if Jeff is still in the top three in 2027, I don't know how good that is. I don't know if that's a good thing.

I don't know if Jeff is going to be like a Chris Jones level player all of a sudden out of nowhere. Like I just can't bank on that. If he is then sure, but I think it would be best for the Tennessee Titans. If it were other people now, if there's anybody on the team right now who I think would be in that top three two years from now, I think it's JC Latham. If JC Latham does turn into one of the best offensive tackles in the entire NFL,

the weight that he lost, the switch to right tackle, if he gets up there with, you know, Penn A. Sewell, Lane Johnson level, if he goes into being one of the top five right tackles in the entire NFL, then I think it would still be a good thing. It wouldn't be a bad thing for the Titans. If J.C. Latham was one of the top three best players. I think having an offensive tackle be one of the best players on your football team is not a bad thing. Like that's not bad at all. So I could see it being Cam Ward and J.C. Latham. But here's what I will tell you. Barring a Femi Oladejo explosion, okay, which I'm here for. I would love that. But I'm just not banking on it. In my mind,

Femi Oladejo is going to be a high level number two edge rusher. And the Titans will still need a bonafide number one edge rusher. Hopefully they get in the draft next year. But, barring an explosion by Femi Oladejo, I would love for that next player, the last of the top three of the future, I would love for that to be an edge rusher. If, you know, let's say the Titans have an okay year. You know, let's say they get like the 12th or 11th pick or something like that.

Hopefully a lot of quarterbacks go. There's supposed to be a lot of quarterbacks in next year's draft, whether it's Drew Aller, Lenora Sellers or Cade Clubnick or Garrett Nussmeyer, you know, Sam Levin. I don't know. There's a lot of different names out there right now. Not really my focus, if I'm honest with you, but hopefully a lot of quarterbacks go. I know that there are some pretty good offensive tackles, Francis Mulaga or whatever, uh, Spencer Fano. There are other guys right now. It's all up in the air. So if I'm not saying a name that you think is a bona fide top five

pick or something like that, sorry. Okay. But I think that there are a lot of good edge rushers in next year's class. And you look at like a Ruben Bane, you look at a TJ Parker, you know what I mean? And there are other guys in there, again, maybe I didn't mention who you are thinking of, but sure. I think there's going to be a path to the Tennessee Titans getting that edge rusher of the future. And if they could have Femi as a high level, versatile, physical number two, and then a pure pure nasty pass rusher as their number one, that would be ideal for the Titans.

Pass rusher, offensive tackle, Cam Ward. That would be perfect. Now, what I would be more excited about would be Cam Ward, dominant number one wide receiver, and then edge rusher one. That honestly would be better for me. I could take Latham maybe being just the top 10, you know, right tackle or something like that.

I think you could make that work. But imagine if the Titans were to get, you know, Ruben Bane in this year's draft class coming up and then next year make a move up after a good season and get Jeremiah Smith. I'm playing Madden right now, but you could see the vision. You know what I mean? If, if there was true dominant number one wide receiver with a true number one

pass rusher and then your quarterback of the future and who's a stud, like that would be ideal. So whether it's Latham, edge rusherher not yet to be named, and Cam Ward, or whether it's Cam Ward, Edgerusher not yet to be named, Wide Receiver not yet to be named. Either way, that's what it should look like if the Titans do really blow up and turn things around. But there is no version of the top three in the future that doesn't include Cam Ward that's best for the Titans. So that's a given right there, but with that being said, that is gonna do it for me today.

Folks, as always, I'm dying. I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.