Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - SHOCKER: Tennessee Titans FREE AGENT FITS after Lorenzo Carter Retires, Camp Battles & Injury News

Episode Date: July 22, 2025

The Tennessee Titans got SHOCKING news on Tuesday when it was announced Lorenzo Carter would be retiring a day before training camp was set to start, leaving a big hole at the edge rusher spot. Free agency is thin but names like Jadeveon Clowney and Za'Darius Smith could be additions, but Clowney is by far the best fit. Edge rusher will now be a bigger battle, but inside linebacker, wide receiver and cornerback depth, tight end and returner will be all be major camp battles to watch. We also got major injury updates on L'Jarius Sneed, Lloyd Cushenberry and Kevin Winston with Winston being full-go for training camp. 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!Yahoo FantasyPresented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Play Now at yahoofantasy.com/lockedonnfl Rugiet150,000 men have made the switch →https://Rugiet.com/LOCKEDONNFLUse code LOCKEDONNFL to get 15% off your order!BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. Your well-being is worth it. Visit BetterHelp.com/lockedonnfl today to get 10% off your first month. 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)

The Tennessee Titans desperately need an edge rusher after the sudden retirement of Lorenzo Carter. And I'm here to tell you, it's time to send in the clown! Again, on today's edition of 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. Today's edition of the Locked On Titans podcast is brought to you by Monarch Money.

Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use the code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. On today's show, we are going to get ready for Tennessee Titans training camp practice, which happens on Wednesday, talking all about the biggest battles to watch. Also, we got some major updates from Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borganzi and president of football operations Chad Brinker.

We got to talk injury updates on Ligeria Snead, Lloyd Cushenberry, Kevin Winston. Also, we got to talk about this sudden retirement of Lorenzo Carter and what it means for the Tennessee Titans edge rusher position as well as inside linebacker, tight end, wide receiver, cornerback, all of that on today's show. Before we dive into it, do want to thank you for making Locked on Titans your first to 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. And of course, shout out to my everydayers out there tuning in Monday through Friday. If you aren't an everydayer, you need to be one.

You're not going to be able to beat all of the content that I'm putting out all year long, always for free. So make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day. But of course, the most surprising news of the day for a second straight year in a row, the Tennessee Titans get a surprise retirement. Last year it was Sadiq Charles on the offensive line and this year it's edge rusher Lorenzo Carter. Now you guys have been tuning in my every dayers out there. You would know that I had Lorenzo Carter as a surprise cut candidate.

Look, he just signed in free agency this year. He's six foot five, two 70 great physical edge setter, good against the run, but not a very good pass rusher. I said, Hey, if Femi Oladejo takes a big step in training camp, that could lessen the need for a guy like Lorenzo Carter. And if Femi takes his role entirely, maybe the Titans would decide to go elsewhere. Well, it looks like Lorenzo Carter cut himself here and decided that he was not

going to be on the Titans. A sudden retirement, which Mike Borganzi said was a surprise to him. sudden retirement, which Mike Borganzi said was a surprise to him. I think the obvious reaction to this news is Femi Oladejo has to step up, right? That's the number one reaction is, Hey, Femi, we're going to need you to, to really be ready to go right away. And Femi got his deal signed. He's good to go. He's ready for training camp.

He is under contract, all is good, it's funny. I told you guys as I was recording yesterday's show that Femi probably be signed by the time you hear this and he was by the time the podcast actually went public, he was already signed so good that that's behind us but God do the Titans need it more than ever now after this news with Lorenzo Carter. Because you have Arden Key, who's your number one edge. Wish that wasn't the case, but he is the number one edge. And then you have Draymond Jones, who the Titans brought in in free agency. But I contend that Draymond Jones is more of a five technique defensive end,

more of an interior rusher in passing situations than he is a pure edge rusher. And then you have Femi and Jalen Harrell, the seventh round pick from last year, who's never gonna be a true starter. He's just a good role player and special teams player. Guys who the Titans have got off waivers, like Ali Gay or Titus Leo, they don't have anybody. I thought the Titans

already needed an edge rusher. The Titans already needed another edge rusher before Lorenzo Carter retired. So now that he did, yes they're gonna need Femi to take a step up and they're gonna need Femi to be ready to go right away. A Femi Oladejo can be a starting outside linebacker, a starting edge, right away the Titans are good to go. But he was a former off-ball linebacker in college. It was always going to take him time to develop. So that's why to me, I needed another edge rusher already. Well, now the question is, you can count on Femi all you want, But if the Titans do go into free agency and sign somebody, there are a few options available,

but there is no better option than Jadavia and Clowney. And I know that Titans fans don't wanna hear that. Some of you, some of you don't mind. Some of you see what I mean and follow my logic here, but some people are just like, hey, 2020 was a disaster. The Titans signed Clowney for about 14, $15 million. He played in nine games.

He was not productive. He was oft injured. It was always something and people were out on it. He talked a little bad about the Titans after he left to go to the Browns. And some people are still gonna hold that grudge. And honestly, the only person that really matters if they're holding that grudge is Genevieve and Clowney. If Clowney doesn't just hate the Titans, you look not the same GM, not the same head coach, not the same

position coaches. I mean, 52% of the Titans roster is different from just last year. It's much different than 2020. If you're Clowney, you had nine and a half sacks playing in Baltimore with Denard Wilson, who's now the Titans defensive coordinator. There is a massive opportunity with Arden Key and only a second round player who's a development guy. And then Draymond Jones, who's more of a versatile guy.

There's a massive opportunity for you to get major snaps. Now Clowney played for the Panthers last year, which is not like the Panthers are a great football team. So maybe he won't care that the Titans aren't probably going to be a super competitive football team. But the reality is you start going through the edge rusher options at free agency. Clowney is by far the best. He's by far the best because the other option is Zedaria Smith. Now Zedaria Smith had a good year numbers wise last year.

But he's a rotational guy who's an older player. I would be in for Zedaria Smith. I just think Clowney is a little bit better. And I think Clowney has the better ability to play more consistently in the role that the Titans have open. Whereas Adarius Smith would be better in a smaller role for a better team. Maybe a guy like Matthew Judon had a disappointing year with the Falcons last year after the trade from New England, but the Titans could probably get him for a lot cheaper than what he was getting paid last year. Maybe a guy like Carl Lawson, but I think we're,

we're about two years removed from that being a real answer. So look at it. It's all older players who were disappointments at their previous stops, but for what the Titans are going to pay and the need they have, I think it's worthy to go check one of those guys out. I think Agbo O'Ranquo got signed by the Philadelphia Eagles. He would have been a good option, but he got swooped up. So there's not a lot. There are, Edge rusher is, in my opinion, the second most important position in football. It is the eve of training camp practices for most teams in the NFL or the day of depending when you're listening to this, there's not going to be a lot of good options at edge rusher and there's not going to be a lot of teams out there who are looking to trade their edge rushers So the Titans have two choice Two choices either they go out and they sign one of these older veterans and give them a chance

Which I think clowny has the most upside of any of them Or they try to steal somebody off waivers when they get cut in three weeks four weeks, whatever and If you're we're not talking about the guys who are getting cut for the 53-man roster cut downs in a month and a half. We're talking about guys that are getting thrown out of people's training camps. How much better is the waiver claim going to be? So go sign Clowny Titans, but we got big training camp battles, not just to edge, but all over the place that we're going to discuss. training camp battles, not just to edge, but all over the place that we're going to discuss.

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Compounded drugs are permitted to be prescribed under federal law, but are not FDA approved and do not undergo FDA safety effectiveness or manufacturing review, please visit Rougiette website for full safety information. Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast talking about the biggest biggest training camp battles. And now Edge has moved up to the forefront. Let's see what the Tennessee Titans do, but there's some free agent fits that I went over that I do like with Clowney at the top of that list. But looking at the other big position battles

that we have in training camp, and we start at linebacker. The linebacker position is gonna be an absolute bloodbath. You have the two favorites, in my opinion, the two young linebackers from the draft last year, Cedric Gray, the fourth round pick in 2024 out of North Carolina, who barely played last year and dealt with injuries throughout the season.

And then you have James Williams, the seventh round pick out of Miami from last year, converted safety, who I think is the true favorite to win the job. James Williams is a little bit bigger than Cedric Gray. He's a bulkier build, even though he was a safety. He plays with great instincts downhill. He'll hit you, ferocity and all of that.

He just needs to acclimate to the mental aspects of playing linebacker. And I think helping him do that was getting a ton of reps last year in opportunities that were available where a guy like Cedric Gray had an injury early on in training camp, never really got back on track, didn't play as much as a guy like James Williams. So I think Williams has a clear advantage here. I think he's been ahead of Cedric Gray so far throughout the process,

but those two guys are going to battle it out. Do want to mention some of the older guys, free agent, waiver claim edition, Anthony OJERY is a guy who is a big physical player who can run and hit who the Titans will be interested in. And then of course, Otis Reese. Otis Reese is a guy who's been around the team for a couple of years now, who's also six foot three run, sideline to sideline can hit you.

But I think with the two younger guys, since they're ahead of those older guys and OJERY and REECE already, and they're younger with higher upside, they're clearly the guys that are in the battle where we need to pay attention to the most. And James Williams is going to be my pick, but can't wait to see that start to actually play out with linebacker. You could talk about putting the pads on, but pass coverage is going to be a big thing for these linebackers. The Titans have to get better with their pass coverage over the middle of the field.

James Williams is a former safety. You'd be like, Oh, he's probably good to go, but you know, it's totally different when you're coming downhill from the top, as opposed to going back from the mid range where the linebackers are. So curious to see how that plays out. But then the young wide receivers. I mean, let's be honest, outside of Cam Ward, is there anything, is there anything more fascinating

with this Titans team than this young wide receiver group? Obviously, you're gonna have your vets at the top, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, Van Jefferson. Some don't think that Tyler Lockett should be certified in that group, but I do. So those three guys, but after that, how many spots are there going to be? Who's going to take those spots? Are the Titans going to keep seven wide receivers?

Are they only going to keep six if they keep six and those three veterans make it? We have IO Manor, we have DK, we have Restrepo. Those are three rookies that I would like to see make the team. That leaves one other spot. If there's even seven, if there's six, there is no other open spot. That is gonna be a bloodbath. Who's gonna step up? There are guys like Bryce Oliver, guys like Colton Dow, Jaquan Jackson.

We're all hoping to get in the mix, stay in the mix, and maybe get their roster spot. Mason Kinsey, I think, understands who he is and where he's at, but hey, you never know. He's gonna be trying to make his breakthrough. Traylon Burks is a former first round pick, complete afterthought. Everyone says that he is good to go. Going into camp, we heard from Mike Borganzi,

Chad Brinker, Traylon Burks, good to go into camp. It's time. Is he actually gonna make the roster? Can he beat out some of these other young guys? That wide receiver battle is going to be so much fun to watch. And staying in the skill positions, maybe I'm the one who is keeping this conversation alive. It is just solely me.

But Gunnar Helm, Chigga Conqwo, the battle for tight end one, I think that's a real battle. It's a real competition for who can get the most snaps right there. I think that Gunnar Helm obviously is a more versatile player because he's a bigger body and he can block a little bit better. But Chica Conkwo is an explosive playmaker

and he had, I believe the most catches of any player during Tennessee Titans mandatory mini camp. His connection with Cam Ward seems to be good. They're working out together down in Miami and stuff like that. Like, Chaker Conwell could have a massive season and maybe they could just be like, Hey, we can't take them off the field. Even if you can't block that well. So watching that play out will be huge.

Also, there are some depth spots, offensive line depth. We know who the starters are. We know that Corey Levin is the backup center and we'll probably make the team based on that but Duncan Crenshaw Dixon Ajuku Udo at tackle you go to guard Blake Hance Jackson Slater Sam Mustafar Brandon Jamie's Andrew Rupcich

There's so much competition there with the depth pieces. Also, think about cornerback. We're gonna talk about luxurious need. Very disappointing update on luxurious need that we're gonna go over and we're gonna talk about. But, but let that go and think about the cornerback depth. We've discussed this a little bit. Outside of the top four, where you have Snead, who let's assume, you know, Snead's not around, then you have your top three of Roger McCreary, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., and Darrell Baker. That's

your top three cornerbacks. That's pretty bad, folks. That's a pretty tough group, okay? And then after that, a bunch of undrafted free agents. The Titans brought in like seven or eight undrafted free agent cornerbacks. Like Jermari Harris, who I like, you know what I mean? Gabe Judy Lawley is still around,

who I've had hope for, but hasn't taken that step. Marcus Harris, a guy they drafted in the sixth round, Speedster, is he gonna step up like the depth at cornerback right now? It's scary. It's unknown. It's uncertain. I don't know what they're gonna do with it. I would expect they're gonna turn that position quite a bit, but you know, that all depends on who's available and who's out there. And then finally, kick returner, punt returner, who's going to win those jobs? I think Chim Dike is going to be involved in both of those. Xavier Restrepo, it would help him out a ton. If he was able to be a Titan starting returner, like that would be massive for Xavier Restrepo. So who are going to win these spots? Special teams has to be better this year.

I think it's more important, more important than people think. But with that being said, again, Ligeria's Thede, we got a major injury update. We got a ton of updates on the injury front that I wanna go over and some interesting comments about Will Levis from Chad Brinker and Mike Borganzi as well. and comments about Will Levis from Chad Brinker and Mike Borganzi as well. Do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by Yahoo! Fantasy.

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And it all begins on August 4th. Stay tuned and get started by creating or joining a Yahoo! Fantasy Football League at yahoofantasy.com slash locked on NFL. That's yahoofantasy.com slash locked on NFL. And let's make this fantasy season the best one yet. Titans fans, let's cap off today's edition of the locked on Titans podcast. We have training camp practice tomorrow. The Titans will be out on the field today. I guess if you're hearing this on Wednesday, I'm going to be here to break it all down

with you guys on Wednesday night into Thursday morning on the Locked on Titans podcast. So make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day. But we talked about the EdgeRusher news and the solutions that are available to the Tennessee Titans. We talked about some of the camp battles that we have to watch. Now I want to go over some of the big injury news that we got coming out of the press conference of Mike Borganzi and Chad Brinker on Tuesday. Thanks again for making locked on Titans your first listen each and every day,

but we got a disappointing update on Ligeria Snead and it just yesterday we got the report that he was going to start training camp on PUP we got the confirmation today and there were questions asked and Mike Borganzi said that um I believe the phrase was in April there was a herb he had an issue in April that set him back He had to have a cleanup surgery in May on the knee. That's been the problem all along now They did say that his quad injury is healthy. It's healed which is good because the quad injury was weird It was like a strange unusual injury. The knee is just just maintenance stuff but he had a cleanup procedure on that knee doesn't make me feel much

better if I'm honest with you my hope for a legerious need to you know give the Titans meaningful snaps of football still remains low like I said yesterday but I guess it's a good thing that his quad isn't the big big issue but you know, the knee was something that was going to get worse with time. It's one of those injuries, like when we talked about Tajay Spears and not having an ACL. It's not like it's going to make him get hurt all the time, but he's probably going to have a shorter career because his body's going to wear down quicker because of this issue. Well, we're getting to the point where all luxurious need in theory should have

about two or three, four more years in his career, but because the knee gives out, the knee breaks down, the knee wears down, he doesn't. You know, this is, this is the expected concern with the knee when you have somebody with this kind of issue coming out of college. Like it's like, hey, it'll probably just make their career shorter. Well, the career is being shortened. You know what I mean?

So I guess some people, and I guess I should feel a little bit better because the quad injury was weird and unusual, but at the end of the day, he's starting on PUP, he had a cleanup thing. He's not healthy. He's not as healthy as he's ever been and ready to go. Like, I mean, I guess, technically speaking, like from the thigh issue that he had the quad issue, he's as healthy as he's ever been with that. But like clearly was a misleading way to put that for Ligeria Steed. So that's disappointing.

Kush on PUP, but that's to be expected with the Achilles tear. This is really where I got excited. These next couple of things. Kevin Winston is good to go folks. The third round safety out of Penn State, who I think has elite potential, the ability to be a star player.

I wasn't really gonna expect him to be able to give the Titans much until after maybe the first month of the season, but he's good to go full go 100% for training camp. Okay, if you could have told me that Kevin Winston was gonna be full go for training camp, I would have been fine taking him in the second round. Like Kevin Winston Jr. can be a star player for this team and the fact that his development

is going to be able to start on time. Critical in my opinion, absolutely critical. Also, no Dan Moore comments, no comments about Dan Moore, this and that, which remember that last mandatory mini camp, couple of practice, I think the second practice, Dan Moore left early, third practice wasn't there. And nobody was talking about it. Nobody was having questions. Nobody was wondering. And now I guess we would get our answer because they did not say he's starting on PUP or there's any issues. No one asked, no one discussed it, and I guess I'm going to believe that it would have been broached, it

would have been discussed in some way if it had been something worth discussing. Someone would have found out something and asked some question. So we'll keep an eye on that for the first practice when we get attendance reports, but I take it as a good sign. Now, like I said earlier, Traylon Burks, good to go. Um, I think I saw a Toronto Davenport mentioned that, you know, he's still gonna be gunner on special teams and doing stuff like that's probably his path to make the roster and that's very disappointing to say about a former first round pick,

but that's where Burks is at. And again, I don't think he makes the roster. I don't think he makes the team and, uh, I would not give any opportunities to him over guys who are younger than him who deserve those opportunities more. But the final thing that I thought was super interesting, and we talked about Levis enough yesterday, it's over now. I don't want to talk about Will Levis anymore ever again. But I'll say this. The Titans brass, Borganzi and Brinker, were asked about Will Levis and they said, the Titans medical staff gave him full clearance

for off season activities. He had another opinion that said that he should go through all season activities and then see how he feels. That's interesting. The Titans medical team was like, you're fine. Let's you're good. Go ahead. And then Will Levis went out and got his own opinion that was like, I don't know, you might might need to see how you feel after these mandatory, which if his shoulder was so bad that it needed surgery, why would his team, in his second opinion,

tell him to go through off-season program? See, this is why I call BS on this. He wanted to get traded. If he would have got traded to a different team, he wouldn't be having surgery right now, 100%. But the last thing that they had to say when they were asked was yes, he was full go, during the off season stuff.

So clearly, like we already figured, the Titans and Will Levis don't necessarily agree on how this all went down, but no shock there. I think as long as you weren't naive, you knew that already yesterday when the news first broke. But with that being said again practice tomorrow we'll be here to break it down cannot wait that's gonna do it for me today folks as always i am your host Tyler Roland and this was Locked on Titans Thanks for watching guys!