Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans are OUT ON SAM DARNOLD, Best Free Agent Offensive Tackles & Interior O-Linemen

Episode Date: March 5, 2025

The Tennessee Titans quarterback situation has been a major topic of discussion and will continue to be, but with free agency right around the corner we are starting to hear reports about what the team may do and the most recent says that the Titans would be OUT on Sam Darnold as an option at the expected price. Speaking of free agency, the Titans need help on the offensive line and they could be looking for a tackle and a guard. While the pool is not robust, the Titans still have some options at both spots that make sense. 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!ChewyChewy has everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy. And right now you can save $20 on your first order and get free shipping by Clicking this link: https://prf.hn/click/camref:1011l3Huc8/creativeref:1011l164602 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)

According to a recent report, the Tennessee Titans are out on Sam Darnold. We'll go over what it means 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 Podcast Network. Your team every day. Welcome to the Locked On Titans podcast. I am your host Tyler Roland, Titans fans on today's show. We're going to do a free agency

preview of the offensive line. We're going to talk tackles. We're going to talk interior offensive line options, but we're going to start with a recent report saying that the Tennessee Titans are out on Sam Darnold, but at a certain price. Before we get into all of that, do want to thank you for making the Locked On Titans podcast 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. It's your team every day.

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 it is one of the busiest times of the year when it comes to breaking news.

Free agency starts next week. We're in the middle of our free agency preview. On tomorrow's show, we're going to dive into the defense. I'm going to have a full free agency primer for you on Sunday night. And then the legal tampering period opens on Monday. So make sure that you stay up to date and as informed as possible on your Tennessee Titans with me here on the locked on Titans podcast. But with that being said, we've been talking about Sam

Darnold a lot this week. And you know, the reality is I don't want Sam Donald for the Tennessee Titans. It's been something that I've been out on all along, but the reality is that options are getting slim. And when you start to look at realistic options that I think the Tennessee Titans would actually be willing to do, they get lower and lower every day. At this point, you basically have a situation where it's Sam Donald or Cam Ward. Right.

We've heard that the Tennessee Titans are out on Aaron Rogers. The report that we're getting ready to talk about says that the Titans aren't that interested in Aaron Rogers. Well, outside of that, who are other starters that could even make sense? Russell Wilson word is he wants to go back to Las Vegas Raiders. I mean car and cousins never became available. So it's Donald. It's Rogers.

It's Wilson. I don't think that Wilson makes sense for the Titans as a scheme fit. They're not interested in Rogers and now we're hearing that they're out on Sam Darnold at the price that Sam Darnold is likely to command. So if all of those options are off the board, what is the other option for the Titans? It's Cam Ward and that's the only one. So that's what makes this so interesting. But let's go over this report first. Paul Kowarski of PaulKowarski.com

tweeted on Wednesday morning, the Titans aren't going to be into Sam Darnold. If he was shorter term, cheaper option, sure. But as long as he's going to be longterm, high dollar commitment for somebody, it's not going to be them. Pretty definitive and I know that Paul Karski has his detractors and look the reality is Paul hasn't really been that kind to me either, but I can admit Paul does great work for the team. Okay, and he out of all of the Titans beat reporters is the one who gets the most inside information and the most inside information

and the most scoops. So Paul mentioning this makes it very easy. Again in his article, he says quote, the Titans don't also don't appear interested in Aaron Rogers. He goes on to say, I believe, and this is his opinion. Obviously I believe the Titans, if they pass on warden Sanders to trade down, and he says, who seemed less attractive to them are prepared for a worst case scenario where they sign a stopgap player like Mac Jones or Jamis Winston at

quarterback and go for him with Levis in 2025. This is what I talked about two episodes ago when I went over my free agent options at quarterback, I said, there are guys who I think could realistically be starter for the Titans car or cousins, but they're unavailable. Donald Russell Wilson and Aaron Rogers. They don't want Rogers. Wilson isn't a fit. If they don't want to pay Donald, which I'm fine with, don't pay Sam Donald. Great. But then after that,

the other options you have are compete with Will Levis, which is Justin Fields, Mac Jones, Jameis Winston, Jacoby Brissette, Daniel Jones, Desmond Ritter. Like that's what you're looking at there if you don't want to go with one of those starting level veterans and you don't want to go with one of those starting level veterans, and you don't want to go with the rookie quarterback. So, it makes sense that if they don't want Donald, and they're not interested in the older veterans in Rogers and Wilson, and they want to trade down in the draft, which means they can't get one of those two quarterbacks,

well, then there aren't a lot of other options other than compete with Will Levis, Mac Jones, James Winston, Jacoby Brassett, Garner Minchuk got released. Maybe he's in that group. But again, the reason why throughout the offseason, I have said I like Derek Carr. I would take Kirk Cousins on a vet minimum. Aaron Rogers makes a ton of sense for me. I think that Sam Donald is likely to go to the Titans. Even if I don't want Sam Donald, I still think why, because Brian Callahan needs to win. I'm sorry.

But if you go into 2025 with Will Levis and Mac Jones. Brian Callahan's fired. It's over. Just fire him now. There is no way in the world that Brian Callahan keeps his job with the compete with Will Levis tier of quarterbacks. Mac Jones, Jameis Winston. Jameis Winston is just Will Levis in a different package. It's the same dude. Mac Jones, James Winston, Garner Manchute, Daniel Jones, Jacoby Burset, Desmond Ritter, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, and Will Levis. You pair one of those names with Will Levis and that's your quarterback answer in 2025. Listen, I'm okay with it. If they truly, the reason I didn't think that this was a possibility is because Brian Callahan would know that he's fired. His job is over.

He's a lame duck coach. He's getting fired probably by Thanksgiving. There's no way that they would set Brian Callahan up to be canned like that. I would be fine with it. Cause then you could trade back back kick the can down the road You don't commit long term to a sam darnold type like okay fine but I just I gotta be honest. I have a hard time a really hard time believing

That they would do that to brian callahan like I just have a hard time believing that now the one thing that I do want to mention here before we move on from this discussion is Paul Karski's report said Long-term high money He said if it was shorter term lower money, then it would make sense So if Sam Darnold is two years 60 million 30, 30 million dollars a year, say you give them 40 million dollars guaranteed,

you can get out of the contract after one year if you need to with, you know, 10 million dollars of dead money. If they want to do that, that makes sense. But again, this is at the cost that most people were anticipating for Sam Darnold, which is low end starting quarterback money, $40 million a year. If Sam Darnold is going to get that I've never been interested. And it's good news that the Titans are out on that too. Like that's what we want to hear. We do not want the Tennessee Titans giving Sam Darnold a $40 million a year

contract, but at 30 million with way less years. want the Tennessee Titans giving Sam Darnold a $40 million a year contract. But at 30 million with way less years, now that makes some sense. Now that's worth the risk at that point because it's not super financially punitive. It's not that big a deal. You'd probably have to pay Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr or Kirk, not Kirk Cousins because of the vet minimum, but you'd probably have to pay Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr. If he became available, you'd probably have to pay him about something like that. So if we're paying, you know, the lowest tier level for starting quarterback money, then it's possible. But the point is the options are running out and they're running out quick.

So I'm very curious what the Titans do at quarterback. And I'll be honest with you. I'm just going to say this quick. I'm going to take the pin out of the grenade, throw it and run away something that we might talk about. What if the Titans traded for Brock Purdy? We're hearing some whispers that Aaron Rodgers and Devontae Adams want to join forces on the West Coast.

What if the 49ers don't want to pay Brock Purdy and the Titans look at a trade? I don't know how I feel about it, but just throwing just throwing stuff out there, seeing what happens anyway, with that being said, offensive line, free agency. It is ugly. You've probably heard of Chewy. They really do have everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy, whether you're shopping for food, treats, or even pet healthcare. Chewy makes it fast, easy, and affordable.

That's why today's episode is brought to you by Chewy with over 100,000 products from all your favorite brands. Chewy with over 100,000 products from all your favorite brands. Chewy has everything your pet needs from food to treats to toys to beds to grooming. And it's not just for dogs and cats. They have supplies for birds, fish, reptiles, and small pets, too. Chewy also makes it easy to manage your pet's health with prescriptions, telehealth visits, and even in-person vet clinics. Auto-ip is a game changer, especially for me. My dog loves the little lamb chop toys and he reps them apart all the time. So I just keep them on autoship so that he never runs out of his favorite toy.

Chewy has everything that you need to keep your pet happy and healthy. Right now you could save $20 on your first order and get free shipping by going to Chewy.com or clicking the link in the description. Save $20 on your first order with free shipping by clicking the link in the description. Minimum purchase required, new customers only. Terms and conditions apply. See site for complete details. Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast.

We talked about the recent report on the Tennessee Titans status with Sam Darnold. Now I want to get back into our free agency preview. I've talked about the quarterbacks. I did a full episode on the Tennessee Titans status with Sam Darnold. Now I want to get back into our free agency preview. I've talked about the quarterbacks. I did a full episode on the quarterbacks. Then we talked about the skill position, skill position players, wide receivers, tight ends, running backs. Now I want to get to the offensive line and quite frankly, outside a quarterback where I think the Titans could make some sort of move, I didn't want to see the

Titans make any significant move at running back, wide receiver or tight end. Number one, draft class is really good at running back and tight end. So if you want one, get one in the draft late on day three. Wide receiver, a lot of old guys that are past their prime, they're going to be more expensive than what they're worth. I'm not doing that either. The Titans need to draft and develop young wide receivers. And that includes DK Metcalf. Listen, I don't want to be rude to people listening to my show. I don't intentionally mean to insult you. But the reality is. Galaxy brain fans want everyone that becomes available. DK Metcalf requests a trade.

Oh, we want DK Metcalf. DK Metcalf makes zero sense for the Titans. Number one, he is entering the back half of his career. The Titans are a terrible team with the first pick in the draft who's rebuilding. By the time the Titans are good enough to take advantage of a DK Metcalf, the reality is he'll probably be 30. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Giving up Hyatt, you would have to give up pick number 35 and then give DK Metcalf 33 million dollars a year. You already are paying a 30 year old wide receiver in Calvin Ridley. I'm sorry. This is not Madden.

Like DK Metcalf said he wants to play for Contender anyway. The Titans are not trading for any of these expensive veterans. They're not getting Myles Garrett. They're not getting DK Metcalf. They're not getting Brandon Iuke. They're not getting it's not happening. Stop. Stop.

They're not getting any of these guys. They are drafting and developing and rebuilding the worst team in the NFL. You're not making wind up. They're not trading for Matthew Stafford. You know what I mean? Like stop it. Stop. But anyway, offensive tackle is what I want to talk about first.

And I would rather the Tennessee Titans get a potential starter in free agency at guard and at offensive tackle to make sure that they're not screwed if they go into the draft with only two top 100 picks and they can't trade down. What if the Titans take Cam Ward and then they take an edge rusher at 35, which is what all you quarterback people are saying. All of you quarterback people are saying take Cam Ward and this edge class is really good. They can get an edge at 35.

All right. Well, where do they get a starting right tackle? So that's why I want to, and Mike Borganzi has said this as well. We want to fill as many holes in free agency as you can so that you're not pigeonholed when you get into the draft. And offensive tackle is a massive hole at right tackle, especially now Ronnie Stanley top free agent left tackle Gone not gonna be on the market. Okay, that means that the best offensive tackle that's gonna be available is Cam Robinson

Cam Robinson was the Jags left tackle for a long time. He got traded to Minnesota last year. He is a good pass block, but he's 30 years old. He's never been an excellent run blocker, which I think matters to the Tennessee Titans, and he's probably going to get 15 to $20 million a year. And if you sign cam Robinson, now you've got to kick JC Latham to right tackle for what a year or two when you have cam Robinson, now you got to kick JC Latham to right tackle for what? A year or two when you have Cam Robinson who's 30 years old. So you're going to have Cam Robinson for one to two years. And then JC Latham is going to be on the last year of his rookie contract and

have to go back to left tackle or you just need a left tackle again, draft and develop Cam Robinson is not the answer for the Tennessee Titans, not because he's a terrible player, but because he's going to be too expensive and too old that combination for where the Titans are at same thing with Tyron Smith coming off a, an, an okay year with the New York jets. Everybody says the New York jets offensive line was terrible. And it says, Oh, Tyron Smith, he's done. He's 34 years old. He's going to be eight to ten million dollars

the titans don't need tyrant smith again he's been a left tackle his entire career so you're going to move jc latheham to right tackle for this it's a combination of his age his injury concerns and then effect on jc latam. Those three things together, like with Ken Robinson, his price, his play style, and his effect on JC Latham, those three reasons together, and then Tyron Smith's three reasons together make them not logical options in my opinion. Now you want to talk about an older player who does make sense. If you want to go with Morgan Moses, he's 34 like Tyron Smith, but it'll only be about five to $6 million.

That is a perfect scenario. A stop gap starter who plays right tackle for a living. So you don't move JC Latham. You don't have to go with a guy who's going to be expensive. So he may be old, but he's cheap. And he doesn't affect JC Latham. So Morgan Moses is probably the best option for the Titans right now. Cause outside of that, I only see two other options that would make sense.

Number one is Dan Moore. Dan Moore was with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Steelers can't wait to get rid is Dan Moore. Dan Moore was with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Steelers can't wait to get rid of Dan Moore. He's going to make like 10, 15 million as a, as like a low end starter offensive tackle. He's only 26, but he's not good in pass protection. He's terrible in pass protection. I'm the Steelers offensive line was bad last year. I'm not taking scraps off the Steelers offensive line that costs 10 to 15 million dollars. Even at 26 years old. Now a guy I do think makes a ton of sense and honestly Morgan Moses is probably the best option player wise, but the very best fit for the Tennessee Titans for me is Jedrick Wills.

Wills is still 26 years old. So still young. You don't get that with Tyron Smith, Cam Robinson or Morgan Moses. He's going to be cheaper than all of them at three to five million dollars because he had injury issues the last two years. But he has a connection with Brian Callahan.

He played right tackle in college, left tackle in the pros. So he could play either side. Think, if the Titans have J.C. Latham at left tackle, and they draft a right tackle in the second round, like a Ariante, Ursary, or something like that, imagine if they trade back to pick six, and they take Armand Membo. If you have Latham and Membo, so Latham and a rookie, and then Jedrick

Wills is your third tackle who can play right tackle, play left tackle, maybe start over the rookie if the rookie's not a hundred percent ready, that is the best way to attack your offensive tackle position. And you keep in mind that Jedrick Wills had some great seasons for the Browns under Bill Callahan as his coach. And if Jedrick will stays healthy at 26 years old, the Titans may have. They're right tackle and their left tackle for the next four years, or at least three years figured out you would have Jedrick wills until he's 30 with JC Latham on his rookie contract.

I mean, I know that he's dealt with injury issues in the past, but for the age and the price to me, Jedrick Wills is by far the best option for the Tennessee Titans at right tackle when it comes to fit and potential. Morgan Moses may be better this year, but if Jedrick Wills is healthy and plays his best football, he's better than Morgan Moses and he's eight years younger. So Morgan Moses is the best older veteran option. Jedrick Wills is the best option overall. Outside of that, there are starters, in my opinion. George Fant is two years older from when we wanted him. DJ Humphries couldn't even get on the field for the Chiefs, despite their issues. And Andrus Pete, still a guy dealing with injuries who the Titans didn't want last year.

So, to me, it's Morgan Moses, or it's Jedrick Wills, or it's Bust. And you better pray to the gods that you find an offensive tackle in the draft. But with that being said, let's look at the interior offensive line. ["Titanic", by The Bugs, playing in background.] Titans fans. Let's cap off today's edition of the locked on Titans podcast, doing a free agency preview of the offensive line position. Talk Sam Donald at the top of the show. Remember on tomorrow's show, we are going to look at the defense. I haven't quite decided whether I'm doing secondary on tomorrow's show or front seven on Tomorrow show haven't made up my mind on that quite yet, but I'm gonna do a bonus episode on

Friday a sixth episode for this week gonna be a ton of bonus content coming up with all the free agent stuff I'm also just so you guys know I'm gonna to say this the next couple of episodes. I am going to record later than I normally do next week during free agency. So instead of coming out at 6 p.m. Eastern, shows are probably going to come out at 8 p.m. Eastern so that I have a little bit more time to to wait for news to happen because I'm tired of you know having to record multiple shows every single day all free agency long. I might as well just wait and be patient and bring you guys all the news at the end of the night So I hope you guys understand that I might release the show a little later than normal for free agency next week But with that being said we get into the interior offensive line So like I said, not a lot of options our offensive tackle for the Titans that are great

But on the interior offensive line, there are some decent options. It's just about how much the Tennessee Titans are willing to pay. And me personally, once Trace Smith came off the board and got franchise tagged by the Kansas City Chiefs. At that moment, I was like, I don't know if I want to pay up for guard anymore. I like Trey Smith because he is a high level player with great character that fits the culture

and Mike Borganzi's connection. Like that all makes sense. But anybody in the next tier down for guard just doesn't make a lot of sense for me. You have Will Fries who played guard for the Colts the last few years. He's coming off a bad injury that knocked him out for the season in week five. He's probably gonna get 10 to 15 million dollars as a pretty good level starting guard. Are the Titans willing to pay 10 to 15 million dollars for a guard when they're paying what they're paying for Lloyd Cushinberry and they drafted a guard in the first round two years ago.

Like that just seems like too many resources at guard in my opinion, but maybe they're so fed up with the offensive line being bad that they're just like screw it, whatever it takes. I guess, but will freeze is a good player when healthy. If he's healthy, he is a good player, big, solid, stocky player who's good in pass protection. Um, so that would make sense, but I don't know if I want to pay for me at guard either. I'm paying top tier money for one of the best in the game, like a Quentin Nelson or a Trey Smith or a Landon

Dickerson, or I'm not paying anything. Like it's how I feel about linebacker either Either you're absolutely elite and then I'm paying you or I'm going cheap. You know, because I don't want to pay Will Freeze 10 to 15 million. Tevin Jenkins has had a ton of injuries in his career. He's been moved from left go or left tackle to right tackle to left guard bubba bubba bubba So yeah, he's had to move a ton. He's only 27, but he's had so many injuries. He's not that great of a player He is very physical though And I think that would appeal to the Tennessee Titans and Bill Callahan on the offensive line But that's another guy who's probably gonna get 10 to 15 million dollars

And I just don't think that Tevin Jenkins is worth 10 to 15 million dollars $15 million and I just don't think that Tevin Jenkins is worth 10 to $15 million. If the Titans were a win now team right now, and they needed to plug in a guard, then sure maybe, but I don't know. I think both Freeze and Jenkins are good players. They're just not worth 10 to $15 million in my opinion. It's just not worth it kevin zeitler 35 years old why would they do that you know i just don't why would kevin zeitler want to do that for his final years in the nfl uh james daniels coming from the steelers he blew his achilles out in week four the titans gonna have two guys starting on the offensive line this year recovering from torn Achilles? You're going to pay five to seven million dollars for James Daniels? I don't think so.

Mackay Bekton, probably going to get 10 to 12 million dollars. He was a guy who completely flamed out his entire career until he got to the best roster we've seen in recent NFL history with the Eagles. Like, do I trust Mackay Bekton to not be a problem when he's not in a great locker room and he's with a rebuilding team? No, I don't think I want to do that. Not 10 to 12 million dollars for McKay-Beckton, heck no. And then after that, Brandon Scherf, 33 years old, coming from the Jaguars. Aaron Banks, he's only 27, coming from San Francisco, eight to $10 million, but they

run a ton of zone in San Francisco. They started running a little more gap recently, but does he fit schematically? I think if I had to pick out of those names, I would go with Aaron Banks for eight to $10 million over the other options. But the reality is out of all of those names, maybe you throw a Patrick McCorry in there, but I think he's more of a of a utility man on an offensive line, not a starter. I would take Dylan Radens at five million to six million dollars over all those guys. If I could have Dylan Radens for a two-year contract for 12 million million, two years, $12 million for Dylan Raiden's.

I would take that over any of these options. Period. Freeze or Jenkins at 10 to 15, Bechton Banks at eight to 12, 33 year old Sherv, James Daniels coming off to twelve thirty-three year old Sherv. James Daniels coming off in Achilles thirty-five year old Zeitler like I'm just saying no to all of those just bring Dylan Radens back draft and interior offensive lineman in the draft. I know it's not a great draft, but like that

just seems like a far better option to me. Then dishing out the kind of money that you would need to to get one of these guards I just I just can't be on board with it. I can't erin banks maybe But Yeah, I don't know again. This is why it's so important to draft and develop guys usually free agency Is not good last year was one of the better free agent classes that I've seen. It's not that this year and it's typically not because good teams don't typically let good players leave.

And if you're in free agency, there's a reason. So I hope that this is a rude awakening to some people. Like this is why I'm team trade down. The Titans have so far to go and so many spots to fill and doing it through free agency with high price contracts and outbidding other teams and paying a premium for guys that aren't premium players, it's just not a smart way to build your team.

It's not. So the Titans need as many draft picks as they could possibly get to try to fill all these spots with affordable players on rookie contracts that are at the beginning of their careers and can improve. So team trade down because you're not fixing the offensive line through free agency and you can't fix edge, offensive line, wide receiver, and quarterback with what you have in the draft. Not if you take quarterback number one overall, you just don't have enough.

So with that in mind, hope you guys understand my philosophy a little bit more, but that's going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.