Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans Cut Candidates, Best Trade Options Including Treylon Burks & First-Time Pro Bowlers

Episode Date: July 1, 2024

The Tennessee Titans are in the middle of the summer break, but when they return there are a lot of roster questions that will need to be answered. First, who could potentially be cut by the Titans during or before training camp? Names that pop out are Daniel Brunskill and Malik Willis. Next, the Titans could choose to make some trades and Treylon Burks is a top candidate. Finally, who are some Titans who could be first-time pro bowlers? Tyjae Spears has a great shot. 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!BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month. eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotors.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply. FanDuelFanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. As playoffs wind down, the sports stop sporting like we want them to. But this summer, FanDuel is hooking up ALL CUSTOMERS with a boost or a bonus, DAILY! That’s right, there’s something for everyone, every day, all summer long! Visit FANDUEL.COM/LOCKEDON and add a big win to your summer bucket list! 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 could make roster changes before training camp, and Daniel Brunskill is a prime cut candidate. I'll explain why, plus give other cut candidates, on today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. 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.

Today's edition of the Locked On Titans podcast is brought to you by FanDuel. Make every moment more. As the playoffs wind down, the sports stop sporting like we want them to, but this summer, FanDuel is hooking up all customers with a boost or a bonus daily. That's right. There's something for everyone,

every day, all summer long. Visit FanDuel.com slash LockedOn to get started. We are continuing Top 5 Week here on the Locked On Titans podcast. I'm going to give you my top five potential cut candidates for the Titans, including Daniel Brunskill, of course. Talk about top five trade options for the Tennessee Titans to consider.

And then I'll give you five guys who could be a first-time pro bowler in 2024. Before we get into all of that, I do want to thank you guys again 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. You're not going to beat that anywhere else.

Shout out to my everydayers out there tuning in Monday through Friday. If you aren't an everydayer, you need to be one and I have some great content coming for my everydayers tomorrow. I'm going to do my top five Tennessee Titans players on the team right now. My top five all-time Tennessee Titans and then my top five favorite Tennessee Titans of my 25 years of fandom. So you're not going to want to miss that.

And then I'm answering your top five questions on the last two days of the week. So send those to me at tiktaktitans on Twitter, here on YouTube. I'll make sure to get to those. But with that being said, we do got to talk about these cut candidates. Here's the reality. The Tennessee Titans have about $24-$25 million in cap space still remaining. They don't actually need to cut anybody. That's, they aren't for money purposes, for financial

purposes, they don't actually need to make any cuts until, you know, after training camp if they want to turn the bottom of the roster and get new guys in. And of course, the cut down day that comes after the third preseason game where you actually trim down the roster to your 53-man

group. Like, the Titans aren't in a situation where they need to scrape out money. But, but, with needs still at safety, with a need still on the edge as well, there could be other spots where the Titans would want to add somebody, maybe the interior defensive line, maybe linebacker. You know, there are other places where the Titans could use a little bit of reinforcement. Maybe the Titans want to make a big trade for somebody who's already under contract. If the Titans do need to clear out a little bit more room, they have some easy avenues to do so.

And the number one name that pops up there is Daniel Brunskill. And when I talked about cut candidates way back in February, when we talked about the Titans clearing out cap space, guys who just didn't make sense for the value of their contract, I talked about Daniel Brunskill in that group of guys that have already been cut. You know what I mean? That initial wave. I talked about Daniel Brunskill because at the time he was set to make about $2.2 million against the cap. Only about $200,000 in guaranteed cash. So they could have saved $2 million by cutting Daniel Brunskill. Now we're past the critical date of

June 1st and you hear about post-June 1 cuts and all that. The money basically flips over after June 1st and you hear about post June 1 cuts and all that. The money basically flips over after June 1st into the next season's money. All right. So right now, if you're looking at Daniel Brunskill, the Titans could save basically $3 million by cutting Daniel Brunskill. And the conversation is really about his reduced role. Okay. Because Daniel Brunskill was the conversation is really about his reduced role. Okay, because Daniel Brunskill was the starting right guard last year.

Now, if you look at it, he's basically the third guard behind Sadiq Charles and Dylan Radins. They've asked him to play backup center during these OTAs and summer practices because he's the only one with experience, but there isn't a good role for Daniel Brunskill with the change in philosophy on offense. The Titans want power offensive linemen. Brunskill is like 6'5", 300 pounds. He is an agile pass protector.

He's not a power player on the O-line, so he doesn't fit as well. And yes, they could keep him around as a very solid backup center who could also give you depth at guard. They're like, this is a starting, an average starter on teams that are a better scheme fit. So it's still very, very good depth. But if the Titans do want to carve out a little bit more money, say they go after a Justin Simmons, they make a trade, something like that,

Bronskill would be the first player to be considered. And if they could find a cheaper backup center, which I think that they could, then that would be an easy move to make. There's just a lot of value there. Kyle Phillips is another name. You look at wide receiver. You have Hopkins, Ridley, Boyd.

That's three. Traylon Burke's probably going to make the team. That's four. NWI, I think it's going to make this team. That's five. You bring in Jaquan Jackson, who does the same thing as Kyle Phillips. That's four. NWI, I think it's going to make this team. That's five. You bring in Jaquan Jackson, who does the same thing as Kyle Phillips. That's six. I mean, are they going to keep seven? Kyle Phillips saving the Titans a million dollars definitely is a cut candidate. And then, of course, you have Malik Willis. And this is just, are the Titans going to carry three quarterbacks?

Would they rather get Malik Willis on practice squad or even lose Malik Willis and have to get somebody else? It would save the Titans $1.2 million if they cut Malik Willis. I just think it makes a lot of sense to carve out some room there if they decide to do so. Rashad Weaver and Caleb Barley are the last two names I want to mention in my top five here. Rashad Weaver, $1.1 million. I think Weaver could be good for the team,

but maybe they don't view him as a scheme fit. He was a previous regime's draft pick. Maybe he just doesn't fit with what they want to do and they want to bring in some other guys and look in a different direction. And then Caleb Farley. Last year when everybody was screaming for Caleb Farley to be cut, I tried to tell

everybody, no. It doesn't make any sense because of the guaranteed money in his contract, his rookie deal. It would cost the Titans cap money if they would have cut Caleb Farley last year. Well, that's not the case now. And it would save the Titans $2 million if they cut Caleb Farley. At the end of the day, you know, he is a sad character in my Titans fandom. I feel about as bad for Caleb Farley as any Titans player ever with what's happened to him outside of football, what's happened to him during his football journey with the injuries and the inability just to be on the field, you know? So to have all of that

personal tragedy, you do feel bad for Caleb Farley. But the reality is he's probably not going to be a contributor to the Tennessee Titans, and if they want to bring in some additional cornerback depth, then Farley is likely a guy who isn't going to be around. And you know, some of these guys may get cut once they do that actual roster cut down, like I said, going from 90 down to the 53, but if the Titans wanted to make some additional moves and turn the roster a little bit here, I think all five of these guys, Daniel Brunskill, Kyle Phillips, Malik Willis, Rashad Weaver, and Caleb Farley would be maybe not surprises, but obviously the Titans could

cut undrafted free agents or they could cut, you know, the Anthony Kendall's of the world, the Son Haskins of the world. Of course, those are guys that could be cut, but all of these guys I think would, it would be a story if they were cut, and I think it would make some sense as well, particularly, again, Daniel Brunskill at the 3.3 million, but maybe the Titans don't want to make cuts. Maybe the Titans want to make a trade.

Who could be on the trading block for the Titans? Who are the top five options that could be traded? I'm going to go over that now. Before I do, I do want to let you guys know that today's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Look, comparison is the thief of joy. It's easy to envy other people's lives. Everybody looks like they have it together on social media, but the reality is they probably don't. Therapy can help you focus on what you want instead of what others have so you can start living your best life. I worked with BetterHelp

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and you can switch therapists at any time for no additional charge. Stop comparing and start focusing with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com slash locked on and get 10% off your first month today. That's betterhelp, H-E-L-P dot com slash locked on. Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. It is top five week here during the summer break, quite honestly, of football. Football is taking a backseat right now.

You got NBA free agency, all kinds of stuff going on, blah, blah, blah. But we're getting close, folks. We're getting close. We're about three weeks away from some Tennessee Titans training camp action. So make sure that you stick with me here on the Locked on Titans podcast. Tomorrow, top five best players, top five favorite players, top five all-time Titans. Very excited for that discussion.

Of course, let me know down below how you feel about Titans cut candidates, Titans trade options, all of that. Excited to hear what you guys have to say. But with that being said, do want to continue here and get into the trade options for the Tennessee Titans. And I don't think that I'm breaking any news or anything like that when I say the first name is Traylon Burks. I mean, I've been talking about this honestly since the end of last season that it would make sense to trade Traylon Burks.

I said at the end of last year, last season, we'll call it, that the Titans need to operate this all season at wide receiver like Traylon Burks doesn't exist. And in my opinion, that is what they did. They kept DeAndre Hopkins around.

They went out and got Tyler Boyd. They signed Calvin Ridley to a big contract. They drafted Jaquan Jackson. Like, everything the Titans have done this year at wide receiver is basically like, we don't believe in Traylon Burks. That is what they should have done. That is exactly the route they should have taken. And what that sets them up with here.

If we see a big injury to a wide receiver in training camp, if these teams come into training camp and realize that they're not happy with their wide receiver groups, I think a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers could make a lot of sense for Traylon Burks. Who do they have outside of George Pickens? It's disgusting is what it is. So, could the Titans get a fourth or a fifth round pick?

I think if it's any lower than that, I think a sixth round pick would not be worth it. You might as well just keep Traylon Burks for depth purposes, as a rotational player, all of that. But if you can get a fourth round pick, a fifth round pick, maybe a conditional fifth round pick that turns into a fourth round pick, based on the amount of snaps that Traylon Burks plays during the season, I think that could make a ton of sense. Look guys, here's the reality. Burks is never going to turn into a certified starting wide receiver. He's never going to be that.

Like, you can hold on to hope if you want, but guys are who they are, okay? And it's very rare to see what we've seen from Traylon Burks the last two years and then that guy become a fringe, pro bowl, starting level wide receiver. Like, the odds are very low. Okay? So, while I understand that some people are like,

a fourth or fifth round pick, that ain't worth it. To me, that is worth it. You have enough wide receivers. We were doing the wide receiver math just a second ago with Kyle Phillips. You know? Like, there's not unlimited spots here. So if you can get some value in return for Traylon Burks, I'm all for it.

I think Dylan Radins is another guy who makes sense. It's my personal opinion that Dylan Radins can be an average starting guard in the NFL. I think if Dylan Radins is your right guard and your fifth best starter on your offensive line, I think you have a pretty solid group. And I think that if the Titans don't want to give Dylan Radins a real shot here and they're going to pass him up and go with Sadiq Charles, okay, then maybe you keep Daniel Brunskill

as your backup right guard and your backup center. You let Sadiq Charles be your starter. And then Dylan Radins is in the last year of his contract. Trade him somewhere else and give him the opportunity to prove he can be a starter in the NFL. You can get back, you know, maybe again, like a fourth, fifth round pick, something like that for a player who wasn't going to start for you anyway.

And then you also have good depth behind him. So I think Dylan Raines would make a ton of sense. I mentioned Daniel Brunskill. Same exact reasons. Now, Brunskill, a little more expensive. Will teams want that? I don't know. I don't think he would fetch you as much in the trade either. I think Brunskill is a sixth, seventh round pick, something like that. But at that point,

like we talked about with the cut situation, if Daniel Brunskill is a sixth, seventh-round pick, something like that. But at that point, like we talked about with the cut situation, if Daniel Brunskill is your third right guard, you can find a backup center for cheap. You can pick up a backup center on the free agent market right now or off somebody else's training camp cuts or, you know, like, that's possible. So trade Daniel Brunskill for the sixth-round pick and then just go find a backup center. And then you keep Dylan Radins as your backup.

To me, it's the same conversation between the two of them. The Titans have three right guards and they could stand to lose one. So get some value back. Although again, I think Radins would definitely get more in a trade than Daniel Brunskill due to age, upside, size, all of that. Malik Willis. Now, anytime that I mention a trade for Malik Willis,

all of you guys freak out and you get in the comments and you tell me, you know, who would trade for Malik Willis. Well, guys, there are ways to do this, okay? Do a conditional 2026 7th round pick. If Malik Willis makes their roster, then the Titans get a 7th round pick in 2026. If he doesn't make the roster, then they don't. And the Titans are in a situation where Malik Willis maybe makes the roster,

maybe makes the 53, maybe makes the 53, maybe the emergency quarterback, but I think the Titans would even rather have a different emergency quarterback as well. I don't even think that they would want to keep Malik Willis around to fill that role. I think there are other players who would be more reliable in that role. So if a team has a mobile quarterback, and I always thought Seattle would be a good fit with Geno Smith. Geno Smith isn't like Lamar Jackson. There are obviously differences,

but I just think that that made a ton of sense to me always as a fit there. And I think if the Titans could get a conditional seventh, with the condition being that Malik Willis makes the roster, that would still be a good move. That would still be a good move. Similarly to the conversation with Dylan Radins, Rashad Weaver. I think Weaver is a guy who can make some sense.

Again, new regime, new scheme on defense, new coaching staff. Maybe they just don't like Weaver all that much. Maybe they would rather go sign Emmanuel Ogba, Carl Lawson, blah, blah, blah. And then you could trade Rashad Weaver for, again, a sixth round pick, something like that. I mean, the guy was a fourth round pick to start. And, you know, it's not like he's going to fetch some great thing. But, you know, getting some additional capital, some additional ammo to work with. The Titans don't have their third round pick in 2025. They could use some additional back-end capital, maybe make a move up the board a little bit. You want to have as many bullets as possible in this situation.

Have your ammo. And I think Rashad Weaver is a guy who I think could contribute to the team this year. Absolutely. I would like to see Weaver stick around. But again, you just got to look at circumstance. And like I mentioned, new regime, didn't draft him, didn't have a great year last year and ran Carthon's first season. So he's looking at that like, does he fit the new scheme? He does look slimmed down.

He does look more explosive. Let's see if that translates, though. I think that's a move the Titans could stand to make, and it wouldn't be disastrous. You know what I mean? But with that being said, that's my top five trade options. Let me know your guys' down below or hit me up on Twitter, at TicTacTitans, and let me know who could be a first-time pro bowler

for the Tennessee Titans this year. Excited to talk about that before we do, though. Do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Look, I love sports. I love them so much that I never want them to stop. But the playoffs are over, and most of the major sports, we're getting fewer games, and the sports just aren't sporting like I want them to stop, but the playoffs are over, and most of the major sports, we're getting fewer games,

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get four and a half points in week one in Chicago against a rookie quarterback. Hammer. Hammer that. I love that. I'm going to hammer that personally at least. Make sure that you head over to FanDuel.com slash locked on

and start making the most out of your summer. FanDuel, official sports betting partner of Major League Baseball. Titans fans, let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We talked about the top cut candidates for the Tennessee Titans, talked about the top trade options that the Tennessee Titans have. Now let's talk about some guys who could be a first-time pro bowler. Before I do that, thank you for making the Locked On Titans podcast your first listen

each and every day. Also want to let you guys know that Locked On has launched the first ever National Sports 24-7 streaming channel. It's on YouTube and now it's also available on Amazon Fire TV and the free Fire TV channels app. It's called Locked On Sports Today. Locked On Sports Today is here for you 24-7 covering the top sports stories of the day

with local experts from Locked On. Plus, you get coverage of every league from our national shows. Find Locked On Sports Today now available on the free Fire TV channels app and, of course, here on YouTube as well. But looking at first-time Pro Bowlers, obviously Will Levis is the name. Like, we've talked so much about Will Levis, yesterday's show, talking about the breakout candidates,

X-Factors, all that. We know that Will Levis could go crazy this year. Will Levis could absolutely ball out, and it would not be insane to think that he would end up in the Pro Bowl with a good season. He's going to put up stats. He's going to throw the ball. He's going to make exciting plays.

That's the type of stuff that gets you a Pro Bowl nomination. Okay? Now, listen. I also know that the Pro Bowl isn't what it used to be. I mean, we've seen, you know, Tyler Huntley make a Pro Bowl recently. So if you want to say, oh, the Pro Bowl is nonsense. It doesn't matter anyway, then sure, great. But at the end of the day, it still matters to the players. It still is a conversation point and a pelt on the wall, I guess to say for these players. Players want to be pro bowlers.

They do. Okay. And I want to see some Titans players. This is the same thing as the national media conversation. Does it matter to wins and losses? No. But isn't it nice to see your favorite players get the recognition that they deserve, get the accolades that we all cared about growing up, like have people speak nicely and positively about the Titans when they deserve it, of course.

Yes, this is entertainment, folks. Sports is entertainment. And I, for entertainment purposes, want to see Titans players make the Pro Bowl. I want to see Titans get love on TV. You know, like, it's okay to admit that. It's okay to admit that, even if it's frivolous and it doesn't matter to wins and losses. Okay? But, all I can tell you is, if Will Levis makes the Pro Bowl, whether you care about the Pro Bowl or not, that's

probably a good sign. That's probably a good sign. So, likewise, Tajay Spears, another guy I talked about him being a breakout candidate, I think that Tajay Spears could be a pro bowler. He's right that people want Tajay. Casual fans want Tajay Spears to be good. The fantasy community wants Tajay Spears to be good. So if he has 1,000 yards, 400 yards receiving, 8-10 touchdowns

somewhere in there, Tajay Spears could be a pro bowler. Absolutely. Absolutely. So I would like to see that happen. Lloyd Cushenberry. Cushenberry does not get the credit that he deserves, and we saw that earlier this year with the freaking list where Aaron Brewer was ranked ahead of him. What are we doing here? Who is in charge?

Like I said then, can I speak with the manager? Like, what are we doing? Okay? I'm charge? Like I said then, can I speak with the manager? Like, what are we doing? Okay, I'm gonna go full Karen right now. But Lloyd Cushenberry has really gotten better throughout his career. It was a struggle early, but he's gotten a lot better. He's really improved. And with that Bill Callahan bump that's coming here, and if the Titans do well and Will Levis does well, I think that'll shine a light on the offensive line a little bit more. I think Lloyd Cushenberry could be a guy to make the Pro Bowl for the first time. Roger McCreary, another name.

Again, he's starting to be in the national spotlight. People are starting to notice how good he is. And then finally, Amani Hooker. I think that if the Titans are good, and I mentioned Amani Hooker is an think that if the Titans are good, and I mentioned Imani Hooker is an X-Factor player, if the Titans are good, and Imani Hooker creates a lot of turnovers,

he's going to have a great shot to make the pro, a great shot. Because when you create turnovers, and your team is good, you're going to get that recognition. And now, he's not overshadowed

by a more popular player in Kevin Byron. So, that'll give him a good opportunity to kind of get that light, get that shine, and maybe ultimately land in a Pro Bowl berth. So, those are my five guys who could make their first Pro Bowl ever.

We talk cut candidates. We talk trade options. Tomorrow, I'm going to do my top five top players on the Titans, top five Tennessee Titans of all time, and my personal favorite, Tennessee Titans of all time. So excited to hear what you guys have to say about that tomorrow. I'll be back. With that being said, that's going to do it for me today. Folks, as always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland,

and this was Locked on Titans.