Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans have PLAYOFF CEILING in 2026 After NFL Draft & Top Undrafted Free Agent Additions

Starting point is 00:00:00 I 100% think the Tennessee Titans can make the playoffs this season. And I'm going to tell you exactly how many games I think they can win on today's edition of Locked on Titans. You are Locked on Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to the Locked on Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland Titans fans on today's show. We're going to talk about what the Tennessee Titans ceiling is as a team and what their floor is as a team. And I'll tell you why I think the Tennessee Titans absolutely have a playoff ceiling.

Starting point is 00:00:45 Also, we're going to talk about some of my favorite undrafted free agent signings for the Tennessee Titans because I think they've signed quite a few interesting guys. And whether we're talking about drafted or undrafted, the Titans have added a lot of rookies in the last couple of days, which means some guys on the current roster have to be cut. I'll tell you who to keep an eye on. Before we dive into all of it, do want to thank you for making Locked on Titans, your first listen each and every day.

Starting point is 00:01:09 Make sure you get subscribed, stay subscribed. Shout out to my everydayers out there. Tune in Monday through Friday. Couldn't do it without you guys. If you aren't an everydayer, you need to be one. With that being said, though, again, I think the Tennessee Titans have a playoff ceiling this year. I think the best version of the Tennessee Titans is capable of making the playoffs.

Starting point is 00:01:29 And quite frankly, I did not think that was the case last year. Last year, my ceiling for the Tennessee Titans was seven wins. I was not high on last year's team. I was not high on Brian Callahan going into the season. I did not have a lot of faith that this team with a rookie quarterback, a patchwork offensive line, the issues that they had at edge rush or at wide receiver, all that didn't think the Titans had the ability to make the playoffs. Didn't think they had the chance to win more than seven.

Starting point is 00:01:57 And certainly didn't challenge my thought last season, and ended up another year of three wins. But quite frankly, this year, I think it's different. I think with everything that the Tennessee Titans have done, that their ceiling is a lot higher. I think that the Tennessee Titans ceiling this year is 10 wins. And I think if the Tennessee Titans got 10 wins in the AFC, that would be good enough to win a wild card spot.

Starting point is 00:02:22 Do I think it would be good enough to win the division? No, probably not. But I think it would be enough to get Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans into the playoffs. So I think the ceiling for the Titans is a playoff for it. If you think about how good this defense is going to be, I think that there's a chance that this defense is absolutely dominant. And if that happens, the Tennessee Titans are going to win a lot of games just because their defense is so good.

Starting point is 00:02:46 It's possible that the Tennessee Titans offensive line is better under the tutelage of Cameron Brissillo, Brian Dable's offense, J.C. Latham takes a big step forward. Dan Moore remains average to below average at best, but consistent and available and in the lineup. The Titans hit on their interior offensive lineman, maybe Jackson Slater, takes a step forward at right guard, maybe Pat Coogan is the guy that we think he is at center.

Starting point is 00:03:11 Those guys form one of the better, better than average offensive lines in the NFL. And then, of course, Cam Ward blowing up. If Cam Ward takes the next step with better playmakers, better coaching, better system, better improvement from him because he's going into year two and it's only natural that you're going to get better from year one, when you had the draft and that whole process going on,

Starting point is 00:03:33 hitting the ground running this year. So if Cam Ward blows up, the offensive line is fixed, and the D is absolutely dominant, the Tennessee Titans 100% can make the playoffs, and you've got to add into the fact that this division, while not being a joke and a disaster, you know, the Texans are up and down at times. Their defense is absolutely incredible,

Starting point is 00:03:54 but can you count on C.J. Stroud to be good for an entire season at this point? Not only that, but the Indianapolis Colts, Daniel Jones coming off in Achilles. I don't like their backup options. They were starting to fall apart a little bit after that. Great early start last year and come back down to Earth even before Daniel Jones got hurt. I don't think that the Colts are an incredible team. I think the Colts are an average NFL team. We know how Jacksonville goes.

Starting point is 00:04:19 They do so well one year. They come back down to Earth immediately the next year. Jacksonville's never consistent. and with the all season that the Jacksonville Jaguars have had with free agency, how they didn't make a lot of moves, the draft, which was an outright disaster for Jacksonville, in my opinion, it's not like Jacksonville is some juggernaut that can't possibly regress in any way, and is going to keep going up and up and up, that's not how it works in the NFL. NFL stands for not for long because things don't last for long as Titans fans should know very well.

Starting point is 00:04:50 So if you take Cam Ward blowing up in year two with better coaching, better weapons, the offensive line being better than what we think that it's going to be. And Robert Salah's defense being as dominant as it looks like it could be, I think the Tennessee Titans absolutely have a playoff ceiling. Now, am I sitting here telling you, and I already know how it's going to go in the comments, oh, this dude's predicting the Titans to make the playoffs. No, I am not.

Starting point is 00:05:15 I'm not saying that I think the Tennessee Titans are going to make the playoffs. I am telling you that I think they're sealing this year, if everything went as well as it could possibly go. the Titans could win 10 games and make the playoffs. That's the best possible outcome for the Titans this year. Is it the most likely outcome? No, it is not. And that's how we make our way to the floor.

Starting point is 00:05:36 Because whereas I think the Titans have a much higher ceiling this year than they did last year, I don't think that the floor is significantly improved. Like, I think the floor for the Titans last year for me was three wins. they would at least win three games again. This year I would say it's four. The floor is four wins. If the Titans got four wins next year,

Starting point is 00:06:05 I would be surprised. I would be like, wow, I didn't think that they were going to be that bad. I can't, what happened? And what could have happened is Cam got hurt or maybe didn't take the step forward that we hope for. Maybe Cam Ward doesn't play. great. The O line is a disaster. Right guard and center. J.C. Latham doesn't take a step forward. Dan Moore's still terrible. And all you have is Peter Skoranski is the only quality offensive

Starting point is 00:06:34 linemen in the group. That could be part of it. And then the Titans secondary. I think the Titans defensive line is going to be good no matter what. But Alante Taylor, Cordell Flot, whoever they get to be the nickelback, Ammonie Hooker did not play well last year. Tony Adams is no special player. Kevin Winston doesn't take a step forward, struggles and coverage. You know, there are things that are not super unrealistic that you could point to and say, oh, that's how the Titans get to four wins. So to me, that's the floor. And that's a wide range of outcomes, four wins to 10 wins.

Starting point is 00:07:13 That's a wide place to be. But that's where the Titans are at right now. You just can't be certain of what they're going to give you. and now more likely than not, they're going to be in between that. They won't quite get to 10, because that's a pretty good season. But they aren't going to be as bad as 4.

Starting point is 00:07:32 I think right now, and the schedule, the Titans' actual schedule, and we know the opponents, we know who they're going to play, and whether it's home or away, but we don't know the order, and I think that matters when the buy week is, is there prime time, is they're international,

Starting point is 00:07:46 how does that affect travel? Is there a road trip? Is there, you know, do you play teams early in the season compared to later in the season? There are so many things to talk about with the schedule that we're going to talk about as we get closer to the schedule or release in two weeks. But all of that will determine my actual prediction

Starting point is 00:08:05 and then we'll go through training camp and we'll go through preseason. And I'll give my final prediction before the regular season kicks off. But right now where I'm at, I'm thinking the Tennessee Titans could win six to seven games. That's really where I think the Titans are at.

Starting point is 00:08:21 Six to seven games. If they go seven and ten, they go six and eleven, that's what I would expect. And rather than everything breaks right, Cam's great, O line fixed, D is dominant, or everything go bad, Cam not good, hurt,

Starting point is 00:08:35 slash O line, terrible, secondary disaster. It's probably going to be a combination of those things. Cam will be good. The O line will be bad. The defense will be good, but the secondary will be shaky. They'll get some bad parts of the schedule that are tough. And all in the wash, right now I'm in about six or seven wins. But I think four is the floor and ten is the ceiling.

Starting point is 00:09:02 And that makes me feel a lot better than I felt last year coming into the season. So let me know your floor and ceiling for the Titans, how many games you think they could win, floor ceiling, what you think it'll ultimately be in again, I'll be making my first record prediction a couple of weeks from now when the Tennessee Titan schedule actually drops. But now let's talk about undrafted free agents. I know a lot of you guys have been asking for that throughout the week.

Starting point is 00:09:27 We're going to go over my favorite signings for the Titans. We'll go over every undrafted free agent that we know about right now. Plus, we'll talk about who's going to get cut to allow these rookies to join the roster. So much to discuss on today's edition of Locked on Titans. Do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you by Indeed. Workplace chaos, deadline stacking up, inbox overflowing in the one position that you have to fill is still sitting open. When the pressure is on, you need the right hire, that's a job for Indeed sponsored jobs.

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Starting point is 00:10:46 Need to hire. That's a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. Fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Again, we just looked at my floor and my ceiling for the Tennessee Titans

Starting point is 00:11:14 think they have a playoff ceiling this year but the floor only slightly improved from what it could be last year. But now I want to talk about these undrafted free agents. Before we dive in, thanks again for making Locked on Titans your first listen each and every. day. Speaking of every day, you guys need to join the Locked on Titans

Starting point is 00:11:31 Every Day or Club. Hit the link down below in the description. You're going to get added to a Locked on Titans every day or group chat with me and a ton of other listeners of the show. You're going to get ad-free versions with no commercials of the show in your favorite podcast app. Again, join the Locked on Titans Every Day or Club. Now, number one on my list of undrafted free agents I'm interested in though is Tyron Montgomery, the wide receiver out of John Carol. D3 John Carroll. He was an absolute standout at the Senior Bowl. Just started playing football when he was 19 years old. He focused on basketball in college. Played his first college football game at 22 years old and over the last couple of years,

Starting point is 00:12:16 he was so productive that in two seasons, he set every receiving record at John Carroll. He is absolutely phenomenal catches, yards, all that goes to the Senior Bowl, is absolutely fantastic. Now, he doesn't have elite size or speed. He's 5-11, 200, 4-5 in the 40-yard dash. He's 25 years old already. So his jump in the competition from John Carroll to the NFL is going to be pretty tough and he's already 25. So I wouldn't expect that he's going to make the roster. But if there's anybody on this list that has a chance to do it, it's him because he could be a late bloomer who's an absolutely fantastic football. player. I think Emil Wagner, the offensive tackle out of Notre Dame is another name that we have to talk about here. The Titans looking for a long-term left tackle. Could it be a guy like Emil Wagner? Could J.C. Latham eventually get bumped into guard? And then Emil Wagner, who played right tackle at

Starting point is 00:13:13 Notre Dame, plays right tackle for the Titans. I don't really think it's fair to put those kind of expectations on an undrafted free agent. But again, that's why he gets you so excited because it's at a position of need, played at a high level program, was a pretty good player in college. He's tough, he's a long player with good long arms, but he's a little bit high cut. He's a stiff athlete, not a good mover, struggles to have range and pass protection, things like that, but he's a very fiery guy. So I'll give some rousing pregame speeches at Notre Dame to the other players. Seems like a guy who was respected by his teammates as well.

Starting point is 00:13:49 He's a very hard worker, a guy who's got the right mindset to be in the NFL. so maybe the Tennessee Titans got a gem. Isn't that what we're all hoping for, right? Like every NFL fan base hopes that their team finds the undrafted free agent gem that turns into an absolute starter for him. Like, isn't that exactly what we're hoping for? And if you're looking for reasons for optimism, if you're looking for, you know, players of hope at undrafted free agency,

Starting point is 00:14:17 Amil Wagner could be one of those guys. It's not ridiculous to have him as one of your more optimistic options as an undrafted free agent. Now, another guy that I like a ton personally is Bishop Fitzgerald, the safety out of USC. Fluid mover, very instinctive player really understands route concepts, what offenses are trying to do. He just doesn't have elite size or speed. He's not an elite athlete in that way. There's some injuries that he's coming back from as well. but I really like Bishop Fitzgerald, especially. The Tennessee Titans didn't add any defensive backs in the draft.

Starting point is 00:14:57 So it's no surprise that a lot of the people on the list that we're about to go through are defensive backs because they simply didn't add anything there. So they're going to try to get those additions in undrafted free agency. And I think Bishop Fitzgerald has just as good of a chance as anybody on this list to actually make the roster as an undrafted free agent. Another guy is Shad Banks, the linebacker out of University of Texas, San Antonio.

Starting point is 00:15:22 He's a physical player with good range. He was a former wide receiver. He was a four-star wide receiver coming into college and his transition to linebacker, which you'd think he'd be better in coverage with that. But he has some coverage issues, but he's a physical player with, again, sideline to sideline range and agility.

Starting point is 00:15:39 It's just that coverage thing. Can he improve there? Doesn't have outright great speed. He has good range, but isn't the best athlete in that way. but instinctive, physical. If the Titans feel they can coach him up, he might have an opportunity to make the roster. Another guy that's very, very interesting

Starting point is 00:15:57 is Latrell McCutche, the cornerback out of Houston. Outside cornerback, 6 foot 2, 4-4 speed. He's lean, he can be a little bit antsy in coverage, but he loves football. He loves to hit. He loves to play.

Starting point is 00:16:16 Again, long, fast cornerback that if the Titans can coach him up he has the work ethic and the body type to be something Latrell McCutche is one of my most exciting undrafted free agents that's my top five right there

Starting point is 00:16:32 Tyron Montgomery Amil Wagner Bishop Fitzgerald Shad Banks and LaTrell McCutrin. Everybody else after that not quite certain Jalen McMurray the nickel back out of Tennessee who you guys watching who like Tennessee probably know better than me he's a fluid feisty

Starting point is 00:16:48 slot cornerback with good IQ just doesn't have elite size and speed. It's going to be limiting for him. Jaden Lucas, the cornerback out of Clemson, he's a really good athlete, former five-star recruit, has had some injuries early in his career and it set him back with learning technique. And the Titans feel like he can stay healthy

Starting point is 00:17:07 and they can improve his technique. The athlete that he is, the size that he is, the pedigree that he is, Jaden Lucas could be a very interesting player for the Titans. Trent and Allen Yaway, or yo, maybe it's just yo. The corner, I can't admit that I'm watching a lot of Arkansas State, guys. Not going to try it. But he's a feisty cornerback with great ball skills.

Starting point is 00:17:30 I see him more as a nickelback at the next level. Hank Beattie, very interesting wide receiver out of Illinois. Let me see if you can guess something about Hank Beattie. His name is Hank. He's undersized. He's not the fastest, and he's got great hands. I mean, come on now. Hank.

Starting point is 00:17:58 I think we know exactly what kind of wide receiver Hank Beattie out of Illinois is. Sean Brown is a very interesting prospect out of NC State, former safety and linebacker. So he could be a nickelback sub-packaged linebacker type for Robert Salah. He had an injury in 2025, but, very interesting athlete and versatile player. Here's an interesting one. Brock Rex Steiner,

Starting point is 00:18:27 wide receiver out of Jacksonville State. If you don't recognize the Steiner name, if you didn't watch professional wrestling 20 years ago, like I did when I was a kid growing up, he is the son of Big Papa Pump, Scott Steiner from the WW. famous wrestler. I always love Big Papa Pump with the chain

Starting point is 00:18:55 headware. He was nasty, man. He was nasty. But either way, if you recognize him or you don't, Brock Rex Steiner is his son. Wide receiver from Jacksonville State. He's a big guy, good hands, good route runner, just doesn't have great speed. But yeah, very interesting ad, undrafted free agency. Rashid Miller, a very interesting.

Starting point is 00:19:20 one, another offensive tackle, and he is huge out of Louisville. 6 foot 6, 300 pounds. Not a great athlete, if I'm honest, but just a big guy, and he gave the Miami edge rushers, Ruben Bain, Akeem Messador, he gave the Miami defensive line trouble when they played Louisville. It was impressive. So I think that performance alone

Starting point is 00:19:42 probably got him an opportunity, but interesting, Rashid Miller. Mani Powell is another guy, linebacker out of Purdue. He's a slug. linebacker, but he's aggressive, he's undersized. Probably a special team's only option, but they'll give him a shot. The last guy I want to mention here, and it's a good opportunity for us to say this.

Starting point is 00:20:02 You may see a lot of names out there that I didn't cover on this list, but a lot of names out there are tryouts. They didn't get a signed contract as an undrafted free agent. They got an invite to tryouts. So not every name that you see. out there as an undrafted free agent.

Starting point is 00:20:22 Some of them are undrafted free agents, but they just got tryouts. They're not going to be at rookie minicamp or at, you know, OTAs with the veterans and into mandatory minicamp going forward like some of the other undrafted free agents who got signed are going to be.

Starting point is 00:20:37 Granted, they don't get cut before then. You know what I mean? Which some of them very well may. They'll lose a battle. And speaking of getting cut, we got to talk about who's going to get cut to make room for all these guys but do want to mention the most interesting camp tryout invite guy

Starting point is 00:20:56 is Tommy Castiano's, former quarterback from Florida State. It's going to be a wide receiver in the NFL, and he's taking a camp invite with the Titans. So that's just interesting for the positional change. But with that being said, let's talk about who could get cut. And I've got to be honest with you. It's a bunch of guys who you probably didn't even know we're on the Titans roster.

Starting point is 00:21:17 fans, let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Again, we talked about the Tennessee Titans floor and ceiling. Excited to hear your guys' feedback on that. We talked about my favorite undrafted free agents and went down the list. Now we need to talk about who's going to get cut to make room for the undrafted free agents. Before we do, do want to thank you again for making Locked on Titans, your first listen each and every day. Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed again.

Starting point is 00:21:59 It's your team every day here on the Locked on Titans podcast. But here are some names of some people who will potentially be cut. Now remember, there's 90 people on the roster. The Titans brought in 13 undrafted free agents, plus whatever they bring in from their rookie tryout. They brought in eight drafted free agents. So that's 21 guys that they've added to the roster. I think that they were at, they were at like 87 going into the draft.

Starting point is 00:22:33 maybe 86, so three or four people is what they had room for. Well, they had eight rookies. So that already, it drafted in the draft. That's already too many. So who could get cut? All right, well, if the Titans have added 21 people, and it might end up being 22, 23 if they keep anybody from tryouts. And they had four spots.

Starting point is 00:22:56 That means they got a cut. 17, 18, 19 people. Well, here's a list for you. At running back, Blake Watson. Who? The Titans have added Michael Carter as a veteran and Nick Singleton as a rookie.

Starting point is 00:23:17 Calell Mullings could get cut. If the Titans want to keep Tony Pollard, Tajay Spears, Nick Singleton, and Michael Carter, they ain't keeping Calell Mullings. He could be cut. Wide receiver. The Titans have added Cornel Tate,

Starting point is 00:23:34 Wondale Robinson. They brought back Calvin Ridley, Bryce Oliver's going to be back. They bring in Tyron Montgomery. And there was another wide receiver. Hank Beattie, Rex Steiner, all those guys.

Starting point is 00:23:53 So Lance McCutcheon, Mason Kinsey. Hal Presley. Who is Hal Presley? And you may not want to hear it. Xavier Estrepo. The Titans can just cut Xavier Estrepo. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility.

Starting point is 00:24:12 I don't think it's going to happen, but it's not out of the realm of possibility. Tide end, Joel Wilson. Who's Joel Wilson? Guys, I got to tell you, I believe, it doesn't mean I'm right. Some of you will disagree with me, and I'm sure that there are plenty of other people

Starting point is 00:24:30 who won't hear this, disagree with me, that's fine. But I think that I know the Tennessee Titans. Now, Mike Borganzi, the scouts, the coaches, the players, not talking about them here. But I think out of media,

Starting point is 00:24:47 fans, analysts, anybody who's not an employee inside the building, I know the Tennessee Titans better or as well as anybody on planet Earth. Literally anybody on the face of this, planet. I know the Titans as well or better than, and that's how I feel. If you're offended by that, be offended. That is how I feel.

Starting point is 00:25:10 I don't know who Joel Wilson is. I don't know who How Presley, who Blake Watson is. I don't know who these guys are. I know they're on the team. They're players. They are football players. I don't know. So you probably don't either. And you shouldn't, quite honestly. At the end of the day, I think that what's best for you guys for the content is for us to not waste too much time talking about when these guys get added to the roster

Starting point is 00:25:43 when I know that they're not going to be on the roster. There's just, it's just, you know, no way. Offensive line. Ryan Hayes. Maybe Brendan Crenshaw Dixon. Maybe he gets beat out by Emil Wagner, gets beat out by Rashid Miller, Clay Webb, Drew Moss, Garrett Dellinger,

Starting point is 00:26:07 Trey Hill on the interior offensive line. All could be gone. I mean, they brought in Schlotman, they brought in Vosin, you have Slater, you brought in Carmona, you bring in Coogan, they're all goneers.

Starting point is 00:26:22 I wouldn't be shocked if they're all let go soon. On defense, Kaden, or Kedrain, there's a guy on the Titans named Key Drain. Key Drain Calligan. Cornerback. Maybe Michael Robinson.

Starting point is 00:26:44 You never know. Michael Robinson could not make it. Eric Callet. Sinoosie Kane at safety. Sanusi Kane. Nobody knows who that is. There's not anybody on Earth who knew

Starting point is 00:27:00 Sunusi Kane. Now there's going to be one person in my comments. Oh, I have. had a barbecue with him one time. He let me borrow his mustard. I knew Sunusi Cain. No, you did. It was made up. Made up. I don't believe it. Create a player. But either way, that could be an option. Linebacker, Dorian, Mausai, Cam Riley.

Starting point is 00:27:22 Maybe. Cody Barton? Maybe? No, he ain't gonna get cut. Even if, you know, even if we see Anthony Hill take a spot, you don't need to cut. Barton. That doesn't need to happen. defensive line, the Titans out of a ton of defensive line. And there's Cam Horsley, Isaiah Rakees, Timmy Horn, C.J. Ravenel, Nate Lynn, Truman Jones, Ernest Brown,

Starting point is 00:27:51 David Abuka, Goa. I mean, the Titans, Calell Mullings, Xavier Restrepo, Mason Kinsey, for the love of the game. Brendan Crenshaw Dixon and Micah Robinson. There are five guys. Those are the only guys who I'm certain

Starting point is 00:28:09 aren't going to get cut out of that group. Like, I don't think it's going to be them. Mason Kinsey, I'm not certain about. You see what I'm saying? You could literally wipe out all of those guys off the roster. And I would not lose a second of sleep. Not even for a moment.

Starting point is 00:28:27 So, when people are like, somebody's got to get cut and cuts have to happen, they've got to make room. Okay. Sure. Make room. None of those. The only guy that could get cut that I would be like, oh, Xavier Restrepo,

Starting point is 00:28:44 Calell Mullings, Cody Barton, Tony Pollard? They wouldn't do that. That'd be nuts. But I'm just saying, it would have to be a big surprise like that. And I just, I don't see that coming. So, let me know down below, do you want any of those people to be saved? Would you save any of them from the chopping block

Starting point is 00:29:01 other than the five people that I pointed out. Either way, that's going to do it for today's. episode tomorrow. I'm going to do a mailback. Gonna get back in the mailbag. It's been a long time. So I'm going to get questions from the Locked on Titans every day or group chat.

Starting point is 00:29:17 Make sure that you hit the link down below in the description to join. That's going to do it for me today though, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland. And this was Locked on Titans.

Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans have PLAYOFF CEILING in 2026 After NFL Draft & Top Undrafted Free Agent Additions

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