Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans Jeremiyah Love Pick AFFECTS Tony Pollard TIMELINE & Tight End Surplus Sends Signal

Starting point is 00:00:00 If the Tennessee Titans draft Jeremiah Love, they need to get rid of Tony Pollard. But until they actually do draft Love, that's a decision that they don't need to rush. I'll explain why 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.

Starting point is 00:00:37 I'm going to tell you why the Tennessee Titans don't have to rush their decision with Tony Pollard, whether they plan to draft Jeremiah Love or not. We'll talk about Tagee Spears being on his last chance with the Titans, and we'll discuss the Titans heavy approach at Tide End and what it tells us

Starting point is 00:00:53 about the offense. Before we dive in, do want to thank you for making Locked-on Titans. Your first listen each and every day. Remember Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day.

Starting point is 00:01:08 Speaking of every day, shout out to my everydayers out there. Tune in Monday through Friday if you aren't in every day or what are you doing. The draft is less than a month away. Our draft positional preview series is right around the corner and the Titans are going to be back out on the football field before you know it stay locked in

Starting point is 00:01:24 with the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world. Locked on Titans. But with that being said, again, the Tennessee Titans don't need to rush their decision. with Tony Pollard. And quite frankly, they don't need to do anything until they know for certain that they are taking Jeremiah Love. And here's the truth.

Starting point is 00:01:42 If the Titans take Jeremiah Love, then they need to get rid of Tony Pollard. There's no need to have both of them at the same time. But if the Titans do not want to take Jeremiah Love, which I know it's hard for a lot of you to hear that, you're like, no, we're taking Jeremiah Love, I don't even want to... But if the Titans go the route that I would prefer and get an edge rusher,

Starting point is 00:02:04 well, I think at that point, they just need to keep Tony Pollard around. So to me, there's no reason to get rid of Tony Pollard right now or to make that decision before the NFL draft because, one, you don't know how the draft is going to play out. What if the Titans decide, we're taking Jeremiah Love at number four? And then for some reason, someone trades up in front of them

Starting point is 00:02:26 and takes them at number three or number two or whatever. I'm not saying it's likely, but what if it were to happen? Well, now you're caught with nothing. Now you don't have Tony Pollard. You didn't get Jeremiah Love. Now what are you going to do? There's just no reason to rush the decision no matter how they feel. You take Jeremiah Love at number four.

Starting point is 00:02:45 That's great. And then the next week after that, you get rid of Tony Pollard. But I think there's also the potential here to trade Tony Pollard. I know that everybody has their favorite running back in the draft, whether it's, you know, Jonah Coleman or Judarian Prize. or Mike Washington or Emmett Johnson or Deadman Claiborne. But like, this is not a great running back draft class. The NFL is not as high on running backs as the general consensus is,

Starting point is 00:03:16 fans, media, and things like that. And why is that? In my opinion, it's because running backs are easy to scout. It's hard to have a favorite fourth round edge rusher. Are you really looking up highlights and film and all 22 for, mid-round edge rushers. But running backs, oh, I watched that running back be awesome.

Starting point is 00:03:37 I've seen his highlights. So it's easier for people to have opinions on running backs and think running backs are good. But the truth is, the league is not as high on this running back class. It is not a very good running back class. So what could that do for the Titans? Well, if you take Jeremiah Love

Starting point is 00:03:55 and you know that you don't need Tony Pollard, there might be teams out there who are willing to take Tony Pollard in a trade. His salary is only $7 million. It's not that much. He's not that expensive. So it would make zero sense at all to get rid of Tony Pollard now or any time before the NFL draft without knowing exactly how things are going to play out. And again, even if you take Jeremiah Love, you have the potential to trade Tony Pollard who,

Starting point is 00:04:24 and let's just say it. Tony Pollard isn't a great running back. You guys can throw the, he ran for a thousand yards and back-to-back season's thing in my face all you want. But Tony Pollard is an average starting running back. Maybe just slightly below average, starting running back. He's probably in the 16 to 20 range, 15 to 20 range, if you ranked all the running backs.

Starting point is 00:04:48 Maybe he's a little bit higher than that. Maybe he's 13, 14, 15. But that's my point. Tony Pollard is not a bum. Tony Pollard is not terrible. Tony Pollard is good enough to hold down the fort for a year on the last year of his contract. So there's just no reason to rush that decision. But what happens with Jeremiah Love certainly does impact the timeline on Tony Pollard.

Starting point is 00:05:16 Now, I would tell you that I would be okay. I wouldn't be happy about it. But I would be okay with rolling with Tony Pollard for another year if it meant the Titans got Rubin Bain or Arvel Reese or something like that at number four and passed on Jeremiah Love. I could accept that. I could. But Jeremiah Love certainly is a better player.

Starting point is 00:05:37 But the point is regardless of whether they're going to stay with Tony Pollard for the year and go defense early or whether they're going to take Jeremiah Love, there's no reason to rush Tony Pollard's decision right now. Keep your powder dry. Don't move too quickly until you know what's going on. And they don't have to because Tony Powell's. Polly Pollard isn't making too much money to where they have to get rid of him. And he isn't such a bad player that you're forced to make some other decision or addition.

Starting point is 00:06:05 It's just not necessary. And honestly, what if the Titans just keep Tony Pollard and draft Jeremiah Love anyway? And they have Tony Pollard, Jeremiah Love, and Tage Spears. I mean, I think that would be a little insane to put that much money into running back. But at this point, you know, they have like $40 million of cap space to play with. I know that the totals out there will say 50, 60 and stuff like that. but they're not going to spend all of that. Like I've been telling you guys since the end of the season.

Starting point is 00:06:29 The Titans aren't going to spend all of their free agency money. They like to have a little money in their pocket when they go into the regular season. $20 to $30 million. So, I'm just saying, I know that a lot of people wanted Tony Pollard cut. We discussed it on the show. I thought that he would be cut.

Starting point is 00:06:47 But with the Titans passing on getting a free agent running back of any kind, just no reason to rush the Tony Pollard decision. There's no need to make the, that move until you know exactly what you're going to do and how things play out. And maybe some team will want to pick up Tony Pollard in a trade because it's not a very good running back class. So with that in mind, you look at the rest of the running back room. Obviously you have Taj Spears and listen, this is Tajay Spears last chance.

Starting point is 00:07:16 He's on the last year of his rookie contract. He's very good when he plays as a secondary running back. But we know that he can't be the lead running back. for a team. We know that he's going to have health problems up and down and be inconsistent. You don't move on from Tadge Spears unless you get a great, you know, trade that makes sense, a third round pick, probably. I like Spears with Pollard or Spears with Love, no matter what the Titans do with their lead

Starting point is 00:07:43 back. I like Spears as the secondary back, but the reality is, I don't think that Tadje Spears is going to be with the Titans after the year. I think he's kind of on his last chance here. and maybe he blows up, has a crazy year. But if the Titans go get Jeremiah Love, that's even less likely because Spears is that change a pace back. Why take him off the field if you have a guy like Jeremiah Love?

Starting point is 00:08:07 So I think I'm pretty positive. This is Spears' last chance with the Titans, probably is last year with the Titans as well. And you look at Cal L. Mullings and Julius Chestnut, who the Titans brought back. And at this point in time, you cannot count on either of those guys to be anything more than a special team's contributor. Like, that is what Calell Mullings, who is a converted linebacker anyway,

Starting point is 00:08:33 didn't show anything last year, was hurt most of the year. Julius Chestnut, we know who he is. He's an innings eater in the preseason and in training camp, and he's a guy who can help you on special teams if he makes the roster. But he's not a shoe-in to make the roster or anything like that, especially with what I think the Titans do at tight-end. but either way, I don't want to hear about Julius Chestnut or Calell Mullings in any fashion in regards to the actual running back position.

Starting point is 00:09:01 Neither of them have proven anything to be involved in that discussion at this time. They're special teams only players, in my opinion, until they prove otherwise, which we know Chestnut isn't at this point, but Mullings, maybe. Maybe he could prove otherwise. But again, this goes back to a point that I've been making throughout the week. the fan base overrates the end of the roster guys on this team. You want Calell Mullings to turn into a great player and for the Titans to hit in the seventh round.

Starting point is 00:09:30 You want undrafted free agents like Xavier Restrepo or David Martin Robinson, like NWI, for example. You guys want those players to turn into something special because it's a fun story. But the reality is 90% of those NWI, for example. end of the roster guys, 90% of those seventh round, sixth round picks aren't going to turn into squat and the Titans are better off moving on from them. So don't expect anything from Julius Chesna or Calell Mowings. Let's talk about Tide End. Do want to let you guys know that today's episode

Starting point is 00:10:07 is brought to you by TurboTax. It's tax time, but for a lot of us, the old way of doing taxes is a lot trying to book an appointment that's not the most convenient sitting in a waiting room with the stack of papers, emailing back and forth, wondering if they really get your situation. But this year, you're getting a major upgrade. Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. You can meet face-to-face with a real tax expert and your documents get uploaded straight to your TurboTax app on the spot. And just like that, you're done.

Starting point is 00:10:39 Your TurboTax expert works to get you every dollar you deserve while you get real-time notifications as you go about your day. It's the relief of walking in and meeting a real person and walking out knowing that your taxes are being handled. Right. Head to turbotax.com slash local to find a store near you and book your appointment. Today, today's episode is also brought to you by Robin Hood. What if sports were traded like markets? Now you can put your sports IQ to work in real time with Robin Hood prediction markets. It's not you against the house.

Starting point is 00:11:13 It's you participating in a live market. You can buy or sell your positions live all game long. Use your sports knowledge in the moments that matter. Robin Hood prediction markets changes the game. It's people moving the action. So when the momentum shifts, you can move with it. I always knew the game but never had a dynamic way to apply that knowledge. Now I can actually take part live in a market powered by people.

Starting point is 00:11:37 You're no longer just a spectator play by play. You decide. Trade every play with Robin Hood, now available across the U.S. Download the Robin Hood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involve significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robin Hood derivatives LLC a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm.

Starting point is 00:12:02 Fans let's cap off today's bonus edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Again we broke down the running back position. Now I want to talk about tight ends again we're doing our positional review series this week where we look at what's on the roster right now, where they need. need to go from here. We talked about the decision at running back with Tony Pollard or Jeremiah I love. That's kind of the only decision that I think they really need to make.

Starting point is 00:12:40 And now, we look at tight end where I'll be honest. I don't really know what the Titans are going to do at tight end here. Are they going to draft someone in the draft? That kind of remains to be seen, in my opinion. I wouldn't be shocked if they drafted a tight end. But I also wouldn't be shocked if they didn't draft a tight end. The thing that sticks out in my mind is this is a great tight end class

Starting point is 00:13:04 where the running back class is not good this is a great tight end class so it would feel unwise for the Titans to not get a tight end out of this class you have Gunner Helm

Starting point is 00:13:21 Daniel Bellinger a drafted tight end that could be a good three-sumet tight end for years to come and then eventually Bellinger moves on. You replace him with the guy that you drafted this year. Like, that should be the idea. But, excuse me,

Starting point is 00:13:41 they did sign Kyler Granson, and David Martin Robinson is still on the team. So regardless of whether the Titan were hearing rumors that they might be interested in David Nijoku, I think that's a leverage play. They just, the Titans have money. You better pay up for David Nizoku just because he's not signed yet.

Starting point is 00:14:00 doesn't mean that you're going to get them on a discount because the Titans will still give them. But it sounds like leverage to me. The Titans ain't signing David Nujoku in my opinion. But the fact that they're interested, if they truly are interested, I guess we'll never really know. But I guess we'll never know. But I think the Titans are going to go super heavy at Tide End this year.

Starting point is 00:14:20 I think they're going to run heavy personnel on offense. We already know that, and I've been telling you this, since the moment that Brian Dable was hired, he's a heavy tight end guy. He likes traditional tight ends that are big that can do it all. And I think that where the NFL is going right now with six offensive linemen, heavy tight end packages, 13, 12 personnel non-stop,

Starting point is 00:14:47 like to counter the two high safety looks that defenses are going with nowadays to try to stop the explosive pass plays, it's all cyclical in the NFL. It all goes in a big circle over and over again. But with all of that taken into account, I think the Titans do go heavy at tight end. I think they keep four tight ends on the roster this year. So whether that is Gunnerhelm, Daniel Bellinger,

Starting point is 00:15:13 Kyler Granson, David Martin Robinson, or whether that is Gunner Helm, Daniel Bellinger, drafted tight end, Kyler Granson, again, I think we're going to see four tight ends. So I would not be shocked if the Titans got one. And quite frankly, if I had my druthers, I want the Titans to draft a tight end in this draft class. Now, day three, just like they did with Gunner Helm,

Starting point is 00:15:39 fourth, fifth round, sixth round. Like, I'm fine with that. But I don't think that they should look at Kyler Granson or David Martin Robinson and say, oh, we don't need a draft a tight end here. I would still do it because this is a good tight end class. And what I would tell you is you have Gunner Helm, who's kind of a do-it-all,

Starting point is 00:15:57 tight end. You have Daniel Bellinger, who's kind of a do-it-all tight-in. You have Kyler Granson, who's more of a special teams guy and an athletic guy, than your traditional tight-in. I would say David Martin Robinson to Chica Conquo, then he has Gunner Helm and skill set, although he's kind of an in-between of those guys. David Martin Robinson reminds me more of a John Huss-Smith type, a little bit bigger and bulkier and stronger than a guy like Chigacanquo. but regardless of that, you know,

Starting point is 00:16:28 I think they should add a tight end to this group in the draft. And maybe you get more of a big slot type. Like, think about it like an Eli Raritan from, oh, slip in my mind. Slipping my mind. Think about, let's do it this way. Think about Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt. That dude is a wide receiver.

Starting point is 00:16:51 He's not a tight end. you can call him a tight end all you want. He's a wide receiver. But a guy like that, like a Mike Gassicki type of guy, who is really just a big slot wide receiver. I think a guy like that would pair well with, you have two versatile tight ends, and then you have an athletic mover tight end with DMR or Kyler Granson,

Starting point is 00:17:14 and then you have your big slot type of guy. And look, Gunnard Helm can do big slot stuff, but he's not quite the lateral mover. that I think of when I think of like a Mike Gaseki type of guy. You know what I mean? And there are guys like that that are available in the draft. So I would like to see the Titans do that at tight end. But no matter what they end up doing,

Starting point is 00:17:35 I think it's obvious the Titans are going heavy with their tight end packages this year and I would expect them to play a ton of 12, 13, Jumbo 6 and keep four tight ends on the roster. Now, before I head out of year, do want to remind you guys about the Locked On Titans every day or club. Hit the link down below in the description.

Starting point is 00:17:52 You're going to get an ad-free version of the podcast in your podcast app. You're going to get added to the Locked-on Titans group chat, which is popping off all the time. You're going to get access to a Locked-on Titans merch store. If you want to go to the next level of everyday or status, make sure that you join the Locked-on Titans Every Day or Club. Again, the link to join down below in the description of the podcast. But that's going to do it for today's bonus edition.

Starting point is 00:18:17 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 Jeremiyah Love Pick AFFECTS Tony Pollard TIMELINE & Tight End Surplus Sends Signal

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.