Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans L'Jarius Sneed Knee Overreactions, Ran Carthon Talks Needs & Trade Down Return Requirements

Episode Date: April 2, 2024

The Tennessee Titans officially introduced L'Jarius Sneed on Tuesday and Sneed had a lot to say at his opening press conference. One of the big topics was about the health of his knee, which has been drastically overblown since the news broke. Next, Ran Carthon spoke about the remaining needs on the roster and outlined a clear plan of attack for the next month. Finally, some Titans fans want to trade down in the first, but if they do, folks should have a much higher standard for what they should be getting back in return.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!eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. RobinhoodRobinhood has the only IRA that gives you a 3% boost on every dollar you contribute when you subscribe to Robinhood Gold. Now through April 30th, Robinhood is even boosting every single dollar you transfer in from other retirement accounts with a 3% match. Available to U.S. customers in good standing. Robinhood Financial LLC (member SIPC), is a registered broker dealer. 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. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelNew customers, join today and you’ll get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. 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) 

Legerious Sneed is officially a Tennessee Titan and concerns about his knee are completely overblown. I'll tell you why on today's edition of the Locked On Titans podcast. Let's get it! 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 GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, use the code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Legereus Sneed is officially a Tennessee Titan, and he talked about his knee issues himself, which I think are completely overblown. I'll go over what Snead had to say. Also, Titans GM Rand Carthon talked about the needs on this team. He had a lot of interesting things to say. I'll go over those. And if the Titans do trade down in the first round, they better get a lot more than what

some of you guys are saying. So I'll do a little Roland's rant on that as well. Before we get into today's show, thank you for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen each and every day, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. Make sure you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day. Again, the 2024 Locked on Titans NFL Draft Preview Series where I

go position by position is coming soon. You're not going to want to miss it. We go over 180 prospects or more every year. Make sure you get subscribed. Stay subscribed. It's your team every day. But with that being said, again, LeJarius Sneed

officially introduced as a Tennessee Titan. He had his press conference on Tuesday, and he said a lot of great stuff, but I think the most important thing here is the concerns about the knee. When LeJarius Sneed was traded for, there were a ton of people out there worried about the knee.

There was all these rumors. I think it was Tony Pauline who went on a local Nashville radio station and said there's an issue, a knee issue with Snead. It'll come down to the exams, how comfortable the team is with it. All of that said he wasn't able to practice, told it was serious, but he played through all that different stuff. And I just want to reiterate here. We're talking about a player who has played 15 games or more every single season for the last three years.

We are talking about a player who played the second most snaps in the NFL last year. So if you're going to say, oh, I'm worried about the knee, the knee, the knee, where is the evidence that the knee is an issue?

Where does that show up in time missed, in games missed? Last year, LeJarrius Sneed missed one game, and it was the last game of the season because the Chiefs were resting some of their top starters. So this is not, if LeJarrius Sneed, it's just crazy to me that, you know, there are people out there who wanted Tee Higgins so desperately.

Well, he missed 10 games in the last four years. But LeJarrius Sneed has missed two, three, and most of them for rest. And now that's something that we need to be worried about? I just think it's absolutely absurd. And LeJarrius Sneed talked about his knee at his opening press conference. He said, quote, ain't nothing wrong with my knee. I'm fine. I played a whole season, and years before that, I played as well.

I had a couple problems. I had a banged up knee before, but I'm good right now. Nothing is wrong with my knee. He was asked whether it was something that he had to manage. He said no and said, I know what I have to do with my knee. I'm asked whether it was something that he had to manage. He said, no, and said, I know what I have to do with my knee. I'm coming out here to play ball. Now, he may have said, no, he doesn't need to manage the knee, but then he followed that up with, I know what I have to do with my knee. And in a roundabout way to me, that does kind of sound like management, but I don't care. I don't care about that. If you're telling me that LeJarius Sneed

needs to be limited in some practices during the season, I don't care. I am not somebody who is overly concerned about veterans practicing. Practice is so, so important for chemistry, especially on offense with the quarterback and the wide receivers. But you establish that stuff during training camp. You establish that stuff during the run-up to the season. Do I care if LeJarrius Sneed misses a Thursday practice in week nine?

No. Why would I care about that? Why would that be something that's concerning to me? So again, I think that the knee concerns with LeJarrius Sneed are completely overblown. I think this is a fantastic move. The trade value, the contract, the player that LeJarrius Sneed is. If you're a Titans fan who's hung up on the knee issues, I think you're just doomsday status at that point.

There is no reason to be alarmed based on the evidence that we truly have in front of us. And Snead talked about some other stuff that I thought really stood out to me. He had a quote on Calvin Ridley saying, nobody runs routes like that guy. I love hearing that. I mean, he went up against Calvin Ridley head-to-head last year, had great success against him in their matchup, but he knows Calvin Ridley is one of the best route runners in the NFL.

I remember when A.J. Brown was saying that at the beginning of A.J.'s career, how Calvin Ridley was one of his top five wide receivers because he is the best route runner, him and Amari Cooper. So, again, I am so excited that LeJarius Sneed is a Tennessee Titan. He was a number one target for me going into free agency before he got the franchise tag. I was worried about trading him for him. Didn't want to trade for him because I was worried the Titans

would have to give up their second round pick. But a third round pick in 2025? I'm sorry. There's just nothing. There's nothing for me to be concerned about. And some people worry, hey, you know, now he's got a big paycheck. He's got a couple paycheck. He's got a couple of rings. Is he going to, well, Jerry Sneed even addressed that. He said, money don't change

anything. I love this game. Money is to get my family right. All right. That, that, like, I guess there are certain players who will get money and quit working. That's absolutely happened to professional sports since the dawn of time. But listen to the guy talk. Look at the look in his eyes when he talks about playing football. This is not going to be an issue with LeJarrius Sneed. The Titans got a fantastic corner. And my favorite quote, I think, of the entire press conference

was when Calvin Ridley said, my goal is to eliminate the best player on the other offense. He said that forces teams to rearrange their offense, to change their plan. LeJarius Sneed is the type of guy to make an offense, totally change their game plan in the middle of the game if he has completely eliminated their top wide receiver, which he did all season long last year.

So I was very impressed by LeJarrius Sneed's opening press conference. Very impressed by his responses to certain issues or critiques or certain questions. Of course, also want to point out LeJarrius Sneed. Pretty good singer. Titans posted a fun clip of him singing in his sit-down with the team media. Pretty impressed. He picked the right career.

He picked the right career. I'm not going to act like he's a songbird or anything like that, but very impressive. Very impressive secret talent for LeJarius Sneed. I was joking on Twitter, but imagine LeJarius Sneed locking you down, shutting you down, shutting you down, driving you into the dirt with press coverage, all the while he's singing in your ear.

Not talking trash, just singing at you. That would be endlessly, endlessly frustrating for NFL wide receivers. But again, very excited, very happy with the deal for Legereus Sneed. He is officially a Tennessee Titan, and I think the concerns about his knee are completely overblown, and there's not really a lot of evidence to be concerned with. Earlier last week, my everydayers will remember, I talked about LeJarius Sneed's practice schedule

with some data from FWords that I think pointed out pretty clearly that the concerns are incredibly overblown. But with that being said, Ran Carthon gave an excellent press conference after Legereus Sneed, and he talked about a lot of the big needs remaining on this team, and I think you'll be very interested to hear what he had to say. So I'm going to dive into what Rancar Thawne had to say right now. Before I do, though, do want to let you guys know

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We talked about LeJarrius Sneed's opening press conference, why I think concerns about the knee are completely overblown. Now I want to talk about what Rancor Thawne had to say because Titans general manager had a lot of good nuggets and a lot of good information after LeJarius Sneed spoke. So I'm going to get into all of that. And at the end of the show, I'm going to go on a Roland's rant about what the Titans should get back if they trade down in the first round

because your guys' sights are set way too low, in my opinion. But before I dive into it, thank you again for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen each and every day. Remember, NFL Draft Preview Series starting soon. You're not going to want to miss it. Get subscribed. Stay subscribed. I've been in the lab watching film of all these prospects. Got some good film videos for the Tic Tac Titans channel in the works as well.

So very excited to get into all of that draft stuff as we get closer to next week. And I thought it was funny that Rand Carthon even said that next week, the Titans are getting heavy into their draft meetings. I know they've probably already been ranking players, having conversations, but next week, they're really getting heavy into it. And hey, so aren't we. But I want to start out here. We talked about LeJarrius Sneed.

I'm going to start with what Rand had to say about the cornerback position because, to me, it's been completely solved. And Ran said, we have a legitimate top three cornerback situation now. He said, all these players match what we want to do on defense. Okay? With LeJarrius Sneed, Chito, and Roger McCreary, the Titans

have two of the four cornerbacks in the NFL last year that didn't allow a touchdown. Sneed and Roger. Man, Roger is so underrated. Some of Titans fans even don't understand how good Roger McCreary is. Be doing a video on him eventually as well on the

film channel. But this just, again, reinforces my belief of what the Tennessee Titans are going to do on defense. Look, Denard Wilson has never been a defensive coordinator. So we don't know exactly what his scheme is going to look like. But the clues are there. He's talked about his biggest influences as coaches. Greg Williams, Todd Bowles, pressure, pressure, pressure, in your face, on the line of scrimmage, confusing the defense,

attacking, aggressive, man coverage. Like, that is what we are hearing. And when Rankarton says this, they match what we want to do on defense. And we know that LeJarius Sneed is one of the most physical man-covered corners in the entire NFL. Well, if you don't believe what I'm saying about the defense at this point,

schematically, I don't have any other evidence for you. Like, there's nothing else I can do here. You know, so, really excited about that. And again, Rancarton basically confirming what I was expecting to see from Denard Wilson's defense. But of course, once we see it in action in the season, we'll know a little bit more and we can confirm all of that. But it seems pretty clear cut if you're reading between the lines here. But getting into what Rancart Thon had to say about some of the biggest

needs on this team. Number one, offensive tackle. So obviously everyone's freaking out about offensive tackle. And I got to tell you guys, I think it's becoming more obvious that Rancart Dawn wants to get multiple offensive tackles in the NFL draft. I think it is obvious at this point. He talked about, hey, there are still good players available in free agency. Players that have played a ton of snaps. And then he said, not to get too far ahead, but the offensive tackle draft class is pretty deep. This is not the first time that we've heard that from Rancarton.

Like, this isn't the first time that we've heard that from Rancart on like this isn't the first time he has said on multiple occasions now that the draft class at offensive tackle is deep I gotta tell you guys I think it's pretty obvious they're gonna drop two of them because they said Nicholas Petit Ferrer and Jalen Duncan will work at tackles but they said

Dylan Radins and Sadiq Charles are gonna start out at guard so the only tackles on the roster are Jalen Duncan will work at tackles. But they said Dylan Radins and Sadiq Charles are going to start out at guard. So the only tackles on the roster are Jalen Duncan and MPF. I mean, to me it seems pretty clear. They're like, this is one of the, maybe the best, at least prospect ranking wise. Obviously, once we get into their careers, we'll know more. But this has a chance to be the best draft class of offensive tackles ever. Like with the amount of talent.

Oh, just dropped my headphone case on the ground. Sorry to interrupt. But, you know, like, I just think it's clear at this point from what Rancarton has said multiple times during this offseason about the depth of the draft class that they're probably going to go after too. And if they do that, and if they want to do that, then the best thing that they're probably going to go after too. And if they do that, and if they want to do that, then the best thing that they can do is trade down in the second round. You take Joe Alt at number seven.

You trade down from 38 to 45 to 51, somewhere in there. You take a defensive player, and then you draft another offensive tackle with the third-round pick that you pick up in your second-round tradeback. You know, like, I really think that that is a logical move for the Titans. And when you hear Rankarthon talk about some of this stuff, it makes sense. I mean, he talked about defensive line. So moving from offensive tackle to the defensive line. He says, we're still looking to add.

Free agency is not over. Still got the draft. Still looking to add up front on both sides of the ball. So, Rancarton obviously knows that the Titans still desperately need reinforcements on the lines. He admitted that, and I agree 100%. Alright? There are going to be guys in free agency that you can add,

but the Titans definitely need to add some in the draft as well. He talked about safety, and he talked about it in a similar way that he talked about offensive tackle, but even more so about free agency. He said, we're well positioned, and we were well positioned and well thought out in our plan of being able to attack post-draft. Sign if we need to.

Like, he is telling you guys that they're going to address safety in free agency, but probably after the draft. He also said the amount of safeties on the street now, there is a plethora of guys who have played a lot of ball. We will continue to look at that market. Draft prep probably takes priority now. Like, there are so many good safeties and veteran safeties still on the market.

Why would the Titans overpay to get one now? What you do is you go into the NFL draft. If you don't get anybody that you like, it doesn't line up to get a safety that you think can help. Well, then after the draft, there's basically another wave of free agency when teams are like, well, we wanted to address this position in the draft, but the value wasn't there,

so we'll just go sign a one-year Band-Aid veteran and move on for now. Like, that is what the Titans are going to do at linebacker, at safety, in my opinion. That's the, like, and we talked about Andrews Peet at offensive tackle being a guy who could be on that list. Like, maybe the Titans don't bring Andrews Pete in right now.

Why would they? If they don't get the tackles that they expect to get in the draft, then yeah, you bring in a veteran. So to me, Rancor Thon is literally telling you what their thought process is out in the open. And also very much a breath of fresh air with the transparency and how entertaining Rancor Thon is to listen to. He talked about linebacker as well,

and there are a lot of people freaking out, who's going to be the green dot? And if you don't recognize the term, the green dot is the player who calls the plays. They're the one who has the radio in their helmet from the coaches that gets the play to the coaches and tells everybody where to line up and what the play is. That's what a green dot is.

They didn't say whether Kenneth Murray would do that because Kenneth Murray isn't in the building right now, but Carthon even said, quote, we haven't crossed that bridge yet. He says, honestly, we don't even have Murray in the building right now. He'll be here next week. Once the players are able to get with our coaches, I totally trust linebackers coach Frank Bush and defensive coordinator Denard Wilson to figure out who will be the best to lead the group and get them lined up. He even referenced Fred Werner. He said Fred Werner's first year, he was the green dot as a rookie.

So it's all about the person and what that person is comfortable with. And if they're able to handle the communication and they're a three down player, then they'll be out there. He said, I've seen teams. and they're a three-down player, and then they'll be out there. He said, I've seen teams, he mentioned Eric Weddle with the Chargers,

that give that job to a safety, not even a linebacker. So, he says, quote, it's just about finding that person that's going to be able to do that and still effectively do their job. So, in my opinion, based on what we heard, linebacker, offensive tackle, looking like the draft. Safety, defensive line, looking like free agency, but probably after the draft. that kind of lines up with what I expected and what I thought. So good stuff from Rancar Thon there. He also told an excellent story about when they signed Calvin Ridley

and how quickly it all went down. Check out all that at TennesseeTitans.com or Tennessee Titans on social media. Great video there. But with that being said, I got a Roland's rant for you guys to finish off the show about a trade down in the first round. Before I dive in, I do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you

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We talked about LeGarrius Sneeds opening press conference. We talked about what Rand Carthon had to say about the Titans' biggest needs. Now I just want to finish the show with a Rollins rant on the first round trade down. Before I get into it, thank you again for making Locked On Titans your first listen. Also want to let you 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. It's called Locked On Sports Today.

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I've been seeing I've been seeing a lot of comments from people. There was a comment on one of my Facebook posts. I saw a Titans-related account say something about this as well. I've seen a lot of people in my comments, on my shows, regular discussions online, say that the Titans should trade down in the first round

to pick up an extra third-round pick. All right, listen. Y'all know if you've been listening, my everydayers, I don't want to trade down in the first round at all. Period. I don't want to do it. I think that the sacrifice

of missing out on the top tier of players, oh, neighbors, a dunesay, like, the sacrifice of missing out on those guys is not worth it to drop down for a third round pick. Like, would you rather have Joe Alt

or would you rather have Fashanu in a third round pick? Like, would you rather have Joe Alt or would you rather have JC Latham in a third round pick? Like, would you rather have Joe Alt or would you rather have J.C. Latham in a third round pick? To me, the answer is easy. I would rather have Joe Alt. Like, it's not even a question. Why take the risk on a player like Fashanu with tiny hands and who has struggled in run blocking? Why would you take the risk on a guy like JC Latham who has slow feet and gets beat inside and has height

and weight measurements that have completely failed in the first round of the NFL draft in recent memory. Why would you take those risks when you could just take Joe Alt? Plug and play, left tackle, 10 years. Maybe he's an all pro. Maybe he's just a pro bowler. Maybe he's just a very good left tackle. He's not Laramie Tunsell or some of the big dogs like Trent Williams. Maybe he's not that. But maybe he's Taylor LeJuan. Maybe he's Colton Miller.

Maybe he's Jake Matthews. Like just a solid veteran tackle who can play for a decade who you don't have to worry about. The Titans cannot afford to take that risk and drop back, and especially not for a third-round pick. This is my real point, okay? This is my real point. If the Titans trade down

in the first round, they better get more than a third round pick. If they go from 7 to 11 or 7 to 12 or 7 to 13 or 7 to 14, like you better get more than a third round pick.

What are we talking about? Y'all are nuts. I'm not dropping from 7 to 12 or 11 or 13 or 14 for a third rounder. You better pay more than that. Look at previous trades in the first round that are similar. The Cardinals, last year,

they traded back to 12, but then they traded back up to 6. They gave the Lions to 12, but then they traded back up to 6. They gave the Lions number 12, number 34, the second pick in the second round, which they ended up trading to the Titans, and a fifth round pick. So they went from 6 to 12, got the second pick in the second round and a fifth rounder.

And you want to make that move for a third? What? What? It doesn't make any sense at all. It doesn't. Look at some other trades. The Texans. When they moved up to third overall,

they gave up 12. A first rounder this year in 2024. The first pick in the second round, number 33. And a third rounder this year in 2024. The first pick in the second round, number 33. And a third rounder this year. And you want to drop back from 7 to 12, 13, 14, 11 for just a third rounder? What? Getting scammed is what that is.

That is getting scammed. If the Titans pass on Joe Ault or Malik Nabors or Roma Dunze to pick up pick 85, I'm gonna be livid. I am gonna be beside myself. What an absolute smoke

job that would be on Rand Carthon. I refuse to believe that Rand Carthon would do that. Not only that, but another example from 2022, the Saints went from 16 to 11. That's not even going into the top 10. And they gave up 16, 98, and 120. So a third rounder, a fourth rounder,

and five picks later, and you only want a third to move up to seven, probably for a quarterback nah nah now maybe the Titans won't be able to get an additional first round pick next year alright which is why I don't want them to do it all you know that's why I don't

want them to do it at all because they're not getting a first round pick next year but if they got a second round pick next year. But, but, if they got a second round pick, now that would be adequate value. If the Titans were to trade down from 7 to 11 with the Vikings,

well, I think that the Titans would be right to expect the Vikings to throw in a second round pick. Maybe they don't throw in 23. Of course I would love or I wouldn't love but it would make sense for the Titans to get 11 and 23 for number 7. I don't think that the Vikings would do that but I mean at this point the Vikings don't have a second rounder. So if you don't have a second rounder and you don't have like second rounder. So if you don't have a second rounder,

and you don't have, like the Vikings have 11, 23, and 108. So if you're trading down from 7 to 11, it better be 11 and 23. Because I'm not taking 11 and 108 to move down from 7 and pass on Joe Alt, Roma Dunze, and Malik Neighbors to get Fashenu or Fuanga. Like, no. No. We're not doing that.

Not doing that. So, I'm just saying, this whole rant, the whole point is, set your expectations higher. Because the Titans, dang sure, better get more than a third-round pick if they drop back out of seven. Period. Point blank.

Period. Because if you look at trades and you look at examples, they should absolutely be getting more than that. But, with that being said, that is going to do it for today's show. I think we might have

an offensive tackle discussion tomorrow, but we'll see. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.