Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans MUST SIGN Amari Cooper, Veterans Needed at Edge, Corner & Power Running Back Need

Episode Date: March 18, 2025

The Tennessee Titans have had a conservative approach to the 2025 offseason, but at some point they need to add some help at receiver to support the likely quarterback, Cam Ward. While there are some mid-level options at the position, giving out a one-year deal to a veteran like Amari Cooper makes a ton of sense. On defense, the Titans need another edge and with Chidobe Awuzie released, likely need another cornerback. With limited options at either spot, the Titans will again be looking for a value deal. Finally, there are some spots, tight end and running back, that may not seem like big needs, but may need a specific veteran before the draft. 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!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBAfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. UpworkVisit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free to connect with top talent and grow your business today!FanDuelRight now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Tennessee Titans must sign a veteran receiver and a Maury Cooper would be a perfect fit. That and more 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. Today's edition of the Locked On Titans podcast is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, use the code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. On today's show, we're going to look at what's left on the free agent market. I'm going to go over numerous positions, go over numerous options

that are still available and tell you who the best fit for the Titans are. And why, before I dive into the free agent market that still stands, do want to thank you for making the locked on Titans podcast, your first listen each and every day, remember Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free, make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day. Speaking of every day, shout out to my every dayers out there tuning in Monday through Friday.

Couldn't do it without you guys. If you aren't an every dayer, you need to be one because this time of year, there's always breaking news. The draft is right around the corner. We're going to go over 200 draft prospects during the month of April. We're going to get all kinds of movements still, including some of these free agent moves. So make sure that you stick with me here on the Locked on Titans podcast.

Again, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, 25 years as a Tennessee Titans fanatic. I've covered the team for USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and obviously hosted the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world locked on Titans for six seasons. But with that being said, before we talk about who the Tennessee Titans should go after, do want to kind of clear some things up right now, the Tennessee Titans have $45.7 million in cap space. According to over the cap.

That does not include Draymond Jones, Xavier woods and Corey Levin. Draymond Jones probably going to be a eight to $9 million cap hit with a one year, $10 million contract. Xavier woods was a one year, $10 million contract. Xavier Woods was a two year, $10 million contract. I'm guessing he's going to be $3 to $5 million in salary cap hit. Corey Levin will be a veteran minimum contract, a little more than a million dollars, less than two most likely. So I think those three players will result in about $9 to $12 million of cap space.

And then what happens is you got to take off players from the roster because only the top 51 players count against the salary cap during the off season so for every new player that you add on Draymond Jones Xavier Woods Corey Levin you're basically taking off three million dollars off the salary cap because you're removing three players that are around eight to nine hundred thousand dollars, so Ultimately, I think the Titans have about thirty-three to thirty-six million dollars of salary cap space right now we were going to talk about

The salary cap structures and the contract structures of all of the players the Titans have signed But we still don't know Draymond Jones still still don't know Xavier Woods, still don't know Corey Levin, so we can save that for a day where we actually have all the information. We did get Dan Morris information, but again, we'll break that down at that time. But wide receiver is the next move for the Tennessee Titans. In my opinion, no doubt about it. They have to go out and get a veteran wide receiver, especially the route that they're going at quarterback, whether that be Will Levis and Brandon Allen competing,

whether that be Cam Ward at number one, whether that be a trade down and Chedur Sanders, whatever the Titans ultimately do, which in my opinion will be Cam Ward at quarterback. They're going to need another wide receiver. You have Calvin Ridley. I'm not including trailing Burks in this discussion. He is a ghost. You cannot count on trailing Burks for anything.

Quite frankly, I'd cut trailing Burks trade trailing Burks, whatever it takes. I wouldn't have him on the team next year, but you have Calvin Ridley at number one wide receiver. And then right now your number two is van Jefferson. Yeah. And then right now your number three is Jaquan Jackson, Bryce Oliver, Colton Dowell. What, you know, what are we talking about here? No matter what the Tennessee Titans need to go out and get another wide receiver. And the initial group of wide receivers that I was interested in was the smaller shiftier third tier group. Rondale Moore, Elijah Moore, a guy like Olameda Zaccheaus who was signed,

a guy like Greg Dortch who was signed, a guy like McColl Hardman. Those guys made sense. But now some of those options are off the table and looking at the Tennessee Titans current situation at wide receiver, even if they draft a white, even if they get Luther Burden or a Mecheg Bucke or Matthew Golden or whatever in the draft, even if one of those guys falls to 35 and the Titans end up with a magically, they still need another wide receiver. They still need another veteran wide receiver. So I think that a guy like Amari Cooper would be absolutely perfect.

And look, look what Cooper cup just got. Cooper cup basically just got a one year, $15 million deal. Like we could call it whatever we want three years, 45, it's a one year, $15 million deal and Cooper cup. It's probably at the top end of the range of this grouping. Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, Stefan Diggs. I would imagine that out of those three veteran wide receivers, Diggs, Allen, and Cooper. With Allen coming off, being banged up, Diggs coming off in ACL.

Amari Cooper coming off a year where he had some injuries. He had a lot of drops He wasn't very productive for Buffalo when they needed him. He was okay But considering that I think these wide receivers that we're talking about right now probably get a one-year 12 million dollar deal Tyler Lockett is another name off their own this group Although it it feels heavily reported that he's gonna go to the Raiders eventually group, although it feels heavily reported that he's going to go to the Raiders eventually, but either way he would be in this group. Take these guys one year, $12 million. It's a one year deal.

I don't want to commit to any of these old veteran wide receivers for a long time, but think about what the Titans just did with Kevin Zeitler. They gave a 35 year old guard a one year deal for $9 million. Is Kevin Zeitler a long-term solution at right guard? No. Is he a solid veteran that could support your team and that can fill a spot for a season to give you competent play and an important starting role? Yes.

That's what, so I want, what I want for the Titans is I want Kevin Zeitler at wide receiver and Kevin Zeitler wide receiver is Amari Cooper. Is Keenan Allen is Tyler Lockett. I don't know about Stefan Diggs. He's a, a, a major diva. And for where he's at, at this point in his career, I don't think it would be worth it having him in the locker room and on the sideline and he's coming off the ACL. So Diggs is at the bottom of my list. Amari Cooper is at the top, but then I'd probably go Keenan Allen and then

Tyler Lockett and then Stefan Diggs. And if you want to go with some younger guys, these guys are options, but I just don't think that they really do what the three veterans do. Deontay Johnson, no way. Don't want anything to do with them. DJ Chark though, Josh Reynolds, Terrence Marshall, those are some options that are maybe bigger guys that aren't as old, but they may not be as old, but they aren't as reliable either, even for where those players are at in their career. But again, I think the Titans, you have Calvin Ridley, you draft a wide receiver in the top 100, you add a Maury Cooper, you have van Jefferson. Bryce Oliver, I think is going to step up and play a role.

You could always bring back Tyler Boyd if you needed more in the slot. Like then you at least give Cam Ward a fighting chance with that wide receiver group. But either way wide receiver isn't the only position that the Tennessee Titans need. They have two needs on defense. Now, they're going to need another edge rusher and they're

going to need a cornerback now. So we're going to talk about that and who's available there. edge rusher and they're going to need a corner back now. So we're going to talk about that and who is available there. Do want to let you guys know though that today's episode is brought to you by game time. Imagine watching your favorite team live and feeling that energy from the crowd witnessing an unforgettable moment. There's nothing like experiencing a big game in person. And now with the college basketball

tournament starting, getting tickets shouldn't be stressful. That's where game time comes in, making it easier than ever to grab last minute seats at unbeatable prices. You have game time picks. The excellent feature where they can actually curate the best value on tickets for sports, concerts, comedy, theater, and send them directly your direction. You can check out the lowest price guarantee. They have a panoramic view from your seat so you know what you're going to be looking at. No surprise fees. Take the guesswork out of buying tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, use the code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. That's LOCKEDON, L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N for $20 off. Download the Game Time app today. Last-minute tickets, lowest price, guaranteed. Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast, looking at what's left in free agency for the Tennessee Titans, where they need to attack and some players who would make

sense. We went over wide receiver and why I think Amari Cooper would be a perfect fit for the Titans on a one year deal. Now I want to move to defense and we'll start with edge rush. So the Tennessee Titans went out and got Draymont Jones. And if you go on any websites, if you look at any free agency trackers or anything, they're going to have Draymont Jones listed as an outside linebacker and edge. And look, he can absolutely do that. But to me, Draymont Jones is much more of a versatile defensive lineman than he is a

pure edge rusher. Now, I think based on what we're seeing here, the Titans are going to want to visit bigger, more physical edge rushers instead of having a Harold Landry at six foot two, 240, 250 pounds. They're going to want six foot three, six foot four, six foot five, 260, 270, 280 and Draymond Jones is six foot three, 260 pounds. So it's clear that they want some bigger bodied edges I think in the run game that was an issue for the Titans last year is being able to set the

Set the edge physically Just thinking about it makes me call because they did it so poorly last year, but but With that in mind what I'm trying to say is here is that I don't think that adding Draymond Jones means the Titans have checked the box at edge. I see him more as a Danico Autry style player that has versatility up and down the line and pass rush situations. Then a guy who's going to set the edge as an outside linebacker in run defense. You know what I mean? Like I see a more as a five technique as a.

Interior rusher or a four down edge in past rest situations. So the point is they still need two edge rushers. And I think you're going to get one of those in the draft. It's a very good draft class on the edge. I think the Titans need to get an edge with a top 100 pick. Like that's what needs to happen. Quarterback wide receiver edge quarterback wide receiver edge. That's where the Titans have to go early in the draft.

But adding that next veteran edge rusher is key. And I think a guy who and again, this is a theme here, I'm just following, I'm following the pattern that the Tennessee Titans have laid out for us. One-year deals with quality veterans who can hold down the fort for a season and give you flexibility in the draft. Zedarius Smith makes a ton of sense for the Titans. Give them a one year, $10 million deal with some incentives. He's an older player, but still a productive part of a rotation. And when you inevitably take an edge rusher in the draft,

when you have a guy like Jaylen Harrell, when you have a guy who's a veteran, but Arden key, who I don't think would, you know, it wouldn't be a problem for Arden key to have some strong leadership, Zedarius Smith as a one year option at edge rusher paired with a top 100 edge rusher in this good draft class, paired with Draymond Jones being able to play a little bit on the edge if needed, paired with Arden Key already being a guy who was a starter on the edge for you last year, paired with a guy like Jaylen Harrell, who has a seventh round pick, found a way to get some rotation snaps and should take another step up.

Now you have a competent edge rush group. Yes, you're still missing the top end high high end edgerusher that you need, but you at least have a competent group now. That's better than the group that you had last year. Now outside of Zedaria Smith, I continue to say Charles Amenahue, who had a good run with the Kansas city chiefs coming off an injury. If he's healthy, the Titans should bring him in on a one year, seven million, one year, $8 million deal. That would be fantastic, but he isn't a pure edge rusher.

In my opinion, some of that D line versatility, like with Draymond Jones. Maybe you go with a guy like Dennis Gardek, who's 30 years old, who had a great season with Arizona last year before he tore his ACL Is he healthy if he is he could come in Lorenzo Carter? Demarcus Walker is another guy who I think is more like Draymond Jones probably not an option He's not a pure edge rusher more of that inside outside versatile guy But maybe the Titans just want to stack up on those kind of guys They could bring in a Travis Gibson a guy who was with the Titans for a little bit, uh, two seasons ago, edge rusher. He's a pure edge rusher.

Von Miller, Matt, Jude on Preston Smith, the older guard. Maybe they just throw a one year deal at one of those guys to come in and rush the passer. I don't really want any of those guys if I'm honest with you though, but the Titans definitely still need to add on the edge. One more veteran player who's a pure edge rusher before they go into the NFL draft. I don't think it has to happen immediately. It could be third wave of free agency right after the draft, something like that. But they definitely do still need it.

They need a quarterback now too. And maybe, maybe the Titans say, Hey, we'll get a cornerback on day three of the draft. Maybe the Titans say, hey, we'll get a corner back on day three of the draft. We have our top four with Snead, JBJ, Roger McCreary, and Darrell Baker. We have our top four. We'll get another wide receiver on day three of the NFL draft to develop. Just like we did with Jarvis Brownlee Jr. in the fifth round. We'll do that again. in the fifth round.

We'll do that again. Maybe they do that. But I think there's also a chance that the Titans just go out and get another veteran cornerback. So that they don't have to use a draft pick on a cornerback and a guy like a Sante Samuel Jr. is the top of the market. Now a Sante Samuel Jr. probably wants to be a starter. And I think the reason

that Cheeto got cut is because the Titans told him, you're not starting this year. Jarvis is. Roger's in the slot, Sneed, Jarvis on the outside. Sorry, Cheeto, you're going to be our fourth quarterback. And he said, I don't want to do that. And the Titan said, fine, we'll just cut you. We'll save 12 million in cash. So if that's the case, then I would imagine that the Titans still want a veteran cornerback as their cornerback four, so that Darrell Baker can be cornerback five. And again, they don't have to draft a cornerback in a draft class that isn't great at cornerback. This is not a great cornerback draft class by any stretch of the imagination. So with that, if Asante Samuel Jr. wants a starting role

and he's not gonna do it, then maybe a guy like Kendall Fuller, maybe a guy like Rysal Douglas, maybe a guy like Shaq Griffin, Avante Maddox, Rocky Asin played for Dynard Wilson in Baltimore. I keep thinking he would be a solid option. A kelo witherspoon has starting experience. The Titans still need to bring that Justin Hardy, who is a cornerback technically,

but is really just a special teams ace. Now these type of signings again, I would not expect them to happen soon. Probably, you know, a couple of weeks from now, maybe after the NFL draft, but these would all make sense. Now there are a couple of needs that the Tennessee Titans have that they could go at in the NFL draft, but they're needs that we don't talk about very often. And if the Titans don't want to use a draft pick at one of these positions, then they do need to go out and get a free agent. I'll tell you what positions those are

and who they should look at. The NCAA Tournament is here, and so is the bracket breakdown. Locked On Podcast Network and Amazon Fire TV channels are teaming up to deliver NCAA tournament coverage like never before. Watch studio shows featuring former players and Locked On's local experts,

as they guide you through every upset, buzzer beater, and bracket matchup. Stream it all for free on Amazon Fire TV channel. Search bracket breakdown to see it all for free. It's your team, every day. Titans fans, let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Going over the remaining free agent market. Again, the Titans probably have about $33 to $36 million after we get the final contract numbers. Once we have all the final contract numbers of all the main free agents, we need Draymond Jones and Xavier Woods. I'm going to go over all their contracts and go over specifically how much cap space the Titans

still have. But again, my projection right now is about 33 to $36 million. We talk wide receiver, we talk edge, we talk cornerback. Now I want to go to some positions that don't get a lot of buzz. Before I dive into them, do want to thank you again for making Locked on Titans your first listen. Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed for your second listen. Check out Locked on NFL. I'm the host of Locked on NFL for the Locked on Podcast Network. I would appreciate your support over there.

You get your Titans news here with me in under 30 minutes every day. Get your NFL news with me in under 30 minutes every day, but running back is a position that we have not talked a lot about and purposefully. I have said consistently, I do not want the Titans to spend any money at running back. They have Tajay Spears. They have Tony Pollard go draft a running back in the draft. This is a very good draft class a running back in the draft. This is a very good draft class at running back. There's maybe 30 running backs that might get drafted in this year's draft.

If there are 30 running backs that get drafted, the Tennessee Titans can certainly draft one of them. So that is my preference. That is what I want the Titans to go out and do. I want them to draft a running back who is a power running back. I've said it since the end of the season. Tony Pollard was never meant to be a Derek Henry bell cow back like he had to be last year.

And we saw him start to break down physically at the end of the year from trying to carry that level of, of production and that level of, of work. He can't do it. He needs a secondary running back to help spell him. That is what Tajay Spears was meant to be, but Tajay Spears, whether it be concussions, whether it be soft tissue, could not stay on the field last year. When Tajay Spears is on the field, he looks awesome, but he just consistently got hurt last year.

is on the field, he looks awesome. But he just consistently got hurt last year and going into 2025, you cannot take the chance and you cannot take the risk of leaving Tony Pollard on an Island again, like you did last year, or again, he will break down this year. He will not be able to stay as healthy as he stayed last year. And he could barely stay healthy last year because of all the workload and touches that he had to take on. That is not what Tony Pollard was meant to be when he was signed. He was not meant to be Derek Henry as a bell cow.

He was meant to be part of a committee. Maybe he can be the lead back in a committee, but he has to be in a committee and you can't count on Tajay Spears to be healthy. And even if both of those guys are healthy, Tony Pollard and Tajay Spears, neither of them are powerbacks. Neither of them do I trust consistently in short yardage situations and one yard goal line type stuff. You need a bigger power, bigger body back who is more natural in that area of the game.

And that is why Jamal Williams, if the Titans do go with a free agent running back because they don't want to go in the draft Then they need to get a power back who can be that kind of back and Jamal Williams coming off being released by the Saints Would fit that mold perfectly Gus Edwards is another guy who would fit that mold perfectly This is definitely a reach because I don't think that this player would would agree to this kind of role, but Nick Chubb I don't think that this player would, would agree to this kind of role, but Nick Chubb, Nick Chubb would make sense. And Bill Callahan knows how to block best in front of Nick Chubb. Deontay Foreman a return to Tennessee, another power back with still a little bit of speed.

He's getting older, but as a third running back, it would be fine. Trey Sermon is a young guy who played for the Colts last year. Maybe the Titans give him a chance. Either way, the Titans need a third running back and they need to either get a free agent or get someone in the draft. And I prefer the draft, but whoever they get needs to be a power back with a bigger bodied solid, thick bill. That's what they need to pair with Tajay Spears and Tony Pollard. Quit thinking about a running back committee as just an RB one and an RB two, let's start thinking about the committee with three running backs. And then it makes a ton of sense where Taj is the short electric, you know,

smaller guy, Tony Pollard is the do it all versatile back. And then you have a power back and then Tony Pollard is kind of the in-between of Taj spears in the power back anyways, moving on tight end. It's a really, really good tight end draft class. So if the Titans want a third tight end behind, uh, Josh Wiley and behind Chigga Conquo, then they need to go get one. Chigga Conquo is going to be a free agent after the year. Josh Wiley will be a free agent after the year.

After that, like the Titans need tight end a little bit more than people are talking about and look, David Martin Robinson and Thomas Odecolle have to step up. They got pep on the roster last year because they were going to develop into somebody who the Titans could actually use this year. So maybe the Titans say, Hey, we have those four tight ends. We don't need tight end at all this off season. And that would be fine.

But if they want an older veteran to fill the Nick Van Et role, Tyler Conklin, Gerald Everett, Mo Ali Cox, CJ Uzama, Irv Smith, all could make sense. But again, like with running back, if the Titans do want to add somebody and they probably will need to add at least one body at those spots. They need to do it in the draft. That would be my preference. But if they go in free agency, those are the names I'm interested in. I do want to say one last thing. I still want the Titans to go get Jedrick Wills. He's only 26 years old, still has a development option available to him. He's still a guy that played his best under Bill Callahan.

He can play right tackle and play left tackle. If the Titans want to get the best swing tackle that they could possibly get their primary backup tackle, put Nicholas Petit-Ferrer, save three million, sign Jedrick Wills for that three million dollars. And that's the move the Titans need to make. But that's the options they have remaining to make, but that's the options they have remaining in free agency.

Again, hopefully tomorrow we have more contract details and we can have a little financial episode, but if not, then we'll push the financial episode to the last episode of the week. And we'll talk about some trade options for the Titans because I think some low end trades with, uh, some, some day three draft picks could be on the menu for the Tennessee Titans. But that's going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.