Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans NUMBER ONE PICK Secured, Tank Involved Everyone & Will Ran Carthon Get FIRED??

Episode Date: January 5, 2025

The Tennessee Titans have secured the number one pick with a loss against the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots defeating the Buffalo Bills. What should they do with the pick? Tyler is open minded. This Titans tank job took an effort from multiple parties, but Brian Callahan really brought the game home with his decision making. Finally, we have heard some reports in recent days that we could see some changes for the Tennessee Titans including the firing of Ran Carthon. While it may not be something everyone agrees with, from the owner's perspective it would be hard to argue against.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Turbo TaxReady for stress-free taxes and the most money back, guaranteed? Head over to TurboTax.com today and get matched with your Expert—who’s ready to take your taxes off your plate, so you can focus on your day. LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply.PrizePicksDownload the app and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelYou can start the season with a big return on FanDuel. New customers can place a FIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - if you win your first FIVE DOLLAR BET ! Visit FANDUEL.COM 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)Subscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitansTicTacTitans Merchandise: https://dixons-dream.square.site/shop/tictactitans-gear/C3AAPNWXSXA6SBYG3USV2I7R?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=ascFollow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitansFollow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPodSubscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitans/videos

The Tennessee Titans got the number one pick, and I think the best thing they could do is to trade it. 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. Today's edition of the Locked On Titans Podcast is brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs.

LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to faster. Post your job for free at linkedin.com slash locked on NFL. Terms and conditions do apply. On today's show, we are going to celebrate the Tennessee Titans. Tank job is complete, and they get the number one pick. I'm going to tell you why I think the best thing they could do with that pick is to trade it. We're also going to talk about how everyone was involved in this tank job,

and we'll talk about why I don't think it would be that crazy to see some folks get fired this week. Before we dive into all of it, I 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 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 because this offseason is about to be insane. We already have a source off as to which quarterback prospect the Titans like most happening just minutes after the game ends. It is going to be a wild ride this offseason, and I'm going to have Monday through Friday daily content for you.

Of course, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, 25 years as a Tennessee Titans fanatic. I've covered the team for Sports Illustrated USA Today and hosted this podcast for six seasons now. But again, now that the Titans have the number one pick, the question becomes what should they do with the number one pick? That is the number one thing on everybody's mind. And again, for me, my personal opinion is that the best thing that the Tennessee Titans could do is to trade the number one pick. I have continued to be skeptical of this quarterback

class. I don't think that Shadur Sanders or Cam Ward are a sure thing. I think they're very, very risky prospects. And when you have the number one pick like this, what you cannot do is make the huge mistake, is be super risky. So I think the best thing that the Tennessee Titans could do right now with this number one pick, well, not right now, but as we get to the draft, of course, is to trade down. You have the New York Giants at number three. The New York Giants desperately need a quarterback. The Las Vegas Raiders, that's a little bit further down the board

than I want to go, so I'd like to focus on the Giants. But the Vegas Raiders are an option as well. For the Tennessee Titans, with the holes that they have at edge rusher, at wide receiver, at quarterback, at defensive end, at offensive line, right tackle, even the interior offensive line, the Titans have so many needs. There's no depth at safety. The linebacker position is a disaster. The Titans have so many needs and so many holes on the roster that if you put Shadur Sanders or Cam Ward on the team right now, I think they would still be very, very bad. There are too many holes. And look, if you go back, get in the time machine with me, just step into the time

machine with me, if you will. In 2016, the Tennessee Titans traded back from the number one pick when the Rams came up to get Jared Goff. And it allowed the Titans to stack up on draft picks. Derrick Henry, Kevin Byard, Jack Conklin. The Titans had two first round picks in 2017. It allowed the Titans to build the roster that gave us the best Tennessee Titans football we have seen since the Super Bowl run since most of us were children. Okay?

The Titans have to stack this roster. And imagine if you were to get the number three overall pick from the Giants next year's first round pick and then some additional capital in the mid-rounds. Imagine that. You could take Travis Hunter. You could take Abdul Carter.

And get another draft pick next year to go with your draft pick. Now I know that the immediate question is going to be, well, who plays quarterback? Well, obviously there are a ton of veteran options that are going to be available to the Titans. They can find a quarterback to give them better quarterback play than what they had this year. Now, let me transition. What I think is best for the Titans is to trade the pick. I would like the Titans to trade down from number one overall. Again, the Giants at number three are going to be the partner that I talk about

for months and months and months. But let me say this. And some people say, Tyler, this is wishy-washy. This is blah, blah, blah. No, I think you're an illogical human being if you can't think like this. While my number one preferred option would be for the Titans to trade down, if the Titans want to take a quarterback, I'm fine with that too. If the Titans really, really like Shitter Sanders, if the Titans really, take a quarterback, I'm fine with that too. If the Titans really, really like Shitter Sanders,

if the Titans really, really like Cam Ward, and right now there's a source all. According to Benjamin Albright, who typically has pretty good sources in the NFL and around draft time, really has some good nuggets. He has been proven right multiple times on draft intel that he has. Benjamin Albright just tweeted after the game that the rumor is that the Titans love Cam Ward.

However, A to Z Sports Nashville tweeted out, this is false. Teron Davenport from ESPN has said that the Titans like Shader Sanders. So, the local people right? Ben Albright right? Who's right there? I don't know. I don't know.

But if the Titans truly love one of these quarterbacks, if they truly, truly love one of these quarterbacks, then they have to draft them with the first overall pick and hope that they aren't this bad for quite some time. Again, my preferred option would be that they trade down, they land Abdul Carter with the number three pick, they get a first-round pick in next year's draft, they get a bridge quarterback this year,

and then they look at quarterback in 2026 or 2027, hopefully while building up a better roster, so that when they draft a young quarterback, they can actually play winning football around that quarterback. Is that Brian Callahan? Do you trust Brian Callahan and Rankarthon to take the quarterback of the future? There was another report this weekend that the Titans are really going to focus this year on stacking draft picks and building up the roster,

which they probably should have been doing for two years now, but alas, that's a conversation for later on this week. But again, the Titans have the number one pick now. They have the power. They have the control. Whether they want to use that as an asset to collect picks, whether they want to take their quarterback in the future, either way, they have the control to do that.

Of course, I would prefer to trade down with the Giants at number three, let them come up and take the quarterback, go ahead and get a first round pick for next year. Maybe get another first round pick in 2027. Maybe get another second round pick in this year's draft. I would rather use that asset to collect more assets because the Titans have so

many holes and they aren't a quarterback away. But if the Titans internally believe that Shader Sanders or Cam Ward is a franchise quarterback for them and will fundamentally change the team, then sure, pick them. So, I can see the Titans going multiple ways here. I'm in favor to see what they do. I'm open-minded to both possibilities. But again, if it were up to me, my idea would be to trade

the pick. But the Tennessee Titans did a great job on Sunday securing the number one draft pick and everybody was in on the tank. Also, we're hearing some noise that Rand Carthon may be fired. I'm going to tell you why I don't think that would be too shocking of an event. Do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by LinkedIn jobs, growing your small business in 2025 comes down to how well you can hire. Same for the Titans.

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Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to rocketmoney.com slash locked on. That's rocketmoney.com slash locked on. rocketmoney.com slash locked on. Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Season finale for the Tennessee Titans. They lose to the Houston Texans. The New England Patriots win their game, securing the number one pick for the Tennessee Titans.

Again, I think that my preferred outcome here is the Titans trade down with that pick and collect extra draft capital. But if they really believe in one of the quarterbacks, go ahead and do that as well. Just do it with conviction, whatever you guys decide to do. But again, I lean towards trading down in the draft to stack assets.

With that being said though, what a masterful tank job by the Tennessee Titans in this game. What a fantastic job. First, they come out and they sit a bunch of players. I mean, Imani Hooker, Arden Key, Otis Reese. I mean, there are a ton of Arden Key, Otis Reese.

I mean, there are a ton of players. There's a type of Tajay Spears, again, another guy. So the Titans bench a bunch of players, rest a bunch of players. The Titans start John Ajuku, outright tackle. The Titans rotate their quarterbacks throughout the game, Will Levis and Mason Rudolph, both played terribly, which of course is what we've seen all year long. Not only that, but then we get

into the game. The Titans are down 13-0 with a 4th and 2 in the red zone and they kick a field goal. We see the Tennessee Titans on a 4th and short on the goal line with Jeffrey Simmons and Tavondre Sweat out of the game?

The Texans don't get it, but still, I mean, what are we doing there? When would the Titans have fourth and goal on the one-yard line and not have Jeffrey Simmons and Tavondre Sweat in the game? There's a play early in the game where Nico Collins fumbles. Brian Callahan doesn't challenge it. Like, we saw multiple, multiple circumstances in the game where Brian Callahan willingly made decisions that were like, okay, I

see what's happening here. Now, here's the reality. Whether it be the Titans' plan coming into the game, whether it be the decisions that got made during the game, whether it be the Titans' plan coming into the game, whether it be the decisions that got made during the game, whether it be the medical and game status decisions that got made before the game, no matter what you want to point at, at the end of the day, the truth is,

the Titans could have lost this game without trying. You know what I mean? I feel like a lot of people, and I myself did this too. You're having fun during the game, talking about, hey, the Titans are tanking. The Titans are tanking. Oh, this is a tank decision. This is a tank move. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Having a good time celebrating the tank. But this has been the Tennessee Titans all year. Turnovers, stupid decisions, weird mistakes. I don't think the Titans needed to intentionally

try to lose this game to lose this game. This is just how bad they have been all season long. This is the Tennessee Titans. And I talked about it before the game because it's the last game of the year, just kind of feeling

how things go, how things have gone as well and while the Titans get the number one pick this season will be remembered as a very very bad season one of the worst seasons in Tennessee Titans history because we all had hope that the Tennessee Titans were getting better. That this offseason, the Tennessee Titans improved. That they were going to take steps forward.

And the reality is they are further away from where we want to go than they have been in recent memory. This is as far away from being a good football team as the Titans have been since 2014, 2015, the Ken Wisenhut era. The Titans haven't been this far away from being good in my entire time of covering this football team. And that is a massive disappointment no matter what outcome, no matter the first pick in the draft, any of that, doesn't matter. It's a massive, massive, massive setback this season. But again, you get the number one pick. So you have the opportunity to change that. You have the opportunity from, yes, this season put us further away, but what we do in this next off season sets us up to take that step forward. Next season has to be a season where they take a step

forward, no matter how big or how small, they take a step forward towards being a better football team. And that starts with getting that number one pick. So again, everybody was clearly involved in this tank job. It's something that I talked about last week, leading up to this game that you could tell by what Brian Callahan said at his press conference last Monday and then the reports that we got last weekend about Brian Callahan being safe in his job. You put all of that together and it's clear that the entire franchise is on board the tank. That's clear.

Which is great. Which is great. But now that you have that, you have to go do the right thing with it. And like I just talked about, the Tennessee Titans either need to trade down. If they really believe in one of these quarterbacks, then they need to go ahead and take them.

But everybody was involved with the tank job on this one. And with how terrible this season went, they better get it right. They better get it right. They better get it right. And it's curious as to who is actually going to be around for the Tennessee Titans because we got some major reports, one from Adam Schefter before the game. I think it was Jason Jones or Diana Russini. One of them reported over the weekend that Rancor Thawne might be fired.

And I know you may be thinking right now, why would Rancor Thawne be the guy that gets fired? What about Brian Callahan? Wouldn't Brian Callahan get fired too? Well, listen, I think that the Titans need to have a little bit of patience, but at the same time, we cannot be shocked. We cannot be shocked if we see some firings on Black Monday.

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We talked about why everyone was involved in the tanking opportunity. And I also want to thank Joe Milton, backup quarterback for the New England Patriots, who played for Drake May after one season and led the Patriots to a victory. I know a lot of people watching are also Tennessee Vols fans. So seeing your guy, Joe Milton, who was a former Vol, go out there and help the Titans in this way. Had to enjoy that.

Great job by Joe Milton. Shout out to you. Shout out to the New England Patriots for taking care of business. But again, we talked about everyone's involvement in the tank job. Talked about what the Titans should do with the first overall pick. We got a lot of reports this weekend that Rancar Thon could be in some trouble. We heard Adam Schefter mention it on ESPN's pregame show on Sunday morning. I think, again, it was either Diana Rossini from The Athletic

or Jason Jones from, I believe, CBS Sports. But there was another report out there that Rancar Thon could be in some trouble as well. And, you know, here's the reality, guys. I think the Tennessee Titans need to have a little bit of patience. I think Rancar Thawne deserves one more season. I think Brian Callahan deserves one more season. Give them another opportunity. I think that's the right thing to do for the Titans.

But, but, but, if we see somebody get fired, we cannot be surprised. We cannot be shocked. We cannot be, honestly, it may be expected that someone needs to be fired. I think that Cole Anderson will certainly be fired

from the coaching staff, but Rankarthon, I had a lot of people like, why would Rankarthon get fired? Brian Callahan has been a worse coach than Rankarthon has been a general manager. Rankarthon has made some good draft picks. Some of his free agent moves have worked out in a big way. Calvin Ridley goes for over 1,000 yards. Tony Pollard over 1,000 yards.

Sebastian Joseph Day has been a solid addition to this team. J.C. Latham, of course, had a pretty solid first season as a rookie offensive tackle. Tavondre Sweat has been a good player. Peter Skowronski had a Pro Bowl-level second half of the season, was very good throughout the back half of the year. There have been a lot of good moves that Rancarthon has made, but I want you to keep this in mind when you think about Rancarthon has made, but I want you to keep this in mind when you think about Rancarthon.

So, number one, Rancarthon hired Brian Callahan. Rancarthon said that the moment that he met with Brian Callahan, he felt a connection. He wanted to work with him. That's somebody who he wanted to work with for the next decade. All right, so you hired Rancarthon. You drafted Will Levis. The Titans' last three third-round picks, Tajay Spears traded for Levis,

and then this year traded for LeJarius Sneed. So LeJarius Sneed failed in a major way. You drafted and traded up for Will Levis. Tajay Spears has been good, but he's been hit or miss. So, Rankar Thon hired Brian Callahan. Rankar Thon drafted and traded up for Will Levis. And those moves are the biggest failures that the Titans have had this season.

Brian Callahan is a head coach, and Will Levis is the quarterback. And Ranker Thon was responsible for both of them. And keep this in mind. From the owner's perspective, think if you were Amy Adams-Strunk sitting in your owner's box watching the game. Think about it. The quarterback that you were told to believe in, Will Levis, failed.

The head coach that you were told to believe in, Will Levis, failed. The head coach that you were told to hire, failed. You spent more money in free agency this year than any other NFL team. And you had the worst team in the NFL. You spent more money than you've ever spent before in free agency because Rank-A-Thon told you to and you had the worst team in the NFL number one pick terrible not only that not only did the guy who made you spend all your money

who hired Brian Callahan who drafted will Levis and traded up for him rank-a-thon did all those things not only that but at the end of the season your stadium is empty on Oilers day Rank-A-Thon did all those things. Not only that, but at the end of the season, your stadium is empty on Oilers Day. You get embarrassed by the Houston Texans and you solidify that you have the worst team in the NFL. If you're the owner,

if you're the owner of a football team and you look out and you see your stadium is empty on a day when you're wearing those jerseys and expecting to have a huge turnout to see the jerseys, the stadium is literally empty. The stadium was empty. If your stadium is empty, your fans have bags on their head, everyone's booing, no one's buying jerseys. No one's buying merch. Your head coach looks terrible. Your quarterback looks terrible. And you spent a bunch of money on this team and they're the worst team in the NFL. If you saw all of that happening at one

time as the owner, would you not fire somebody? So I don't think that the Titans should fire Brian Callahan. I don't think the Titans Titans should fire Brian Callahan, I don't think the Titans should fire Rand Carthon, and if they had to fire one of them, I think that Brian Callahan deserves to be fired more than Rand Carthon does, but at the end of the day, from the owner's perspective, failed at quarterback, failed hiring a head coach,

made me spend a bunch of money and the team got worse, stadium is empty, fans don't care embarrassed against our rival wearing our throwback uniforms that mean a lot to me if you're the owner you probably want somebody dead you probably want some blood you know what I mean so

and not only that but Rancancar Thon neglected right tackle, neglected edge rusher, signed Kenneth Murray, signed Jamal Adams. Like, I'm just saying, I don't think that Rancar Thon should be fired. I'm just saying, I don't think that Rancar Thawne should be fired. But if he is fired, we can't act like there's no reason for it. We can't act like there's not at least a logical reason for it. Now, I'll say this one more time before we go.

Titans have the first round pick, first overall pick in the draft. And I am skeptical of these quarterbacks. Now, if the Titans truly believe in either of these quarterbacks, then by all means, take them, and I'm going to be on board to see what happens. I'm not against it. But my preferred move with the number one pick will be to trade down with the New York Giants at number three, let the two quarterbacks go first

to the Browns and the Giants, and then the Titans to take Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter. That is what I think is the best move for the Titans. Multiple first round picks, some mid-round picks, and Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter, build up the roster and set yourself up to make a move to take a quarterback in another draft where the quarterback talent is a little more reliable. I don't want Jackson Dart.

I can tell you that. For me, it's Cam Ward or it's Shadur Sanders. For me, it's Cam Ward or it's Shader Sanders. But again, my preferred outcome is a trade back to number three and pick up picks. This team's so, so far away. This team is so, so, so far away. Getting another quarterback is just going to doom the quarterback again. Build the roster.

Get the quarterback later. That's where I'm at right now. But with that being said, we got a lot to talk about this week on Locked on Titans. What should the Titans do with the first round pick? What options they have? Who are trade partners? Does anybody get fired? What's going on with all of that?

Why should they be fired? Why shouldn't they be fired? Free agency, cap cuts, trades, so much to happen here. Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed for free year-round Tennessee Titans content here on the Locked on Titans podcast. But that is going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland,

and this was Locked on Titans.