Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans OFFENSIVE LINE PANIC TIME as Kevin Zeitler ONLY OPTION at Guard & Mystery at Center

Episode Date: March 17, 2026

The Tennessee Titans are now in crisis mode on the offensive line after Wyatt Teller was signed by the Houston Texans. This means that re-signing Kevin Zeitler is an absolute must as there are no good options remaining at the position and there are two massive holes to fill. That includes at center, where the Titans have a mystery on their hands that Austin Schlottmann and Jackson Slater seem to be the answers to. Outside of that, Edge still remains a massive need especially for a speed rusher, but wide receiver also remains a big focus along with cornerback despite the three signings in free agency. After that, nothing else can be considered a massive need, but help at linebacker is still something that is needed.   LOCKED ON TITANS EVERYDAY CLUB: https://lockedontitans.supercast.com/   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   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! TurboTax This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. Robinhood You’re no longer just a spectator. Play by play. You decide. Trade Every Play with Robinhood. Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm. FanDuel FanDuel is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a College Basketball Parlay Profit Boost. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It's party time. Order Now at 5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's officially Kevin Zitler or bust as the Tennessee Titans enter panic mode on the offensive line. That and more on today's edition of Locked on Titan. 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. to rank the Tennessee Titans biggest remaining needs from the needs that they need the most to the positions that they don't really need to worry about. And of course, we start with panic on the offensive line as another great option goes off the board. 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 subscribe, stay subscribed. It's your team every day. Here on the Locked on Titans podcast. 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, what are you doing? The Titans still obviously have more moves that need to be made. The draft is right around the corner and before you know it,

Tennessee Titans will be back out on the football field. You want to stay as up to date, as entertained, as informed as a Tennessee Titans fan could possibly be, make sure that you stay locked in with the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world. Locked on Titans. With that being said, though, a name that I have been talking about for months finally came off the board

and it wasn't just that this person came off the board. It's where they went and what is left for the Titans that make me so, so frustrated. So the player that we need to discuss here is Wyatt Teller, former Cleveland Brown, former all pro, a guy that I've been very high on, he's dealt with some injuries, there have been some lapses in play like everyone in Cleveland. But Wyatt Teller is still one of the better guards in the NFL and he's one of the best guards over the last five to 10 years in the NFL.

Not only does he get a two-year 16 million dollar deal, which the Titans absolutely could have paid. but he goes to the Houston Texans and at this time if you look at a projected starting lineup which I know it's early and odds are that the Titans

current starting lineup is not their actual starting lineup but I can't tell you that with certainty right now the Titans have by far by far by far the worst offensive line in the division how did they let it happen how have we gotten

this point. It just, it's illogical. And that's why I come here to tell you, it is Kevin Zeitler or bust at right guard. If they don't bring back Kevin Zeitler, this offensive line is going to be a disaster, even more than it was last year. And again, the offensive line conversation has been so tainted. Like, the Titans' offensive line got massively better in the back half of the season last year. Massively improved. 16th. And pass block win rate 23rd and pass block grade. They were better in the run game, the sack numbers, all that, much better in the second half of the season.

Well, all that continuity is out the window if they don't bring back Kevin Seidler. I could see, hey, we're replacing the center. We're going to have Jackson Slater, Austin Slotman, Shlopman, whatever. We're going to draft a guy in the middle. mid-rounds. But if you don't bring back Kevin Zitler and you go into the draft needing a starting right guard and a starting center, which I do not believe that Schloteman or Slater, I added a CH in there on Slater. Slater, I don't believe that either of them are starting

level players. And when they cut Lloyd Cushingberry, I was convinced that it's because they had a real plan at center. And I think they did have a plan at center. And I don't think the plan came to fruition. I think that they failed their plan at center. They had a plan. They got punched in the mouth and didn't know what to do when Connor McGovern went off the board. When Tyler Biotish went off the board, they didn't know what to do. They got caught, holding the back. I think the Titans blew this. I think they had a plan and they blew it. And now, what do they do? If they don't get Kevin Zitler back,

Joel Betonio, you want an even older guard who is also banged up all the time? Who doesn't know the system? You want to go get Mackay Beckton who the Chargers had a terrible offensive line. They didn't want them around.

Philly won a championship. Don't want to bring you back. Jets never wanted you. get out of here. I'm not a fan of Mackay Beckton. I've seen enough. A couple of years ago, I was like, hey, let's give Mackay Beckton a try.

But we've seen enough. Mackay Beckton is significantly worse than Kevin Zitler. And he's not a good locker room presence either, which is important to the Titans right now. He's a malcontent in the locker room, somebody that nobody wants around. What are they going to do?

Go get Greg Van Roten, who's also 36 years old and been a backup most of his life, or not life, but career in the NFL. That's not an upgrade on Kevin Zitler, who had the best pressure rate allowed in the NFL last year at the right guard position. 2.9%. They're going to get Baltimore Ravens cast off, Daniel Fulele, big-bodied guy, good mover in the run game.

Awful in pass protection. Terrible in pass protection. Slow, big oath. Like, we're at the point now. where, again, it's Kevin Zitler or bust. And that affects the center position, which are by far, the biggest needs remaining for the Tennessee Titans is Guard and Center.

It's not even close. It's hilariously above every other position. Like, it's a totally different tier, a totally different universe. If they don't get Kevin Zitler back and they have to go in with an unknown at Guard and an unknown center, there is 0% chance, 0% chance

that this offensive line is better this year than last year. Not a chance. Can't happen. And to downgrade the offensive line in year 2 of Cam Ward is malpractice. It's a disgrace is what it is.

It's outrageous. It's unacceptable is what it is. I cannot believe that we are sitting here in the middle of week two of free agency and the Titans don't have a starting center or a starting guard. Absurd is what it is. Now, I've talked about Graham Glasgow. I've talked about Ethan Posich. I've talked about Lloyd Cushingberry.

But really overall, I'm just shocked at what they're doing right now. I can't believe. I cannot believe that they signed three corners, three safeties, two bummy edge rushers, and haven't added a single starter on the interior offensive line. Which is what is most important is protecting your quarterback. And again, some of you guys wanted to tell me last week when I talked about this, oh, it's not time to panic.

You can add players. Okay, you can go Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. That's allowed. but are you going to get everything you need? Is everything going to be in stock? It reminds me of the excellent Christmas movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger jingle all the way. Yeah, you can go on Christmas Eve to find the Turbo Man doll.

You can do that. But is it going to be there? Are you going to get a good price on it? Are you going to have to make a desperation move and run around the entire city, chasing a mailman to try to find, figure it out? Are you going to almost lose your wife, lose the trust of your kid? Because that's where the Titans are at right now. They're chasing

Turbo Man dolls around the city and Christmas is in 12 hours. What are you going to do? You're going to break into your neighbor's house, set it on fire, try to steal his doll? You know, the analogy can only go so far. But you guys know what I'm saying here. So yeah, the Titans could add players in the summer. The Titans could add players via trade or whatever. But if you don't address these needs soon, the odds of you getting an actual solution are significantly low. And I will continue to say that having a rookie on the offensive line

starting in front of Cam Warden year two is malpractice. You can't do it. And to think that Schloteman or Slater had the CH again could be that answer. To me, it is such a gamble. You are taking such a major risk. with Cam Ward and I cannot accept it. I cannot understand it. So if they don't go out and sign Kevin Zitler

to at least have four spots of continuity and then we'll figure out center. We'll make a trade. We'll get a cut guy. And again, if you get a cut guy, you get someone in summer free agency, are you going to have that continuity? Are they going to know the system?

Are they going to be ahead of the game? Are they going to be good enough to help Cam Ward? with protections and sliding the offensive line, are they going to be ready for all of that? Now you're behind the eight ball again. So there is no doubt in my mind that the by far biggest needs of the Titans have remaining are both on the interior offensive line at center and at guard.

And if you aren't upset, if you aren't worried about it, if you aren't a bit panicked by it, I think you're just incredibly naive at this point because they have totally blown it right now at this point. But with that being said, the three biggest needs on the team are probably the three next biggest needs still. Do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you

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where I'm just absolutely appalled at what the Tennessee Titans have done so far in free agency. But now we've got to talk about the other big needs for the Titans. and it's funny that the three biggest needs going into the all season are still the biggest needs outside of where the Titans need starters at center and at guard. And the other place where they need a starter still is edge rusher. Like the Tennessee Titans still need a starting edge rusher and the question becomes, are they going to try to fill that role in free agency?

Are they just going to try to fill that role in the draft? And if I'm honest with you, I think at this moment and time, I would expect the Titans to try to fill that need in the draft. I don't think they're going to go out and sign a Joey Bosa, Son Reddick, you know, Yatur Gros Matos, or an AJS.

Peneza, you know, a Clellan Farrell or something like, I just, a Leonard Floyd, I don't think the Titans are going to go out and do that. I think it's much more likely that the Titans draft David Bailey, Ruben Bain, Rvel Reese, or maybe they go for a second round

guy like a Malachi Lawrence, Cassius Howe, Romello Height, who I don't know if he's quite a second round player, but, you know, T.J. Parker falls potentially. That could be an option for the Titans. I think the Titans are going to try to fill that need in the draft. But again, it is a massive need for the Titans still. And I'm going to continue to hammer this home. Jacob Martin is not a starter. And maybe you could have Femi and Jermaine Johnson as your starters on early down. against the run, but who is going to be the starting edge rusher and pass rush? Because you can't have Femmy and Jermaine Johnson as you're starting edge rushers on passing downs.

Femi has not proven that he's capable of that. Even if you have a designated pass rusher, a guy that just comes in to rush the passer, which some of these rookies might be early on. I think that's what a cash is Hal is. He is a designated pass rusher. He's too small to be a run-down play. player. So like, who's that guy going to be? They don't have it right now. And that's concerning because that was the biggest need and the Titans added

multiple guys at edge, three different guys at edge rusher with Martin and with Jermaine Johnson and man, I keep forgetting the guy that they added from the chiefs. But that tells you how little I care about the guy that they added from the Chiefs. he's probably not going to even make the roster. So, Edge, out of the big three, is still the biggest need out of all of them by far because they don't have a starting pass rush. And missing starters is how needs become massive.

Now, I would tell you this. They still need a starter at cornerback too, which is the next biggest need for the Titans. I have changed my mind. a bit on how I see Alante Taylor. I was like, all right, he's going to play on the outside for us. But that would be stupid. After watching his tape,

you've got to play Alante Taylor in the slot. That's where he's best. He's one of the best slot cornerbacks in the whole NFL. Yeah, he can be your outside cornerback in your base defense. When you have two cornerbacks on the field, it's going to be Alante Taylor and it's going to be Cordell Flaw. Certainly. But when you go into nickel,

which is what the Titans are going to run primarily, 425, Alante Taylor needs to be in the slot. And Cordell Flott is going to be on the outside as the field side corner, in my opinion. He's going to play off coverage, which means he's not going to be pressing on the line scrimmage because Flott has short arms. He's skinny, he's slight, he's not good with physicality.

You don't want him pressing and jamming wide receivers at the line of scrimmage. You want him using his speed, his quickness, his recovery ability, his drive ability to get on to guys. Who's going to be that

starting boundary cornerback that can press and be on the line of scrimmage and get physical with wide receivers? Who's going to do that job? I would again look to the draft. I think the Titans are going to go into the draft and they're going to look to get cornerback early.

And them having a 30 visit recently with Monsore Delane, I think that might tell you. If the Titans could trade back, they'd absolutely take a cornerback. In the second round, they'd absolutely take a cornerback. In the third round, they'd absolutely take a cornerback. I think that cornerback,

even though the Titans have added three in free agency, is still a massive need. Because they don't have a starter. They're still missing a third. starter, an outside boundary cornerback with press ability. And the Titans telling us that they want length and speed at cornerback. And then signing Cordell Flot, who ran a 4-5 and has 30-inch arms, that makes me believe that they will target a length and speed cornerback in the draft early.

That's my read. And you can tell me about Josh Williams. Josh Williams 6-3, fast, long arms, 33-inch arms. Yes, he's length and speed. But again, he played 17 snaps last year for the Chiefs. He's mostly a special teams guy. Is that who you're really going to bank on to be your starting cornerback early on? Another risky, risky play, in my opinion.

And I know, I know, I can already see the comments. You guys say this stuff to me like, I don't know it. Well, you can't solve every issue this all season. I'm the one who told you that. I'm not asking them to add a long-term solution at every single position. I'm asking them to have a starting lineup for 2026. Have a starting lineup. That's what I'm asking.

And they don't have one on defense at cornerback right now. They don't. Now, outside of that, again, we go to wide receiver. wide receiver is still a massive need. And just like I was telling you stylistically, you have a lot of guys who could play Z in slot with Calvin and Wondale and DK and Restrepo. But you don't have anybody other than Ellic Iommanner

who could play the X wide receiver position. And let's just call it what it is. Elic Ayomanner disappointed at the end of the year last year. He got off to a good start and then he disappointed. He dropped the ball, couldn't separate, didn't win combat catches enough.

He looked like a fourth round wide receiver. Chim Dek was the guy who impressed. Him and Gunner Helm were the impressive fourth round picks. Elic Ayu Manor was the worst of the three. And the most damning thing is the drop percentage. 20% of his on-target targets he dropped.

You can't be on. the field doing that. So going into the draft with Elylechayo Manor slated to be your starting X wide receiver again I just think it's a very dangerous game to play and I'm not asking you for a long-term solution but it's a need that is still massive

so yeah garden center are obviously the clear biggest needs but edge cornerback and wide receiver even with the reinforcements of the Titans have got still the next three biggest needs. And after that, I'd put linebacker. I don't think that Cody Barton fits. I would be shocked if Cody Barton is the starter.

Now, maybe they're high on James Williams. But even then, Cedric Gray, James Williams, Cody Barton, where's your fourth linebacker? Who's that going to be? Again, I don't believe that Cody Barton is going to be the starter on opening day. Maybe it's James Williams, a seventh round rookie. Maybe. but clearly a big depth spot that the Titans must hit in the draft.

They have to, and it's a good linebacker class, so it's a good time to do it. But they got to get a linebacker in the draft. Absolutely must. Now, after those needs, interior, offensive line, edge, cornerback, wide receiver, linebacker, the need level, the amount of need, it goes down significantly. Do want to let you guys know that today's episode, is brought to you by Indeed. Workplace chaos,

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Just go to indeed.com slash podcast right now and support my show by saying that you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash podcast terms and conditions. apply need to hire. That's a job for indeed sponsored jobs. And let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Again, we are ranking the Tennessee Titans biggest needs remaining. We talked O-line. We talked edge, cornerback, wide receiver, linebacker. Now we've got to get into the reality that the rest of the positions aren't quite as big a needs as the ones that we just talked about.

There's a big jump down here. Now before I dive into the remaining needs for the Titans though, do want to remind you about the Locked on Titans Every Dayer Club Guys you gotta join the Everydayer Club Use the promo code March That's right promo code March And you're gonna get a free first month The description or the link to join is down below

in the description You get add free versions of the podcast in your podcast feed You get added to the Locked on Titans group chat with a bunch of other everydayers You get access to a Locked on Titans merch store And right now if you join the Everydayer Club

you can join the Locked-on Bracket Challenge for March Madness. And if you win, you're going to get $100 credit to the Locked-on merch store. So make sure that you check that out. Again, use the promo code March. Hit the link down below in the description and become a true everydayer. But with that being said, the next running back or the next position is running back for me. Like, yeah, they have Tony Pollard. Yeah, they have Taji Spears.

but they still don't have a true power running back that they can count on. You can't count on Colel Mullings. And the Titans brought him back again, the roster pirate himself, Julius Chestnut. One year deal, absolute minimum deal,

but this dude just haunts me forever. Julius Chestnut is not good at football. you can't actually use Julius Chestnut in a game. He has no burst, no wiggle, doesn't run with power, doesn't have size, isn't a good pass blocker. He's okay on special teams. But where's the Brian Robinson? Where is the guy who can actually give the football to?

Where is the short yardage running back? Where is the guy who could pick up third and one, third and two? fourth and goal. Where is that at? I don't see it. And now you have four running backs on the roster in Pollard, Spears,

Mullings, and Chestnut. To me, that means that they're not going to sign Brian Robinson. That means that they're not going to add another running back. If they draft Jeremiah Love, they could trade Tony Pollard, they could cut Tony Pollard.

Sure. But even then, you'd still have four running backs on the roster. And yet, you don't have the power back. Because Jeremiah Love is a very good player. But he's not a power back. He can run between the tackles.

It's not like he can't do that. I'm not saying Jeremiah Love cannot do something. But the Titans need a pure power back that runs north and south and downhill and can pick up those short yardage and having that type of guy is going to help keep Jeremiah Love fresh. Why let Jeremiah Love

bang into a wall of bodies on 3rd and 1 at the 42 yard line? Let a Brian Robinson do that and then bring Jeremiah Love back in. I just, I'm a bit shocked by the lack of activity at the running back position and what they've done there.

I just don't understand the philosophy right now. So maybe the Jeremiah love pick and corresponding moves after that will change my mind. But concern right now. That's my number one need out of the lower needs. But then offensive tackle. Who's going to be your swing tackle?

They haven't re-signed Aliyudah. They didn't bring in James Hudson. All they have right now is Brendan Crenshaw Dixon, which, okay, maybe he can be your swing tackle going forward. Maybe they add one in the draft, and that can be their swing tackle going forward. But again, counting on all of these rookies and these young players to fill positions of need to protect Cam Ward is malpractice, in my opinion.

If you have Austin Schlotman at center, Jackson Slater or Cordell Voson at guard, and then Brandon Crenshaw Dixon as your sports, swing tackle? What a disgrace. What a disaster. Poor Cam Ward. This offensive line could not afford to get worse.

And right now they are worse in four or five different spots. Worse. Worse. You know, like, it just is perplexing to me. The theory and the philosophy on the offensive line at multiple levels. So swing offensive tackle is next for me. But after that I look at safety.

Another tier down, I would say. They bring in Tony Adams. They bring back Jerich Reed. Obviously you have a Monty Hooker and Kevin Winston, but I would like to have a fourth safety who I'd actually be okay with playing. Jerich Reed, more of a special teams guy. Hopefully they draft a fourth safety.

That's what I would hope to see there. interior defensive line and quarterback are at the absolute bottom. You have Levis, you have Trebisky, you have Cam Ward. They don't need any other quarterbacks. That is the last need on the list here. And then interior defensive line can't be last because quarterback is last. But if two positions could be last, it would be IDL. Like with bringing in Jordan Elliott, John Franklin Myers, Jeffrey Simmons,

there's just not a massive need there. They have what they need there. Maybe they add some more depth guys, but they don't need to be anybody of consequence or value. Bring back Blake Lynch or, you know, Cam Horsley. It doesn't need to be anything. So the two needs that are lowest on the list by far in a totally different realm than everyone else

is interior defensive line and quarterback. But with that being said, that is going to do it for me today. Folks, let me know what you think the biggest needs remaining for the tightest. are down below. But as always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland. And this was Locked on Titans.