Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans PERFECT PICK Abdul Carter, Best Offensive Tackle Pairings & Senior Bowl Day 2

Episode Date: January 29, 2025

Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said the Titans want to build through the trenches and if that is true, then Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter is the correct choice. That would bolster the Titans pass rush and could give them exactly what they need on defense to win right away. The trenches includes the offensive line as well which Borgonzi mentioned and their are some great offensive tackle prospects who could and should be available for the Titans in Round 2. Finally, the Senior Bowl, where Borgonzi spoke, had it's second day of practice. Tyler goes over the best performances and worst. 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!  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. Turbo TaxReady for stress-free taxes and the most money back, guaranteed? Head over to TurboTax.com today and get matched with your Expert. Only available with TurboTax Live Full Service. Real-time updates only in the iOS mobile app. See guarantee details at TurboTax.com/guarantees. 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/LOCKEDONNFL GametimeDownload 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. FanDuelSuper Bowl 59 is here, And there’s no better way to make every play more exciting than with FanDuel Sportsbook. New customers can bet just FIVE DOLLARS, and if you win, you’ll score TWO HUNDRED BUCKS in Bonus Bets. Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started.  Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of Super Bowl Fifty-Nine.   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) 

Tennessee Titans General Manager Mike Borganzi wants to build through the trenches and that is exactly why they need to draft Abdul Carter. I'll explain 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 Roland Titans fans. Today's edition of the locked on Titans podcast is brought to you by prize picks. Go to price picks.com slash locked on NFL. Use the code locked on NFL all lowercase to win $50 instantly.

When you play $5 on today's episode, I'm going to tell you exactly why the Titans need to build through the trenches with Abdul Carter, and I'm going to tell you what Titans GM Mike Borganzi had to say about that. Also, we'll talk about some pairings that the Titans could have with Abdul Carter in the second round of the NFL draft. And then we'll do a recap of day two at the senior bowl with some of the guys who had great performances. In that practice before we dive into all of it, do you want to thank

you for making a locked on Titans? You're first to listen each and every day. Remember Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free, make sure that all year round, always for free. Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day here on the locked on Titans podcast. Speaking of every day shout out to my every dayers out there tuning in Monday through Friday.

Couldn't do it without you guys. And if you aren't an everyday or you need to be one because one of the best weeks of the show all year long is happening next week. It is all season road map week. On Monday, I'm going to tell you all of the important events on the Tennessee Titans off season calendar and we're going to look at some free agents that the Titans have to decide whether they want to bring them back or let them go. Then we're going to talk about roster management on Tuesday. We're going to look at trade options. We're going to look at cut options.

We're going to look at restructure options for the Titans. Then on Wednesday, I am going to do a mock free agency and go over my ideal free agent haul for the Tennessee Titans. Thursday, we are going to do a seven round mock draft. And then Friday, I'm going to review all of it, go over everything with you guys of what my ideal off season roadmap for the Tennessee Titans will be. I know it's a lot of promo here at the top of the show, but you guys don't want to miss

what I'm putting on for you next week. But with that being said, the Tennessee Titans want to build through the trenches and that is exactly why they need to draft Abdul Carter. And if you don't believe me, then listen to what Tennessee Titans new general manager, Mike Borganzi had to say at the senior bowl. This quote, I believe is a courtesy of Jim Wyatt, Tennessee Titans.com. But it says, quote, you go through the roster. We're going through meetings with the coaches.

Now we have some holes to fill offensive line. That would be number one and depth across the whole team right now creating competition is going to be the biggest thing whether that's through free agency the draft maybe a workout guy. We sign off the street, but really we want to build the fronts first offensive and defensive lines then build depth along the perimeter and quote. There's a lot in there and we're going to touch on some of the some of the first couple of things that Mike Borganzi had to say here in

just a moment, but the last part is really where I want to hone in. But really, we want to build the fronts first. Offensive and defensive lines. Guys, I do believe that Amy Adams Strunk was sold an immediate winner. Rancarthong went to her and said, hey, give me this money. I'm going to go out and spend all this money in free agency and we're going to win. I'm going to turn this around right away. And then that didn't happen.

So after that, Chad Brinker goes to miss Amy and says, Look, I could come in here and tell you that I'm going to build a winner for you next year and we're going to win a ton of games and we're going to be competitive, but this roster is not very good. And it may take some time to get this thing back. We need to have patience as we build this. They already tried the short-term microwave option and it tasted terrible. So let me actually take my time and slow cook this thing and see what we can do that way.

We already tried the quick way and it didn't work. So let me actually do this the patient way. And the patient way to do it is to build the trenches up first. The most important aspect of football. The Tennessee Titans, in my opinion, are not a quarterback away from being a good football team. And I don't think that either of these quarterbacks, Cam Ward or Cheddar Sanders, or a Jayden Daniels or a Joe Burrow, who can turn a team around right away, or a CJ Stroud I don't think that they're on that level person

So if the Titans who sound like agree with that Then the answer is only Abdul Carter who is a defensive lineman who can help your pass rush six foot three 250 pounds 21 years old he's got twitch. He's got explosion He's got upside because he played off the ball the year before he went to the edge. He's only been on the edge for a year and he's already this good. He's incredible with this backside pursuit, which is going to help in the run game. He's incredibly fluid. He has pass rush moves and he could still get bigger, stronger, better against the run, more physical because he's only 21 years old. He's going to grow into his adult body and be in an NFL training program and be working on exercises that help edge rushers specifically when he was an off-ball linebacker for a year.

He could develop more pass rush moves like the upside with what you already have, he's that good of a prospect and then the upside of it. Again, build through the trenches. They are telling you what they want to do. Now, you could obviously spin that and say, well, of course, if they're going to take a quarterback number one overall, they're not going to come out and announce it right now, but I mean, to outright say, Hey, we're going to build the fronts first. I think it's an admission.

And we talked about the Brian Callahan comment from earlier this week, where he said, this isn't like when I was at Cincinnati and we knew that we were taking Joe burrow, number one, no doubt about it. We knew right away. This isn't that he literally said that. So they're telling you, we want to build the fronts first. This isn't an automatic. We know that there's a number one quarterback. We're going to take them draft. We're not going to pass on a generational player. Everything that they have said to us

points to not only, not only are they not certain that they're going to take quarterback, but most likely that they're going to address something else. And when you have the discussion of Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, and then you hear this comment, to me again, all signs point to Abdul Carter. I think he's the best player in the draft. I think it's the best player in the draft. I think it's the right pick for the Titans. And I'm going to continue to say that trading down to number three and taking Abdul Carter is the best possible outcome for the Titans because then you get your additional picks and you get the best player available. But I think we're to the point now where the Cleveland Browns are not going to take a quarterback.

I think the Cleveland Browns are going to take a quarterback. I think the Cleveland Browns are going to take Abdul Carter. So the Titans may have to just stick and pick at number one, if they want Abdul Carter. And quite frankly, I'm okay with that too. I am okay with that too. Brian Callahan talked about having seven difference makers and how they probably have to come at premium positions. Well, if you're building this thing slowly and you're starting in the trenches and you want a generational prospect, and I don't know that Abdul Carter is generational necessarily, but he could be the best edge rusher of the next however many years.

I think you do it. I think you do it. So that that is where I'm going to be. And again, I've reiterated and will continue to reiterate if the Tennessee Titans do love one of the quarterbacks and they pick one of the quarterbacks. I'm down for that ride. I'm not no, this is terrible. Why did you pick the quarterbacks? It's not like Tavandre sweat reaction. Okay, fine. Let's ride. I could see why you could believe in either of the quarterbacks, but my preference will be and remains taking Abdul Carter and Mike Borghansi saying this right here makes me feel that I might be aligned with the organization. Obviously, we're going to see it play out here in the next few months. But with that being said, the trenches includes the offensive line as well.

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the trenches with Abdul Carter. But now I want to move to the other side of that quote and the other side of the line of scrimmage to the offensive line. Now, before I dive in, do want to thank you for making Locked on Titans, locked on Titans, almost said locked on NFL. Make sure you guys check out locked on NFL too. I'm the lead host of locked on NFL. It's going to be Superbowl week next week. It's a good time to get caught up on some NFL information as well. But thank you for making locked on Titans your first listen, make locked on NFL your second listen, but remember I told you that we were going to go back to

the first part of that Mike Borganzi quote, because I think there's so much juicy stuff in that simple paragraph from Mike Borganzi quote, because I think there's so much juicy stuff in that simple paragraph from Mike Borganzi. Of course, he talked about building through the trenches first. We want to build the front's first offensive and defensive line. But then go back to the beginning of the quote where he says, you know, you could go through the roster. We're going through meeting with the coaches.

Now we have some holes to fill offensive line. That would be number one. He comes out and says it. I think it's just so clear and obvious that, you know, the Titans offensive line has been the main source of struggle for the team. I wouldn't be surprised if Amy Adams Strunk is even banging the table saying fix this offensive line. That's your number one task.

Even before quarterback before it has hasn't mattered whether it's Will Levis or Malik Willis or Josh Dobbs or Ryan Tannehill or whoever or Mason Rudolph. The offensive line over the past three years has not been good enough for the Tennessee Titans to win the games that they need to win. And they've taken steps towards it in my my opinion, and they're getting closer, but the offensive line is still nowhere near good enough. And now Dylan Radens has gone on the right-hand side. You already needed a right tackle. Cushionberry is saying he's gonna be ready by June or July,

but that's an Achilles for a veteran player. How can we be certain he'll be 100% for training camp in the season? I think you've got to have a backup plan there. So you could have three question marks on this offensive line with JC Latham and Peter Skowronski obviously holding down on the left side. And let me tell you this, it is not the worst draft ever to need an offensive tackle. It's not. There is quite a crop of offensive tackles that are available. And I think if you take, if you're building the trenches, if you're truly focused on building through the trenches, then your first two picks of your tenure as a general manager,

Mike Borganzi, should be through the trenches. Prove it. Prove it with your actions, not just your words. You want to build through the trenches? Well, let's see it. You go Abdul Carter, number one, and then you follow that up with at pick 35 an offensive tackle and think. Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks are probably the top two rated offensive linemen in this draft class, both of them might end up at guard. I think Will Campbell will absolutely he'll be like Peter Skowronski or, um, Zach Martin from the Dallas Cowboys or Quinton Nelson for the Indianapolis Colts who were college offensive tackles that were really good, but then moved

inside and had a good career at guard. I think that's what Will Campbell is going to be. And then Kelvin Banks is a guy who probably will get an opportunity at tackle first, but those two guys might be the first two guys drafted on the offensive line. And if that's the case, what the point is, is it's going to push the secondary offensive tackles down even further. It's not going to be like last year where you had Joe Alt and JC Latham and Talise Fouaga and Olufaxunu, all these offensive tackles that are going in the top 12 picks.

I don't think that's going to be the case this year. If you see any offensive linemen go in the top 10 or the top 12, it'll probably be Campbell or Banks. And that leaves you with so many offensive line, offensive tackles, specifically Josh Simmons from Ohio state who coming off injury, but still going to get drafted pretty high. Um, Jonah Savanaya, uh, Arizona, Cam Williams, the physical young right tackle from Texas, Josh Connerly from Oregon, Ariante Ursory from

Minnesota, who looks awesome. Uh, Armand, uh, Embo from Missouri, Donovan Jackson from Ohio state, who was a guard for Ohio state and then kicked out to offensive tackle for the last eight games and was absolutely nuts in the college football playoff, gave up two pressures in four games in the college football playoff at the highest stage of college football play and left tackle after being a guard Donovan Jackson could play offensive tackle in the NFL and I think at this point in time, he should

try to be an offensive tackle in the NFL. A monster you guys remember Duann Jones from Ohio State, he was like six foot eight monster got drafted by the Cleveland Browns and started his rookie year and had a pretty good season. Holland Pierce out of Rutgers is the similar build six foot eight monster and he moved pretty well, moving pretty well at senior bowl. So Holland Pierce, Bill Callahan was there when they drafted DeJuan Jones, the Titans want to be big, powerful on the offensive line. Maybe that's an option. Even later, Charles Grant out of William and Mary Ozzie, uh, Trapello from Boston college, Anthony Belton from NC state. Who's having a very good senior bowl.

Jalen rivers out of Miami. There are a lot of really good, I think, top 100 options at offensive tackle. So you stick and pick at 35 and you get one of these top guys, a Williams, a Connerly, an Ursary, Savanay, a Membo, Donovan Jackson. You get one of those guys or maybe you trade down. I saw a tweet the other day from a scout that was saying that picks 20 through 60 are very similar. There's not a huge gap between, you know, 60 and 20 this year.

So once that first round talent drops off, it's a lot of guys that are similar talent until you get to pick 60. Well, then trade down from 35 and since you're taking Abdul Carter number one, you trade down with 35 go to like 50 pick one of these offensive tackles get a couple extra picks in the back of the top 100 to replace your third round pick and then you can attack some other positions like edge rusher where there are a ton of good edge rushers with Abdul Carter and James Pierce Jr and Mike Green out of Marshall and Jaylen Walker the hybrid out of Georgia Mikel Williams the physical edge out

of Georgia uh Shamar Stewart who's looking fantastic at the senior bowl Jack Sawyer from Ohio State uh Nick Scowerton uh JT Tulumalo from Ohio state. I mean, there are so many solid edge rushers in this class. Now you could use that information and argue. That's why you pass on Abdul Carter. You know, you can get a pretty good edge, but the Titans need an extraordinary blue chip elite pass rusher. I've been asking for it for years off the edge. If you have Abdul Carter, Jeffrey Simmons, Harold Landry, Arden Key as a four man rush unit, I think that's a significant improvement

over what they've had in recent years. You add in Tavondre Sweat, Sebastian Joseph Day, maybe another rookie interior defensive lineman that you get on day three to add into that mix. I think that's a much better pass rusher. When you have that one elite edge rusher and then the one elite interior guy in Jeffrey Simmons, now you get Harold Lanesry back in a tertiary or fourth rusher role where he's best.

I think it just bumps everybody into a perfect spot if you have that one top elite pass rusher. And I've been saying that for a long time. The Titans just had that one top elite pass rusher that would set've been saying that for a long time. That the Titans just had that one top elite pass rusher that would set their defensive line to a totally different place. And now they can do it. So with the offensive tackles available,

maybe you even hit edge twice to build that defensive front up if you're looking to move on from Harold Landry or Arden Key, which could be a possibility. Like there are so many ways to build in the trenches in this draft. You start with the superstar and then you have a ton of options later That's exactly what the Titans need to do is build in the front lines. Just like Mike Borganzi said but with that being said Senior Bowl day two a lot of standouts. I'm gonna go over them right now

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Titans fans. Let's cap off today's edition of the locked on Titans podcast. We talked about Mike Borganzi's quote and why I think it points to Abdul Carter with the top pick. We continue talking about that quote and talked about how I think that points to offensive line with the second pick. And, um, just a little preview. Remember off season roadmap week is next week. I'm going to go over my cap cuts, my trades, my roster management items, free agency,

the draft, I'm doing the entire roadmap for the Titans most ideal all season. And it might include bringing a certain right guard back to Tennessee with a rookie right tackle. One of the names I just mentioned might be part of the ideal roster plan for the Tennessee Titans. So make sure that you don't miss off season roadmap week next week. I mean, it's gonna be so much fun. I can't wait to debut it with you guys. But with that being said, Senior Bowl day two recap day two of practices.

And remember, I remind you guys every year, I reminded you yesterday, I'll remind you again that the most important part of the senior bowl is the practices and the interviews and the meetings, not the actual game. Nobody really cares. A lot of the scouts leave for the game because the game doesn't matter. It's the practices. It's the interviews. It's the one-on-one contact with these guys figuring out who they are, watching them up close and personal. The individual drills like Brian Callahan talked about one-on-ones, wide receivers, DBs, O-line, defensive line,

all of that. But day two, the star once again of day two, Mike Green, edge rusher out of Marshall. He bowled over Josh Connerly and look, losing one rep doesn't mean that you're a terrible prospect. So a lot of people are obviously dogging on Josh Connerly from Oregon, the offensive tackle, but Mike Green looks like one of the best products. We're talking about two guys who are probably going to be picked in the first round of the NFL draft.

You're going to get beat. Like nobody is perfect. No one is a hundred percent on all these reps. So Mike Green just bulled through Josh Connerly's chest with a power rush. And, uh, I saw Mike Green talk on an interview on NFL network after practice and he was saying that, yeah, I'm not just a speed guy. Like I have power too. And I came to prove that Mike Green is going to be a first round pick on the edge.

He's absolutely sick, nasty, but either way, uh, staying on the edge. Shamar Stewart out of Texas, St. M looks powerful. He looks strong. He looks coordinated, like really good, really good day for some of the edge rushers to get some get back here. Uh, Baron Sorrell out of Texas, having a very good practice on day two. A guy I'm very interested in is UCLA edge rusher.

Ola Ola Dezio, uh, Ola Dezio, Ola Ola Dezio, I believe is the correct cornet correct pronunciation. Can't even pronounce pronunciation now. But he was he was another guy who was an offball linebacker and transitioned to the edge. I think he only had a handful of sacks last year, but he is just rocked up. Great potential, great frame, great size. I think he's an interesting, maybe day two, early day three option on the edge for the Tennessee Titans. Jared Ivy of Ole Miss

on the edge had a very good day. And back to the offensive line for me, man. Gray Zebel out of North Dakota State continues to impress Anthony Belton, who we mentioned a second ago, offensive Ta of NC State Marcus and Bo also from Purdue the versatile offensive lineman I think he plays probably on the interior at the next level. One name that was really standing out is Arman Mambo and he left actually he had an illness and left the senior bowl entirely so no more updates from him but I know he was a guy who was standing out on day

one who the Titans probably had some interested so on the offensive line standouts edge rushers there are some standouts staying on the offense wide receiver Tess Johnson from Oregon continues to look good look he's a hundred and fifty pounds he's going to look good in seven on sevens and one on ones where the physicality and the potential to get hit over the middle and all that Isn't quite the same. I'm sorry, but I don't want to draft wide receivers that are that small They end up hurt. They're always injured. So he's going to continue to impress and have good days I'm sorry to me. I see t I see Troy Franklin from Oregon last year.

Iowa State's Jalen Noel, pretty good practices out there. Jalen Royals out of Utah State. And then tight end Mason Taylor from LSU, continuing to impress. He looks fluid. He's making catches away from his body. Hearing good things about Mason Taylor from everybody down in Mobile. Defensive backs on defense. his body, hearing good things about Mason Taylor from everybody down in mobile, mobile.

Defensive backs on defense, obviously hit a couple of positions. Quincy Riley, we've been hearing a lot about Azaray Thomas from Florida State. He's probably the best cornerback down in mobile right now, but Quincy Riley out of Louisville. Remember, cornerbacks out of Louisville, Jarvis Brownlee Jr. Quincy Riley has been making himself some money. He's been pretty impressive down there according to the reports. And then some linebackers. I think the Titans need to add some linebackers here.

I would even consider cutting Kenneth Murray and saving $7.5 million. I might just be projecting my own wishes. I do not want Kenneth Murray on this team anymore. Didn't like the signing when it happened. But the Nord Wilson does like him as a leader and all that. So I bet he's back even though that's not what I want. But at linebacker Demetrius Knight out of South Carolina and then Auburn's Eugene Assante linebackers who look pretty good in mobile and the Titans need to have

their eye on some, some mid rounded day three linebackers and continue pretty good in mobile and the Titans need to have their eye on some some mid-rounded day three linebackers and Continue to kind of cycle through that. I don't care that they added two last year Let's keep doing it because that's where you find the best value linebackers is in that third round to sixth round range So I'm cool with taking one every year. Let's do it You know what I mean until we have some some significant answers and find a gem in there. Cause that's where you tight ends and linebackers and running backs. You find these gems in the mid rounds. That's what good teams are built on.

So that's what the Titans need to do as well. With that being said though, that is going to do it for me today. Make sure you get subscribed, stay subscribed. Um, as always, I am your host Tylerland, and this was Locked on Titans.