Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans ROSTER PREDICTIONS: Caleb Farley's Time is Up, Logjam at Linebacker & D-Line Churn Needed

Episode Date: July 22, 2024

The Tennessee Titans kick off training camp this week and before we know it will be faced with roster decisions. In part two of our series, we look at the defensive side of the ball and Tyler predicts who will make the cut. First, it seems Caleb Farley's time is up for the Titans as the numbers add up at cornerback. Next, there are a lot of linebackers on this team and all of them can't go. Finally, the Titans don't have a lot of great options on the defensive line and need some new faces.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/videosSupport 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.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotors.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply.FanDuelFanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. As playoffs wind down, the sports stop sporting like we want them to. But this summer, FanDuel is hooking up ALL CUSTOMERS with a boost or a bonus, DAILY! That’s right, there’s something for everyone, every day, all summer long! Visit FANDUEL.COM/LOCKEDON and add a big win to your summer bucket list!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 cornerback group is as talented as it's ever been. And that probably means it's the end for Caleb Farley. I'll explain on today's edition of the Locked On Titans podcast. 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 FanDuel. Make every moment more as the playoffs wind down, the sports stop sporting like we want them to. But this summer, FanDuel is hooking up all customers with a boost or a bonus daily. That's right, there's something for everyone every day all summer long. Visit FanDuel.com to get started. On today's show, we are doing part two of our pre-training camp roster predictions. I am telling you who I think makes the 53-man roster.

We did the offense on yesterday's show. Filled up 24 roster spots. If you missed that, go back to check that out today. We are talking defense and special teams. So I'm going to dive into that. Before I do, 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. I 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. You're not going to beat that anywhere else. Make sure that you get subscribed. Stay subscribed. It's your team every day here on the Locked on Titans podcast. And Tennessee Titans training camp kicks off on Tuesday. We're going to hear from Brian Callahan. We're going to hear from Brian Callahan.

We're going to hear from Rand Carthon on tomorrow's show. I'm going to be breaking down what they had to say and going over my top training camp battles before the first training camp practice of the year takes place on Wednesday, which, of course, I'll have a full recap for you on that as well. So football season is here, Titans fans, and you want to stay locked in to the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world here,

the Locked on Titans podcast. But with that being said, looking at the defensive side of the ball, we're going to start with the cornerback position. And as I kind of talked about last week, to me, there are four locks to make this roster a cornerback. You have LeJarius Sneed, you have Chido Owuze,

you have Roger McCreary, and you have Jarvis Brownlee Jr., the recent draft pick for the Titans. I think he's going to be a great fit in their press-heavy scheme under Denard Wilson. I think he's an excellent No. 4 cornerback to have who can develop to be even more down the road. But how many corners do they keep outside of that? Who gets those spots?

That's the interesting conversation. I think those top four are pretty much set in stone. But who comes after that? Because you have Trey Avery, Eric Guerrero, Caleb Farley, Gabe Judy Lawley, Anthony Kendall, Robert Javier, Tay Gowan. I mean, there are a lot of cornerbacks in camp for the Titans. Ultimately, I think for the Titans. Ultimately, I think that the Titans want to have more depth at positions that they're more uncertain about.

So I think that the conversation at cornerback would be either you're going to keep five or you're going to keep six. That's what it's going to be at cornerback. And for me, when you look at the cornerback position, again, I think the Titans have some really good talent in their top four. So I would personally only keep five cornerbacks. And then I would use an extra player at a spot where I didn't feel good about the talent that I have, whether that be linebacker, interior defensive line, safety. Those are all spots where I would keep that extra player because I don't know if any of these guys are going to be

able to do the job and it gives me more numbers to rotate through. I feel very comfortable with the top four cornerbacks for the Titans. So, if we're only keeping five cornerbacks, who gets the final spot? Well, here's the reality. It's not going to be Caleb Farley. It just doesn't make any sense.

He's not a better football player than Trey Avery, Eric Guerrero, maybe even a Gabe Judy Lawley and Anthony Kendall. Like I don't even think Caleb Farley is in the next three in terms of cornerbacks that are worthy of keeping the spot. I think Trey Avery, Eric Gerrard, Gabe Judy Lawley, the undrafted free agent out of Tennessee. I think all three of those guys have the spot over Caleb Farley. So he's not even in my next wave to make the team. The reality here is Caleb Farley is going to be labeled another all-time bust for the Tennessee Titans

and, of course, associated. It's like earned runs for a pitcher when they get pulled. This is still a bust that goes on John Robinson's record, of course, even though he's been fired far before Caleb Farley's final time with the Titans. Here's the reality. Titans aren't going to lose any additional money by cutting Caleb Farley. What they're paying him this year for the final year of his rookie contract

is what he's going to be paid. There's no way around that. So it's not like they're going to cost themselves any money like last year at this time when we had the conversation about Caleb Farley. I said it last week. I'll reiterate it here. I feel as bad for Caleb Farley as I possibly could for anybody with all the personal tragedy that he's gone through

over the last five to six years. Add in the football tragedy that's happened to him with his body breaking down and him just not being able to fulfill his potential. I feel very bad for Caleb Farley. But that doesn't change, again, the reality that he's not one of the top eight cornerbacks on this team and he may have potential and maybe they want to give him one last shot, but I just don't think he's a better player than some of these other guys. For me personally, I'm going to give this fifth spot to the rookie Gabe Judy Lawley,

the undrafted free agent out of Tennessee. He's a taller guy, 6'1", more size. When you look at a guy like Roger McCreary, look at a guy like Jarvis Brownlee Jr., you look at a guy like Eric Garrow even, who I think has a great chance to get that final fifth spot. Or if they keep six, I think Eric Garrow would be next for me as the guy that they would keep. But those are all smaller guys.

Those are all slot cornerbacks that make more sense inside in Roger McCreary, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., and Eric Garrow. So I think that next cornerback spot, that fifth cornerback spot for me has to be a guy who can play outside because you don't want Roger McCreary outside. Jarvis Brownlee Jr. can play a little bit outside, but I don't think you want him to do that consistently. So to me, when you have Snead, you have Awuzie,

you want to have one extra outside guy, and Gabe Giudiloli has the size to do that. And I think he's a better player than what we've seen from Trey Avery. And being a younger player, I would take my time to develop him there. I would rather develop Gabe Giudiloli than Trey Avery at this point if I'm the new Titans staff and the new Titans organizational philosophy here. You know, with what Denard Wilson wants to do, I want Gabe Judy Lawley over Trey Avery.

But looking at the safety position, again, when I say that I would like to keep more players at spots I'm not as comfortable with my depth, and safety is one of those spots. So, of course, you're going to have a Monty Hooker. You're going to have Elijah Molden. You're going to have Jamal Adams. Those three are a lock to make the team, no doubt about it.

After that, though, you're going to go with Mike Brown, Matt Jackson, Shaheem Carter, Keaton Ellis, who I like a lot as an undrafted free agent rookie out of Penn State. Ultimately, though, outside of the top three that we mentioned, Hooker, Molden, and Adams, I think Mike Brown. Mike Brown is consistently underrated. Look, his name is Mike Brown, so people barely remember that he exists because he's got a forgettable name that's very usual, okay?

But Mike Brown was getting some snaps over Elijah Molden last year before injury. Mike Brown is a guy who can be a box safety, can be a dime linebacker, can play close to the line of scrimmage. I think Mike Brown fits the skill set that Denard Wilson and the Titans defense is looking for. So I think Mike Brown does make the team. And I think last week I was very much considering putting Keaton Ellis on this team and kind of taking a chance that he would be an undrafted free agent that made it.

But I got to be honest, after thinking about it, I think Matthew Jackson. Matthew Jackson makes more sense here. I think Matthew Jackson is a guy, as a second-year player, is going to be ready to help on special teams. He's got some good length as well, which I think will appeal to Denard Wilson. I could see Keaton Ellis getting the spot, but I think I'm going to go with Matthew Jackson. After thinking about it a ton, I think I'm going to go with Matthew Jackson.

So that's 10 players in the secondary. I think if I'm wrong and they keep another player at another spot, I think they'll keep a sixth cornerback. You know, Eric Garrero or maybe Anthony Kendall because of the special teams ability there. It won't be Caleb Farley, of course. But I'm going to go with five cornerbacks, five safeties to start off the defense.

Now we're going to move to linebackers, including off-ball linebackers and edge rushers. And that's another place where I might be keeping some extra guys. Before I get into that, though, I do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs. Alright, guys. You're a small business.

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conditions apply. Titans fans, let's continue part two of my pre-training camp, 53-man roster predictions. We did offense on yesterday's show. We talked about the secondary just now. Now I want to get into linebackers, talking off-ball linebackers, edge rushers, because there's a bit of a log jam at the linebacker position that's going to be kind of tough to sort through. Before we dive into it, I do want to thank you again 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. You're not going to beat that anywhere else. Make sure that you get subscribed. Stay subscribed. It's your team every day here on the Locked on Titans podcast. But looking at linebacker. So as I said last week, Jack Gibbons is linebacker one.

So, obviously, I have him making the team. Kenneth Murray, obviously going to make the team. He's a lock. Cedric Gray, the Titans wouldn't have picked him in the fourth round if they weren't going to have him on the team. So, to me, those three are the locks. They're the top three linebackers. But there's so much intrigue after that.

You have Otis Reese, who a lot of people in the fan base hyped about Otis Reese. Very excited about Otis Reese from his games last year. Might do a little Otis Reese film breakdown here in the very near future. Go over his performance at the end of the year playing linebacker last year. But a lot of people excited about Otis Reese. So Otis Reese

undrafted free agent last year. 6'3". Great speed. Former safety. And he plays with a ton of physicality. So that in itself that description of him as a prospect fits perfectly within the framework of what

Denard Wilson wants to do on defense right Jamal Adams is that type of guy Kenneth Murray is that type of guy James Williams another option at inside linebacker is that type of guy. Kenneth Murray is that type of guy. James Williams, another option at inside linebacker, is that type of guy. Mike Brown could be that type of guy. Elijah Molden, at times, was considered that type of guy. Downhill, physical players.

Molden obviously doesn't quite have the size of these other guys, but still, it fits the ethos of what you're looking for. So Otis Reese to me is everything that Denard Wilson is looking for at linebacker. So there's no way to me that Otis Reese doesn't make this team. He just fits too perfectly. He's going to be a developmental option for the Titans that I'm certain they'll be excited to work with. I feel the same way about James Williams,

the Titans' seventh-round pick out of Miami. Again, another guy, 6'4", not elite speed, but good speed for a guy his size. Transitioning from safety to linebacker, plays with incredible physicality and is a huge, intimidating hitter over the middle of the field. That again, Otis Reese, James Williams, very similar type of guys.

That's why I have them making the team. After the top three, you have Gibbons, Murray, Gray, and then I'm going with Otis Reese and James Williams. I just think they are the exact style of linebacker that the Titans are looking for. Their skill sets as players fit perfectly with what Denard Wilson wants to do, what he wants to develop.

He wants to play positionless. He wants to have a bunch of matchup options, a bunch of different formations, a bunch of different matchups within those formations. So you got to have a bunch of guys who are big, fast, and physical if you're going to want to play that way. So I think that they're obviously going to keep around Reese and James Williams. The question is, this is like cornerback to me.

Will they keep six here? And this goes back to the roster math that I talked about yesterday. Would you rather keep Malik Willis? Or would you rather keep an extra cornerback? Would you rather keep Malik Willis, or would you rather keep an extra cornerback? Would you rather keep Malik Willis, or would you rather keep an extra linebacker? Would you rather keep nine offensive linemen, or eight offensive linemen, and then six linebackers, and then you get to keep a Luke Gifford, a Chance Campbell? Because Garrett Wallow and JoJo Doman, to me,

are not making this team. You know, Garrett Wallow and JoJo Doman are at the bottom of the depth chart for linebacker for me. So, those are the math problems that you have. Those are the questions that you have, the equation that you're trying to fill out. What does X equal exactly? You know?

So, linebacker is one of those spots where if I'm wrong about the number of people that they keep, I think linebacker is high on the list where I could be wrong about that. I think cornerback is on that list as well. Because I could see him keeping like a Luke Gifford or a Chance Campbell. Bigger body guys. Gifford especially.

Really good on special teams. Really good special teams player. So, that's going to be a tough one. But right now, I'm going to have him keep five on defense, at linebacker. Your top three of Givens, Murray, and Gray. And then Reese and Williams. Now, when you go to edge,

I'm going to cheat a little bit here. Okay? I'm doing a little cheating with Edge. Because you know that you're going to have Harold Landry, Arden Key, and Rashad Weaver. I think I think

that is the obvious top three there. And then after that, it's kind of ugly. You got the two second-year players in Thomas Rush and Caleb Murphy, and then the two rookies in Jalen Harrell, the draft pick, and Khalid Duke, the undrafted free agent out of Kansas State.

So that's why I think the Titans bring in a veteran edge rusher. They said a while ago, Rand Carthon, Brian Callahan, looking at veteran safeties, looking at veteran edge rusher. They said a while ago, Rand Carthon, Brian Callahan, looking at veteran safeties, looking at veteran edge rushers. They brought in the veteran safety. We got that with Jamal Adams. They brought in another offensive tackle in Jerron Christian.

Now they need to bring in that edge rusher because that's the third spot where I was saying they need a free agent all summer long. I would include interior defensive line, but we'll talk about that later in the show. So if the Titans bring in a veteran edge rusher, you could be, you could think Emmanuel Ogba. You could think Carl Lawson. You could think maybe even Yannick Ngakwe, although I don't think that's a fit at all. Yannick Ngakwe is a bad locker room, selfish player,

who's a really good pass rusher. And despite the fact he could get like 10 sacks every year, nobody wants him. Why? Because he's bad in the locker room. Selfish player. But, but, but. The Titans don't really need another pure pass rusher. I think Arden Key fills that role.

Big personality in the locker room. Pure pass rusher. Not good against the run, not physical. Arden Key, we already have Yannick Ngakwe at home, and it's Arden Key, okay? So, to me, they need a big physical edge rusher, and that's why Carl Lawson

and Emmanuel Ogba are my two favorite options. Maybe you think I like a Charles Harris, I guess, but I don't like him as much as the others. One thing worth noting, though, Emmanuel Ogba is taking a visit with the Miami Dolphins, so he could be off the market very, very soon. Hopefully, the Titans are dialed in on Carl Lawson, and that's why we haven't heard much about Lawson or about the Titans

in the edge market or anything like that. Hopefully, they just go bring in Carl Lawson, and then you would have Harold Landry, Arden Key, Rashad Weaver, a big physical veteran who's coming off injuries, trying to get back his way that'll be really cheap, and Carl Lawson, and then you keep Jalen Harrell as your fifth edge rusher, the draft pick out of Michigan, who could be a special teams player,

but also give you some great effort against the run on early downs if he's got a rotate end on defense. So to me, that's my five. I'm going with the edge. Landry, Key, Weaver, a veteran free agent, and then Jalen Harrell. If the Titans don't bring in that veteran free agent, I think Thomas Rush, because of his versatility,

actually jumps over Caleb Murphy and makes the team as the fifth edge rusher. So that'll be something to watch. But let's talk about the interior defensive line and special teams for our final roster predictions. That's 20 guys on defense. Six spots

left. Diving into them now. Before we do, though, I do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by Fan Duel Sportsbook. Look, guys, I love sports. I love them so much that I never want them to stop. But the sports stop sporting like we want them to during the summer. That's just the reality of the situation with the NBA being over,

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That's right. There's something for everyone, every day, all summer long. So make sure that you head over to FanDuel.com and start making the most out of your summer and get some early Titans bets in as well. Plus four and a half against Chicago week one. Love that. FanDuel, official sports betting partner of Major League Baseball. Titans fans, let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Part two of my roster predictions pre-training camp.

We are up to 44 players as we speak. I did 24 on offense. We've done 20 so far on defense. Five cornerbacks, five safeties, five linebackers, five edge rushers. Again, I could see the Titans going with six at cornerback or linebacker. Maybe only going five at interior defensive line. But I'm starting off with six on the interior defensive line because I think it's such an important spot to have depth

because you have to rotate your defensive line in the NFL to keep everybody healthy and fresh. Before I tell you who fills those six spots, do want to remind you again that I appreciate you making Locked On Titans your first listen each and every day. If you want it every day or you need to be one because Tennessee Titans football

is back and nobody breaks down training camp like I do every single day of the week. So make sure that you get subscribed. Stay subscribed. Also check out Locked On Sports today. It's 24-7. It's streaming on YouTube. It's on Amazon Fire TV. But basically it's

a 24-7 stream breaking down all the top sports stories of the day. Local experts from Locked On. National analysis from every league from our national shows. Find Locked On Sports today, now available streaming on YouTube and the Free Fire TV channels app. But obviously you have Jeffrey Simmons, Tavondre Sweat, Sebastian Joseph Day.

Period. Those are locks to make the roster your top three. The problem is I don't like any of the players the Titans have after that. You have Quentin Bohanna, T.K. McClendon, Keiondre Coburn, Marlon Davidson, the undrafted free agent out of Rutgers, Isaiah Iton. Quentin Bohanna, T.K. McClendon, Keiondre Coburn, Marlon Davidson, all guys who have been around, but I don't like any of them.

I don't think any of them are confirmed NFL players. I think they're all roster bubble players. I think most of them are practice squad players. With Keiondre Coburn, he's a guy who, he's going to babysit Tavondre Sweat this year. So I'm going to have him making the roster simply to be a babysitter to Tavondre Sweat this year. So I'm going to have him making the roster simply to be a babysitter Tavondre Sweat. I mean,

it's that simple. The guy's not good enough to be on the team, but the Titans have already mentioned his name as someone who's going to be mentoring Tavondre Sweat, babysitting Tavondre Sweat in reality. So I think Keiondre Coburn makes the team. Quentin Bohanna as well.

I think that he could be a nice interior run stuffer for right now. And then TK McClendon got a two-year deal from the Titans. I would imagine it's non-guaranteed, probably completely. But clearly they have an interest in him as a player. So I think that TK McClendon is going to stick around. So that's my six. Simmons, Sweat, Joseph Day, Quentin Bohanna, TK McClendon,

Keiondre Coburn. That means Isaiah Iton, the undrafted free agent. I think he needs to put weight on before he's actually an NFL player. He's like 260 to 270 pounds. I think he needs to be about 20 pounds heavier to be the type of player that he has to be at the NFL level. I think that's practice squad. And then Marlon Davidson. I mean, honestly, out of him and Quentin

Bohanna, you could flip a coin. It wouldn't matter. Here's what the reality is. The Titans need to turn this position. I've been saying it for weeks, months. The Titans need to bring in some new blood here and hopefully get some better depth. Maybe if there are teams out there that have a surplus of talent at defensive line, they're going to cut some guys eventually. The Titans can swoop up those. I mean, that's really the best option that they have, and that's going to take a few weeks before they can do that. But maybe if other guys get cut during training camp

before the cut-down day, the Titans can scoop up some of those guys and just get some new blood in here because I don't like any of these options. But I'm going to go with six because, again, you need a defensive line rotation to keep those guys fresh. So that is 50 players. 26 on defense, 24 on offense. Again, if I'm wrong on any of these spots,

I think it would be quarterback because the Titans decide to keep three with Malik Willis or they get a new third quarterback, which we talked about yesterday. Linebacker, cornerback, I could see him keeping a sixth player instead of just five. But we're going to see it all shake out. Titans training campus here.

I'm going to be back tomorrow breaking down what Brian Callahan had to say, what Rand Carthon and Anthony Robinson had to say. Going to go over some training camp battles as well. So very excited to dive into all that. Titans football is here. Let's go, baby. So hype.

But with that being said, that's going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland. And this is Locked on Titans.