Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans WANT PLAYMAKERS, Taking Receiver in Round 1 & Derrick Henry's Future

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Tennessee Titans will prioritize playmakers in the NFL draft, and that's exactly what they should do. I'll explain why on today's edition of the Locked On Titans podcast. Let's get it! 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.

Starting point is 00:00:51 Make every moment more. Right now, new customers get $150 in bonus bets with any winning $5 bet. That's $150. If your bet wins, visit fanduel.com slash locked on to get started. We heard from Titans General Manager, Rancar Thon, and Titans Head Coach, Brian Callahan, at the Combine on Tuesday. And it is clear that they are prioritizing playmakers. We're going to talk about what they had to say and how that will manifest itself in the NFL draft and rank the top players who could make sense for the Titans at pick seven.

Starting point is 00:01:27 Plus, we also heard some other topics from Rand Carthon and Brian Callahan, mostly about Derrick Henry. So I'll give you guys the update there. Before we get into it, do want to thank you guys 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 you get subscribed.

Starting point is 00:01:49 Stay subscribed. It's your team every day here on the Locked on Titans podcast. Like I told you guys, it's combine week. We're going to get a ton of rumors. We're going to get a ton of news. We're smack dab in the middle of the 2024 Locked on Titans free agency preview. So make sure that you stick with me here every day on the Locked on Titans podcast. Shout out to my everydayers out there tuning in Monday through Friday.

Starting point is 00:02:12 Couldn't do it without you guys. But again, it is clear from hearing from Rancar Thon and Brian Callahan that the Titans will prioritize playmakers. And I think that will have a major impact on how they handle the NFL draft. It seems clear now that they are going to prioritize wide receiver in the draft. Now, I think that there are obvious factors that could go into that, who's available, which prospects are ahead of others,

Starting point is 00:02:40 and we're going to dive into that. But what I want to talk about first is what these guys actually said at the Combine on Tuesday. And we're going to start with Ran Carthon, because Carthon laid it out pretty simple. He said this, quote, If you look at where Callahan comes from, you have three to four guys that are in there a lot and are producers.

Starting point is 00:03:02 The receiver's room is where we're going to continue to look to add some playmakers. Like I said before, we are looking to add playmakers on both sides of the ball. We need to have people that can put the ball in the paint and score points for us. And we need people who can take the ball away and create more opportunities for us to score. To me, it's pretty obvious what he's saying right there. We need better wide receiver play, and we need better secondary play. The NFL is all about space now.

Starting point is 00:03:35 Look, I get it. I'm an old school football head at my heart. I love the trenches. But the reality is the NFL is getting smaller. The NFL is getting faster. And the Tennessee Titans have not been a part of that revolution so far. So yes, so important to have offensive line. So important to have pass rush. But it's clear that a lot of the NFL today is the passing game. Stopping the passing game, having success in the passing game, and you're only going

Starting point is 00:04:03 to be able to do that if you have playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. As someone who's been a Tennessee Titans fan for 25 years and watched them play bully ball, 1980s, smash and dash, exotic smash mouth all the time, we're going to beat you up, play caveman football, and see if you can beat us in the mud. This is a breath of fresh air. Like this is an incredible thing to hear from the general manager of the football team. But Brian Callahan,

Starting point is 00:04:33 Brian Callahan talked about it as well. Brian Callahan said this at the end of the day, the NFL is about scoring points. Oh my God, can you believe it? Can you believe it? All right, back to the quote. And having people that can score points is important. I'll always lean when all things are equal on guys that can score touchdowns tend to make an impact or more of an impact. Guys that can score touchdowns tend to make more of an impact.

Starting point is 00:05:09 Look, guys, I value offensive line highly, but the reality here is the Titans desperately, desperately need more playmakers on the outside. Callahan and Carcon both talked about how Will Levis, for his development, needs better wide receiver play, and I saw Brian Callahan even said, the quicker that you get open, the quicker you can throw the ball. So all of these quotes that we are hearing from Carthon,

Starting point is 00:05:35 from Callahan, are telling you the wide receiver position is the number one priority for this football team this offseason. Now I get it. I can hear people, this is smokescreen, this is draft talk. They may still take offensive line. They very well may do that at pick number seven. And we're going to talk about a situation where I think they should pick the offensive lineman at pick number seven.

Starting point is 00:06:02 But just hearing this philosophical change from Mike Vrabel saying, yeah, we need team speed. Yeah, you know, we're looking for guys who can block, waving at the camera when they don't take a wide receiver until the seventh round of the draft. To go from that to this, I mean, this is music to my ears because there is a great wide receiver class in front of you in the NFL draft.

Starting point is 00:06:28 There are some solid options that will probably be available in free agency. And just to know, just to know that this team is prioritizing wide receiver and explosive playmakers. That, I mean, some people will bicker with you, I guess, about how important Oicker with you, I guess, about how important O-line to wide receiver.

Starting point is 00:06:48 Both of them are very important. Both of them are very important. And the previous coaching staff did not respect the value of wide receivers in the NFL today. They still looked at it as the 1980s, 1990s, Dallas Cowboys, best offensive line, run the ball down your throat, play good run defense. But look, running the ball and run defense will always matter. But in today's NFL, stopping the pass and throwing the football are far

Starting point is 00:07:17 more important. And to see the Tennessee Titans that I have followed for 25 years finally embrace that reality that's all around us. Again, a breath of fresh air. Very exciting. I do want to mention one other quote here before we move on. Because again, this conversation immediately turns into how does this theory,

Starting point is 00:07:40 how does this philosophy manifest itself in the NFL draft? And I think it definitely will. And this one right here. I think for a guy like Bill Callahan who has been such a strong developer of talent at the O-line position, it gives us a little leeway to bring some guys in and him have a plan of how to develop those guys

Starting point is 00:08:05 and get them on the field. That's what Rand Carthon said. So a little bit of leeway. What does that mean? We're going to talk about that right now. Before we do, though, I do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Get buckets with your first bet on FanDuel, America's number one sportsbook.

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Starting point is 00:10:20 That's BetterHelp, H-E-L-P dot com slash Locked On. Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast, breaking down the combine interviews with Rancart Thon and Brian Callahan. We got some excellent quotes early on about playmakers, about scoring points, about scoring touchdowns. I think it really leads us to believe that the Titans will prioritize wide receiver. But what does that actually mean for the first round of the draft?

Starting point is 00:11:07 Before I get into that, thank you guys 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. Make sure you get subscribed. Stay subscribed. It's your team every day. But again, we heard the prioritization of playmakers

Starting point is 00:11:27 from Rancart Dawn, from Brian Callahan. To me, and I felt this way for quite some time now, the number one player on the Tennessee Titans board has to be Marvin Harrison Jr. All right? The Titans don't need a quarterback. They're not going to take Caleb Williams. They're not going to take Drake May. They're not going to take Jaden Daniels. So you start to look at players who are at the top of the board who aren't at quarterback. And it's clear that wide receiver is where it's at. All right. That's pretty obvious that that's where you want to go this. Marvin Harrison Jr. is not going to be available for the Titans at pick number seven.

Starting point is 00:12:07 You want to talk about a trade up? We talked about that a couple of weeks ago. My everydayers will remember that conversation. Like I've said with Justin Jefferson, like I've said with T. Higgins, a trade up where the Titans give up additional capital doesn't make any sense. They need all the picks that they can get. All right?

Starting point is 00:12:26 Like the Titans need to stockpile picks. That's why I want to see them trade down in the second round. That is where you do that. At number seven, they need a high-profile blue-chip talent is what they need. But then they can add depth later in the draft by a simple trade down in the second round. But, but, I say all that to say this. Marvin Harrison Jr. is going to be off the board. If Joe Alt, the offensive tackle out of Notre Dame,

Starting point is 00:12:55 is available at pick number seven, I don't care about the playmaker conversations and quotes. The Titans need to pick Joe Alt. Period. Let me know down below. Who would you pick if Marvin Harrison Jr. was gone? Joe Alt, Malik Neighbors, Roma Dunze, maybe you like Ola Fashanu over Joe Alt.

Starting point is 00:13:12 I think that's crazy, but hey, that's your prerogative. But to me, regardless of the conversation that we had, if Joe Alt is on the board at number seven, that is who the Tennessee Titans are going to pick. I still believe that. Regardless of these quotes. Regardless of these comments. Now, where these comments have swayed me.

Starting point is 00:13:31 If Joe Ault and Marvin Harrison are off the board and the Titans have the choice between Malik Nabors, Roma Dunze, Olufushanu, now I am convinced. I am convinced that the Titans would be taking one of those wide receivers over Olufushanu. Now, I am convinced. I am convinced that the Titans would be taking one of those wide receivers over Olufushanu. I do not

Starting point is 00:13:50 believe that the Titans would take Olufushanu over Roma Dunze over Malik Nabors. And let's get back into these quotes. Again, Rand Carthon said this. I think for a guy like Bill Callahan, who has been such a strong developer of talent at the O-line position,

Starting point is 00:14:07 it gives us a little leeway to bring some guys in and him having a plan of how to develop those guys and get them on the field. Also, Brian Callahan said this, I'll say this, you can never replace elite talent. Coaching makes an impact. It matters. But ultimately, the better players you have, the better coach you are. I will never pass up on elite talent just because I think we have a great coach. Great coaches with elite talent is special. coaches with elite talent is special.

Starting point is 00:14:44 So we're trying to get to that point. So that tells me one, that the Titans are willing to go for a second round offensive tackle, are willing to get somebody in free agency and let Bill Callahan develop them. But the quote from Brian

Starting point is 00:15:00 Callahan about elite talent and not passing up elite talent because you have great coaches, that goes back to, I don't think that they pass on Joe Ault. But if Joe Ault isn't there, then they lean on that leeway that Bill Callahan provides them. They go wide receiver. They take the offensive tackle in the second round.

Starting point is 00:15:23 At the end of the day, guys, this is a deep, deep class at wide receiver and at offensive tackle. Insane depth at both of those positions, which is absolutely heavenly for the Tennessee Titans. It does give them wiggle room, but I'm hearing in these quotes what my interpretation of these quotes is. Hey, we'll take Joe Alt if he's there. If he's not there,

Starting point is 00:15:48 we're going wide receiver, and we trust that Bill Callahan can develop a second round offensive tackle. Think about a guy like Tyler Guyton from Oklahoma. A guy like Patrick Paul from Houston. There are guys like Rosengarten from Washington. There are a ton of offensive

Starting point is 00:16:04 tackles that could make a lot of sense for the Titans in round two. All right? It would make a ton of sense. So that is how I interpret these comments, is, hey, we'll take Joe Ault if he's there. If he's not there, we're going neighbors. We're going Odunze. If they're not there, which they will be there,

Starting point is 00:16:20 but if we get one of those guys in the second round, we can get offensive linemen and lean on Bill Callahan's expertise to get we get one of those guys in the second round, we can get offensive linemen and lean on Bill Callahan's expertise to get the most out of those guys. Now, I know some of you guys will say, hey, playmaker, putting points, that could be Brock Bowers. You're right. It could be,

Starting point is 00:16:36 but I'm not buying it. So, sorry, you're not going to get me on board with Brock Bowers at pick number seven when Malik Neighbors or Roma Dunzay could be available. I mean, I'm taking Fashanu over Brock Bowers anyway. Not dealing with that. So that's just how I feel. But one other thing that I want to mention here.

Starting point is 00:16:53 Brian Callahan did say this. He said that this wide receiver class, he's hoping to get a couple of guys. That's the word that was used a couple guys that could be a fit for us so here's what I'm telling you if you send me a mock draft

Starting point is 00:17:14 on Twitter at Tic Tac Titans if you're talking about mock drafts in the chat in YouTube you better have two wide receivers in there one in the first two picks and then another one before the end of the draft.

Starting point is 00:17:26 Because with the depth at this wide receiver draft, the Titans cannot afford to not walk away with two of them. So it sounds like, from what Brian Callahan is saying, they want to totally remake the wide receiver group. Totally remake it. He had some things to say about Traylon Burks, and we'll get into that. But at the end of the day, it's obvious that this coaching staff wants more playmakers at wide receiver, period. And they're going to do whatever it takes to make that happen. So very exciting to

Starting point is 00:17:58 see that. That's how I think it kind of plays out in the draft and what their thought process could be. It is smoke screen season, of course, so we won't know until we know for sure, but hard not to take some of that and think it's honest with how aligned the message is between Carthon and between Callahan. And honestly, with what they're saying, it makes a ton of sense too. So let me know down below. Would you take the wide receivers over Joe Ault? Would you take the wide receivers over Olufushanu?

Starting point is 00:18:25 How do you think about that situation? But now I'm going to dive into everything else that these two guys had to say. They talked Henry, Skowronski, Burks, Dillard, Spears. A ton more to dive into on today's show. We're going to get into that next. Before we do, I do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by eBay Motors. Passion, drive, and patience. What brings home the winning trophy is what keeps your ride or die alive.

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Starting point is 00:19:34 at ebaymotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay guaranteed fit. Only available to U.S. customers. Titans fans, let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We talked about the comments from Rand Carthon and Brian Callahan about playmakers. We talked about what that might mean with the NFL draft.

Starting point is 00:20:10 Now I want to talk about some other comments that were made that I thought you guys might find interesting before we get into it. Thank you guys again for making Locked On Titans your first listen each and every day. Also want to let you know that Locked On has launched the first ever National Sports 24-7 streaming channel on YouTube. And now it's also available on Amazon Fire TV and the free Fire TV channels app.

Starting point is 00:20:31 Locked On Sports Today is here for you 24-7 covering the top sports stories of the day with local experts from Locked On plus coverage of every league with our national shows. Find Locked On Sports Today now available on the free Fire TV channels app. Also want to let you guys know, my Peter Skowronski film breakdown, my next film breakdown on Tic Tac Titan's YouTube channel

Starting point is 00:20:53 will be out 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, a little bit later in the week. Please go check that out. I think it's fantastic. Hope you guys enjoy. Throw a thumbs up on that video. Subscribe over there. I appreciate all your guys' support with the new channel. Thank you. Thank you. Hope you guys enjoy. Throw a thumbs up on that video. Subscribe over there. I appreciate all your guys'

Starting point is 00:21:05 support with the new channel. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. But, Derrick Henry, I've said it. I'm going to continue to say it whether you like it or not. I think he's gone. And I don't really want him back either, if I'm honest with you. Because the price tag for

Starting point is 00:21:22 Derrick Henry is, in nature, going to be higher than the price tag for other lower tier running backs who could do just as good if the Titans improve their offensive line. But here is what Brian Callahan had to say about Derrick Henry. And there's some in there that I think won't make you guys happy, but the last sentence I think will have some people more hopeful than you should be. Callahan said, I think there's a great relationship with him and the organization.

Starting point is 00:21:52 I know that he is always going to have the Titans in his heart, so whatever that looks like moving forward, we'll keep working through it. I know what he means to the city and the team, and I'm looking forward to getting to know him. So, not a lot of effusive praise in there, not a lot of encouragement that they're going to bring Derrick Henry back, but he did say at the end, I look forward to getting to know him. So, that's probably only possible if they bring Derrick Henry back. I will say this, though.

Starting point is 00:22:21 Rand Carthon's comments not as encouraging he said quote I hear that question around town a lot people will come and the first thing they'll say is hey we're not going to lose Derek are we I think in my 12 months I probably have gotten more Derek Henry questions than anything else

Starting point is 00:22:39 I understand that piece of it but Carthon pointed out he has a, quote, responsibility to build this team long-term. Derrick Henry is not in the long-term plans. There's no way around it. He's a 30-year-old running back. But let me say this.

Starting point is 00:22:58 Although I don't think Derrick Henry is coming back, what I will tell you is recent NFL news makes it more likely that he does. Because Tony Pollard, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs are all not getting the franchise tag. Derrick Henry, not getting the franchise tag. There are going to be a ton

Starting point is 00:23:17 of good running backs on the free agent market. And there aren't going to be a ton of teams willing to pay those players. So if you're someone who wants Derrick Henry back, then honestly, the running back market and the quotes that we heard today aren't terrible for you.

Starting point is 00:23:37 I think Rand Carthon's quote makes it pretty obvious that the Titans are not committing to bringing Henry back and they're not that interested in it. But, if Derrick Henry goes out there, and teams are only offering him $5 million, why wouldn't he come back to the Titans for $4 million? You know what I mean?

Starting point is 00:23:57 If you're going to not get paid, why not just stay where you're appreciated? The problem is, is Tajay Spears is RB1. And it was crazy because Rancarton said we love Tajay Spears. Tajay Spears is made of all the right stuff. He used a more expletive word. He's made of all the right crap. You know what I mean? I'll let you

Starting point is 00:24:20 guys fill in the blanks. We're keeping it PG here. But the Titans have effusively praised Tajay Spears all season long. If you aren't paying attention and you aren't listening to how they're talking about Derrick Henry and how they're talking about Tajay Spears, then I don't know what to tell you. But I've been trying to tell you.

Starting point is 00:24:37 I've been screaming it on a mountaintop. It's time to let Derrick Henry go. It's time to play Tajay Spears more. I've been saying it since the season. I'm going to continue saying it in the all season. And if you look closely at what's being said, looks like the Titans feel that way too. Even if Derrick Henry comes back,

Starting point is 00:24:54 he needs to be Tajay Spears' backup. He's going to be a power back in a committee. He's no longer the bell cow. You don't want to play that way. And Brian Callahan talked about the running back position. He said, I don't cow. You don't want to play that way. And Brian Callahan talked about the running back position. He said, I don't think that running backs are devalued. You still need good running backs. It's a division of labor. You don't have one guy who does everything anymore. You need a guy who can do this, a guy who could do this, a guy who could do this and that. And

Starting point is 00:25:21 they all need to share that burden together. That is how teams look at running back now. By committee. The bell cow running backs like Derrick Henry are gone. It's over for them. So, I hope that you guys can realize the trend that's happening. Look around

Starting point is 00:25:39 the NFL at what works and we can all move forward in peace. I have a feeling that's not going to be the case though. A few other little notes here. Andre Dillard kind of sounded like the Titans might be bringing Andre Dillard back. Here's what I would tell you. They're going to go into free agency and I think if they can get an offensive tackle and get some offensive linemen in free agency, then Dillard's going to be cut because it's just a numbers game.

Starting point is 00:26:06 You can't have 11 or 12 offensive linemen on your 53-man roster. It's not going to work like that. But if they don't, I forget whether it was Carthon or Callahan, but one of them said Andre Dillard has some stuff that you can't teach. Talking about him coming out of the draft, his athleticism. And I could see how Bill Callahan

Starting point is 00:26:27 could make them think, hey, let's see what Bill Callahan can do with Andre Dillard. But, the only other offensive line coach that could argue that they're better than Bill Callahan is Jeff Stoutland in Philadelphia, and they let Andre Dillard go, and he

Starting point is 00:26:43 was a backup. So if Jeff Stoutland can't make Andre Dillard a starter, then I don't care how good Bill Callahan is. He's not going to make Andre Dillard a great player. So I still think Dillard is going to be cut as a post-June 1st designation, but the quotes today made it seem like that's more up in the air than maybe I want to believe. You know what I mean? Also, Traylon Burks, Rancarton said,

Starting point is 00:27:09 hey, he's been working out with DeAndre Hopkins. He's been working out with other NFL pros. He's got a healthy offseason. We want to see him get out on the field and see him improve. Again, I've said this. You've got to approach the off season and approach the wide receiver position like Traylon Burks isn't a factor. You cannot count on him.

Starting point is 00:27:29 It would be awesome if Traylon Burks bounced back, if Traylon Burks had a better year, if Traylon Burks turned into a contributor, but I'm just not going to bank on that. And I don't think the Titans can either. And then finally, Peter Skowronski.

Starting point is 00:27:43 Again, check out my Peter Skowronski film breakdown coming out 8 a.m. on the Tic Tac Titans YouTube channel. The link to the Tic Tac Titans YouTube channel is down in the description of this video. But it's reiterated again by Brian Callahan. Peter Skowronski is a guard. He said they would probably cross-train him at offensive tackle just to make sure that he knows what to do there

Starting point is 00:28:07 if they have to move him there for injuries. But he said, we want to keep Peter at guard because Peter Skowronski is a guard in the NFL. And I've tried to tell you guys this all year long. So if you don't want to believe me, if you didn't want to believe Mike Vrabel, then believe Brian Callahan. You guys pining for Skowronski to get moved to left tackle.

Starting point is 00:28:31 You're just going to continue to lose, and you're going to continue to complain, despite any person that you could listen to telling you, he is a guard. So, hopefully that ends that conversation. But with him at guard again, please, I'm begging you, go check out the Peter Skowronski film breakdown. Put a lot of hard work into it. Hope you guys enjoy it. But that,

Starting point is 00:28:52 my friends, is going to do it for today's show. Be back with you guys tomorrow with more news, more rumors, more notes, and more free agency preview. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans. We'll be right back.

Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans WANT PLAYMAKERS, Taking Receiver in Round 1 & Derrick Henry's Future

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