Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans WORST Free Agent Options, Don't Sign Gabe Davis & Avoid Injured Offensive Linemen

Episode Date: February 20, 2024

The Tennessee Titans have a ton of money to spend in free agency, but there are certain players they need to avoid including Gabe Davis & Darnell Mooney at wide receiver. There are some offensive linemen who don't make any sense as well like Tyron Smith or Mehki Becton. Finally, the Titans need to focus their money on premium positions or look for bargains at certain positions they should not be too focused on.Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitansFollow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPodSubscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitans/videosSubscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitansSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.NissanOur friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV’s with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com.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.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelGet buckets with your first bet on FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your bet wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gabe Davis would be a terrible free agent signing for the Tennessee Titans, but he's not the only one. I'm going over my worst free agent fits 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. 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. 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. 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 talk a lot about the best free agent fits for the Tennessee Titans, but there are some terrible ones out there as well.

So I'm going to go over the free agents to avoid at wide receiver, at offensive line, at the other positions as well. Before we dive into it, thank you for making the Locked On Titans podcast your first listen each and every day. Remember, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. Make sure that you get subscribed. Stay subscribed to the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world.

Shout out to my everydayers out there. Tune in Monday through Friday if If you aren't an everydayer, you need to be one. Let me know who you guys are down below. And throw a thumbs up on the video as well. The show is always free. All I ask for in return is the press of a button.

On tomorrow's show, we're going to look at some guys who could be cut by other teams who could make sense for some Titans. And football president Chad Brinker said that is a place where the Titans are going to look to get some value. So make sure that you tune into that because there's probably a lot of guys on that list that will end up on the team. But today again, we're looking at free

agent fits for the Titans that do not make sense. And I kind of picked out some of the names that I hear a lot from Titans fans that I just do not understand. Number one being Gabe Davis from the Buffalo Bills. Look, I will say this up front. I see the size. You know, he's 6'3", 6'4", big-bodied guy. He is more of a downfield threat, a guy who could just run down the field,

jump over top of people and get it. I understand that. But he's had drop issues in the past. He doesn't give you anything in yards after catch. I saw somebody call him a good yards after catch option. He's been near the bottom of the NFL in yards after catch every year of his career. He only had 180 yards after catch last year. And he was barely in the top 100.

So he's not a yards after catch guy. And here's what it comes down to. Gabe Davis is an okay player. He's fine. You know, I'd give him a C+, a B-, maybe a B. But he's going to be commanding $12, $14 million a season over a, you know, three-year deal. There is no way that I'm paying that.

The Titans are paying $17 million for DeAndre Hopkins, okay? There's DeAndre Hopkins average annual value. It was two years, $26 million. That's $13 million. You're telling me that you're going to pay the same price for Gabe Davis that you're paying for DeAndre Hopkins? To me, Gabe Davis is a six, $7 million wide receiver. I'm not paying double that. It just doesn't make any sense for me for the Titans to go out and do that. I know that the Titans need help at wide receiver, but you don't owe that much of an overpay for a guy who is just okay. You know what I mean? It doesn't make a lot of sense for me. Like, a good example is last year.

And I will admit, I was wrong on this player. I got it wrong. I thought that Alan Lazard, for $10 million, would make sense. Alan Lazard ended up getting $11 million a season and is simply not worth that.

He is a $5-$6 million player. You know what I mean? So to me, Gabe Davis isn't much different. Alright? Yes, he's got the downfield ability. He's got the size. But I'm just not paying over ten million dollars, twelve, thirteen, fourteen million dollars

for Gabe Davis. I'm just not. So it doesn't make any sense to me to pay that much for Gabe Davis. Similarly, Darnell Mooney is a guy who I see a lot of Titans fans saying, oh, grab Darnell. Why would we pay? In free agency, you have to pay a premium for players.

That is why it's so important to build through the draft. Okay, that's why it's so important. Because in free agency, just in nature, you are going to pay more for that player than there probably were. Why would the Titans pay for a C-level player like Darnell Mooney, who has missed seven games in the last two years? Everybody thinks, oh, T. Higgins is injury prone. T. Higgins, all he does is get hurt. Well, T. Higgins has missed six games in the last two years. Darnell Mooney has missed seven. And when he does play,

he's had 71 catches and 900 yards in two years. Why would the Titans pay nine, $10 million a year for Darnell Mooney? Like, I just don't see the fit. I don't understand the value. I don't understand why people would want those players for the Titans. And then finally, another name that I see over and over again from Titans fans is Tyler Boyd, which makes the least sense.

Look, I could at least, I could at least tell myself, okay, Gabe Davis, big body, get down the field, wide receiver two, Levis throwing him bombs. All right, all right. I think the money makes it insane, but all right, all right. I see that. I'll concede there.

Darnell Mooney, speed guy, does have the ability to get open, especially intermediate deep routes. He can get open. All right. I don't think he's worth the money, but I can see that. But Tyler Boyd makes zero sense. Like it's literally zero percent on logicality. I don't think that's a word, but I'm making it up. Why would the Titans, who have DeAndre Hopkins, who plays well out of the slot, Traylon Burks, who needs more opportunities in the slot, plays well out of the slot. Traylon Burks, who needs more opportunities in the slot.

Kyle Phillips. Why would the Titans, with those three players on the, the Titans have players who can play in the slot. They need players who can play on the outside more. That's what they need. So why would they pay $8, $9, $10 million a season for a slot only wide receiver. Tyler Boyd is a slot only wide receiver.

And he's 30 years old. So why would you pay nearly 10 million dollars, 8 million dollars on the low end for a 30 year old slot wide receiver when you have three guys already who play in the slot? What? It just does not make any logical sense. Alright, so to me, again,

we talk about all these good fits for the Titans, all these guys that do make sense for the Titans, but there are some clear options out there that don't make any sense for the Titans and would be a terrible waste of money. I would rather pass on that signing entirely than sign someone who doesn't make sense and who's getting way too much money

for the value that they're going to bring to the football team. All right, so Gabe Davis, Darnell Mooney, Tyler Boyd don't make any sense to me whatsoever. So let me know down below how you guys feel about those players. Let me know if you think I'm wrong about any of those evaluations. Now it's time to talk about offensive line. And the reality is the offensive line pool in free agency is way thinner than some of you guys talk like.

And that's why it's so important to draft. Okay? Draft and develop is how you win in the NFL. Not signing a million free agents. The Titans need to get some key free agents at key positions, but it's not as easy as you think. So we're going to dive into some terrible free agent fits for the Titans on offensive line, including Tyron Smith, who I know a lot of you guys know very well.

We're going to get into that. Before we do, I do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Get buckets on your first bet on FanDuel. Again, America's number one sportsbook. Because right now, new customers get $150 in bonus bets with any winning $5 bet. That's $150 if your bet wins. Again, all you got to do is bet a $5 bet,

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But they even have live same game parlays as well. So even if the game's already started, you could still get in on the action. Make sure that you visit fanduel.com slash locked on and shoot your shot. FanDuel, official sportsbook partner of the NBA. Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast,

breaking down the worst free agent fits that I see a lot of people talking about for the Tennessee Titans. We talked about wide receiver. Now we're going to get into offensive line, and at the end of the show, I'm going to do all the other positions that I'm seeing folks talk about as well. Before we dive into it, I want to thank you guys again for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen each and every day. As I reminded you at the beginning of the show,

tomorrow we're going to be looking at some dumpster dive options for the Titans. Guys who will be cut or should be cut from other teams who could make sense for the Titans in the free agent market. So make sure that you don't miss out on that. But I do want to thank you guys again for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round,

always for free. You're not going to beat that anywhere else. Make sure you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day here on the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world. But with that being said, look at that offensive line.

The worst free agent fits. For me, at the top of the list is Tyron Smith. I get it. Alright. Tyron Smith, probably going to be a Hall of Famer. One of the best left tackles of our generation, of the recent generation.

That's for certain. Alright. Great player. But here's the problem. Number one, he's 33 years old. Tyron Smith does not fit the timeline of this team. If Tyron Smith is going to leave Dallas, which I don't think he's going to do anyway,

but if Tyron Smith is going to leave Dallas, why would it be to come to Tennessee? Who's probably going to take a year, two years, to really be year, two years, to really be Super Bowl contenders, to really build the roster up and have their young guys develop to a place where they can compete for a Super Bowl? Why would he do that? You know, so that in itself doesn't make a lot of sense.

But from the Titans' side, again, he's 33 years old, and the problem isn't just declining play as you get older. People think, oh, he's getting older. He's not going to be play as well. It's not that it, well, that's part of it. But the other big part of it is as you get older, you get injured easier. Younger men stay healthier, easier. That is just how this works. When you're younger, you can come back from injuries. You can recover from injuries. You can recover from injuries. You can avoid injuries better than older players.

I mean, I got to tell you guys, I'm 32. I'll turn 33 in about a month. And I can't play golf without coming back with some sort of ailment. I could have played 36 holes in a row when I was 25

and never worried about a thing. I didn't start golfing until after I was 25. That's my excuse for being bad. But you guys get what I'm saying. Anybody who's listening to this, who has gone from their 20s into their 30s, and maybe even into their 40s,

you know that your body does not recover as well as you get older. And it's proven out. Over the last four seasons, It's proven out. Over the last four seasons, Tyron Smith has only played 30 out of 67 games. So all of you guys are saying T. Higgins is too injured. Oh, I can't take a risk on that.

But you want to go with Tyron Smith, you want to give him $20 million, $22 million a year when he's played 30 out of 67 games in the last four years and he's 33 years old? That does not make any sense to me. So Tyron Smith is a good player. Make no mistake he's been a great player for a lot of his career, but he does not make any sense for the Tennessee Titans. Okay? Just doesn't make any sense. Also along that line, a much younger guy but same thing, Makai Becton. I've seen some

people in the comments say the Titans, why would they do that? Makai Becton has proven over and over he cannot stay in shape. He does not work hard enough off the field. That results in injuries. He's constantly online saying crazy stuff. Not interested at all. Like 0% interested in Mekhi Becton. Now, I could understand if you say, hey, well, Bill Callahan is the best offensive line coach. Maybe he gets his hands on a young, Mekhi Becton's still like 24 years old, young, super talented, former first-round pick,

blah, blah, blah, maybe they could, I'm sorry. There are certain things that certain guys do where I will never want them on my team. Ever. And Mekhi Beckton has done quite a few of those. He's very vocal online. He can't manage his weight. He's always injured.

Literally cannot stay healthy. And those two things are correlated. You don't keep your body in shape, your body's not going to keep you in shape to be on the field. So even if it's going to, Mekhi Becton's going to be way cheaper than Tyron Smith, but just no way, man. No way for me. That's an immediate red flag.

Some other names that I've seen some people like who I'm just not interested in, Jermaine Illuminor from the Las Vegas Raiders. Look, he's an option at tackle. And in the last couple of years, when he's settled at tackle, he's had some decent seasons. But at the end of the day,

he's been a swing tackle, a backup for most of his career. He's 29 years old, and he really struggles with the speed rush. He's a big guy. He struggles with guys with a ton of speed off the edge. So he can anchor and pass protection. I don't think he's terrible by any means. But I just want more of a long-term solution. If the Titans go out and sign Jermaine

Illuminor, they're going to be looking for a new offensive tackle next offseason. They're going to have to replenish that already. So it just doesn't make a lot of sense. Again, the age, the history of being a backup, struggling with the speed. The Titans want long athletes that can stand up and pass protection. Okay? So, those three tackles,

I thought about, honestly, I'll just throw this in there. They're not going to count for bad fits because I would be okay with Trent Brown. I would be okay with Michael and Wenyu. But what you got to worry about with those two guys is they are very heavy guys. And the Titans are going to run a zone scheme

that requires a ton of athleticism. And Wenyu and Trent Brown have been in heavy gap schemes in New England. And they're not guys I like. I like Wenyu to be able to do this better than Trent Brown, honestly. I wouldn't hate those signings, like the signings that I'm talking about here, so I don't want to group them in, but I'm just saying I have my concerns about whether they can fit in the scheme the Titans are going for,

and that's why my number one offensive tackle option is Jonah Williams. Not going to be the most expensive guy, fits the scheme, knows the coach, has the versatility to play left or right, which gives the Titans more freedom in the draft. You know, that's the number one option to me. But this is bad fits we're talking about, not my good ones. We've talked enough about my good ones. Finally, so those are three tackles.

Tyron Smith, Mekhi Becton, Jermaine Illuminor, who I'm worried about, who I think are bad fits for the Titans. But finally, we talk guards. And I know that this is going to be controversial. I get it. But I don't want any of these high-priced guards. I would

rather spend that money at center. I don't want... Robert Hunt is the best option. Alright? He's the best option on the market. Miami's zone run scheme, so we know he'd fit what the Titans are trying to. All right, he's the best option on the market. Miami zone run scheme. So we know he'd fit what the Titans are trying to do. I believe he's only 26 to 27, still young. Look, I'm not going to freak out if the Titans sign Robert Hunt.

But at the end of the day, you just drafted a guard in the first round. If you have a high price top of the market free agent guard and a first round guard, that is too many resources, too many high value resources to put at guard. Simply put. Like, let Dylan Radins do that. Let Nicholas Petit-Ferrer do that. Keep Daniel Brunskill, if you must, and let him do that.

All those guys are $3.5 million or less. I'm not spending a first round pick on a guard and then following it up by giving out a top of the market guard contract in the next offseason. I'm just simply not doing that. Spend it tackle. Spend it center. Get your guard in the draft.

If you want somebody to come in and compete with Brunskill, Radins, NPF, which I don't think you need to do. I think the answer at right guard is already on the roster. Whoever you want out of those three guys. Sign one tackle. Sign a center. Draft one tackle. Now you have your offensive line and you didn't spend too much.

So those are names. Robert Hunt, Kevin Zeitler, any other name that I just don't want to give out big money to a guard and free agency. That's where I'm at right now. But with that being said, let's talk about the other positions that the Titans need to look at, some names that I absolutely do not want them to go after. Titans fans, let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We talked about the worst free agent fits for the Titans at wide receiver and at offensive line, the two biggest positions of need for the Titans this offseason.

But now we got to look at some other positions like in the secondary, like on the defensive line, some other spots on offense like running back, tight end. We're going to get into all of those to end the show. Before we do though, do want to let you guys know that Locked On has launched the first ever National Sports 24-7

streaming channel on YouTube and it's now also available on Amazon Fire TV. That's right also available on Amazon Fire TV. That's right, Mom. I'm on TV. You can find it in the free Fire TV channels app. Locked On Sports Today is here for you 24-7, covering the top sports stories of the day with local experts from Locked On, like me, and coverage of every league from our national shows.

I do Locked On NFL on Thursdays. You guys should check that out as well. Find Locked On Sports today. Now available on the free Fire TV channels app. Also want to thank you for making Locked On Titans your first listen each and every day. Of course, I got to throw that in at your team every day, ladies and gentlemen. But with that being said, we talked wide receiver, talked offensive line in the secondary. The Titans need a cornerback. But for me, there are some cornerbacks that make no sense,

and number one on that list is Kenny Moore. All right? Like I said with Tyler Boyd, Kenny Moore is 29 years old. He's going to be 30 years old. He is a slot-only player. Kenny Moore is a slot cornerback. The Titans have Roger McCreary.

They don't need a slot cornerback. Again, like with wide receiver, they don't need a slot. They need outside guys. They need physical presences on the outside. And Kenny Moore is not that. So Kenny Moore doesn't make any sense for the Titans from that perspective. They have Roger McCreary already. So, not interested in Kenny Moore. Similarly at cornerback, these are outside guys, these two, but Kendall Fuller and Stephon Gilmore. And what it comes down to is they're just too old.

They don't fit the Titans timeline, especially Stephon Gilmore, who's 33 years old. Kendall Fuller, 29 years old. If you're a team that is going for the Super Bowl this year, then yes, add some older players on value contracts who can maybe help get you over the top. I get that philosophy. But that is not where the Titans are at. The Titans need to be looking for youthful players that can grow with them. 26, 25, 26, 27.

You know what I mean? Players who still have two or three years left of their prime and will actually be in their prime when the Titans, in theory, make a Super Bowl run. And Gilmore or Fuller don't make any sense in that realm. Now, I want to throw this name in. Antoine Winfield Jr., who I think is one of the best safeties in the NFL.

Absolutely great player. But, one, I think he's going to get franchise tag. And two, he's going to be too expensive. We're getting to a place where I continue to give you guys my roster philosophies. Alright? I am not spending big money at linebacker. I am not

spending big money at guard. I am not spending big money at nose tackle. I am not spending big money at safety. Alright? The Titans have done. We're paying a spending big money at nose tackle. I am not spending big money at safety. Alright? The Titans have done. We're paying a safety big money. We're paying a running back big money.

We've done that and it does not work. Okay? It does not work. You don't pay big money at safety. Alright? You don't. You don't pay big money at running back. You simply don't do that.

So, I know that Antoine Winfield Jr. is a very good player. He is. No doubt about it. Don't misconstrue what I'm saying. But at the same time, I'm just not willing to pay him. Like, I'm not willing to be the team that does it. I'll find safety value for much.

There are going to be so many bargain safeties available to pair with a money hooker that can get the job done for you. Put that money into premium positions. Cornerback, wide receiver, offensive tackle, center, quarterback, like pass rushers. It's really simple. It truly is really simple. All right. Moving forward, though, out of the secondary to the defensive line,

Leonard Williams, Zedarius Smith, too old. Leonard Williams, 29, going to be expensive. Zedarius Smith, 31. The Titans already have a ton of money on the defensive line with Key, Landry, Simmons. Hopefully they bring Danico Autry back. Just doesn't make any sense for the Titans to spend

even more money for a fifth guy. You know, or big money for a fourth guy. Just doesn't really line sense for the Titans to spend even more money for a fifth guy. You know, or big money for a fourth guy. Just doesn't really line up. Chase Young. I get the appeal of Chase Young. He's still young, coming off his rookie contract, but I'm sorry. The effort that I saw him give during the playoffs, I mean, they're literally in the biggest games of the season,

and Chase Young is loafing out there. All right? Just no way I'm giving that dude big money. Not a chance. The injury history, the effort, no way. It's a no way for me.

Moving on to the offensive side of the ball, running back. I've said this before. I'll reiterate it here. Saquon, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, no way I'm giving a high-priced running back contract.

Again, that includes Derrick Henry. I am not paying top-tier money for a running back ever again. Ever again. It is too easy to find running back value. I will go back to the 2021 season where Derrick Henry broke his foot and was out for half a year. The Titans ran for just as many yards without Derrick Henry with two guys off the couch in Foreman and Hilliard

as they did with Henry because running the football is about the offensive line. It's not about the running back. All right? So, not paying any of these running backs big-time money. I think that's absolutely absurd. And at tight end, I'm not paying any of these guys. Dalton Schultz, Noah Fant, Hunter Henry, not a chance.

I'm riding with Chig and Josh Wiley. I'm not giving big money to a tight end. Get out of here. Like, unless this is one of the best tight ends, like top five tight end in the NFL, Kelsey, Kittle, Andrews, Laporta, when he gets there. Like TJ Hawkinson. I'll pay those guys.

But I'm surely not paying the B-level group of tight ends. Not doing it. So, not a chance for me. But those are the guys who I think would be terrible fits for the Titans in free agency. Let me know who you think would be a bad fit for the Titans down below let me know if you disagree with me on any of these names I want to end today's show with this

I'm just I'm going to keep it very very calm going to keep it very short here I appreciate when you guys let me know that there are people out there trying to trash me.

That there are people out there talking down on my name. I woke up on Tuesday or around Tuesday afternoon, got a ton of messages from you guys that so-and-so is saying this and that about you, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And the reality is, I know not everyone who listens to my show is on Twitter, but on Twitter, I take a lot of crap

from not just fans, not just other Titans fans who I converse with, but other Titans content creators like the, you know, take these subliminal shots at me with their tweets or outright just call me out of my name and say certain stuff, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Well, I just want to say

that the reason that happens is because I am on top. I have the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world. My following and my standing within the market and the Titans community has grown significantly since I took over the show before the 2019 season. I am not from Tennessee. And the reality is having a guy who's from out of town who just comes in out of nowhere and is more popular than you it can't be easy to deal with so while I appreciate

that all of you guys let me know when this stuff happens I just don't really care because I'm going to keep doing me and keep doing things the way that I want to do them and try not to worry about everybody else taking shots at me, this and that, you know, because I know why it's happening. I get it. So to all you guys who ride for me, who defend me,

all of that, I appreciate you guys very much. I really do. But at the end of the day, let them talk because I'm busy working. And if they're talking about me, hey, you know what they say, no such thing as bad publicity.

But just wanted to make a little comment there because a lot of you guys let me know and this and that. And I appreciate it, but whatever, man. I'm doing me. So with that being said, that is going to do it for today's show.

I'll be back with you guys tomorrow to go over some dumpster dive options. Can't wait to do that. But as always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland. Love the beat drop. And this was Locked on Titans.