Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Titans 2021 Look-Ahead: 2021 Team Needs, 2021 Mock Draft Monday & Training Camp Rosters

Episode Date: July 6, 2020

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Welcome to the Locked on Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland. Titans fans, today's Monday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast is brought to you by RockAuto.com. Amazing selection, reliably low prices, all of the parts your car will ever need, RockAuto.com. I hope all of you guys had a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend. I want to do a little bit of schedule talk here with you guys to kick things off today. So first, I want to let you guys in on what the schedule will be with the show going into training camp. So this week, we are going to have three episodes, and then next Monday, if everything stays as scheduled, we are going to kick off the Ultimate Division Crossover Training Camp Preview Series. Basically, we are going to kick off the Ultimate Division Crossover Training Camp Preview Series.

Basically, we are going to have all of the hosts from the Locked on AFC South podcast. And we're all going to get together, kind of review the team's offseason so far, talk about the biggest questions heading into training camp for each team. It's something that we've done earlier in the offseason you guys really seem to enjoy. team. It's something that we've done earlier in the offseason. You guys really seem to enjoy. So we are going to be bringing that back. And that is going to start on the 13th of July. And that'll be next week's content, all five shows. And then after that, we are into training camp preview week. It'll be the week of the 20th. So we will be five shows breaking down everything that you guys need to know heading into training camp and then training camp is set to start next week so very very exciting time in the NFL very exciting

time to be a Titans fan as we get closer and closer to regular football activities but that brings us back to this week so what I want to do with you guys before we start basically diving into the season as we know it. I want to take a look with our binoculars at next year, at next offseason, just so we can be prepared and have the thoughts in the back of our mind that we need to to follow this team as closely as possible and be able to maybe take a look at what moves could be coming next. So what I want to do with that is I'm going to start today and we're going to do a little mock draft Monday, bring it back a little bit, but I'm going to fuse that in with our 2021 look ahead preview here. So first I'm going to talk about the Titans team needs, not right now, but what their

team needs could be a year from now. Of course, some of those overlap a little bit, but we will talk about where the Titans could sit next offseason and what they could be facing in terms of what they need to add to the roster. And then we will spin that forward and jump into that Mock Draft Monday portion of the show and do a little bit of a 2021 NFL Mock Draft roundup, and do a little bit of a 2021 NFL Mock Draft roundup, see what some of these pundits are forecasting for the Titans next draft.

And then at the end of our show today, I'm going to give you guys some more information that we've been hearing about training camp, just quickly give you my take on the amount of players we're hearing that teams might actually bring to training camp. But for the rest of the week, I want to take a look at contract extensions that could take place next year. I want to look at potential salary cap cuts and cap casualties and things like that that could take place next year as the Titans try to get their roster in order. So just a general overview of the Titans 2021 offseason scenarios, just so we have that

knowledge in the back of our mind. But again, we're going to go through this week, take a quick peek at 2021's offseason. Next week, we have the Ultimate Division Crossover Training Camp Preview. So very excited to do that with the AFC South host. And then it'll be training camp preview week on the Locked on Titans podcast. So I say all of that to say, make sure that you are subscribed to the Locked on Titans podcast on whatever platform that you do stream. So you don't miss any of the content that we have coming up. Follow me on Twitter at Tic Tac Titans to make

sure that you're informed on any changes to the schedule, any additional content that I am putting up there, including my Tic Tac Titan film breakdown. So really excited to jump into today's show and jump into this week's shows to give you guys a good look at what could be coming in 2021. Let's get it. Roughly seven months from now, the Tennessee Titans hope to be coming off a Super Bowl championship, but even if they are, they will have to quickly turn their attention to reshaping the roster again to get ready for 2021. So let's take a peek ahead into the future quickly before the beginning of training camp in 2020 to look at what the Titans' offseason team needs may be next year in next February.

So first, on the offensive side of the ball the obvious need that sticks out that the Titans could use a little bit more help at right now but will definitely need some more reinforcements next offseason is the wide receiver position. So first off right now the Titans have a top three of A.J. Brown, Corey Davis, and Adam Humphreys. And after that, it's a mixed bag of different undrafted free agents, unproven guys. Well, look forward to next offseason. Corey Davis will become a free agent after the Titans declined his fifth year option this offseason. And then you look at somebody like Adam Humphreys, who's on a sizable contract, whose production

didn't necessarily live up to that. And with the way that the Titans offense is structured, it's not like a quick throwing option route type offense that a guy like Adam Humphreys is going to thrive in. It's more of a play action running game based offense. So Adam Humphreys at his price point could be a cap casualty. He could be one of those veteran guys that gets cut by the team to save salary cap space because the production doesn't match the contract. That's very possible with Adam Humphreys next year. So you could be looking at Corey Davis gone and Adam Humphreys gone, leaving only A.J.

Brown. And at that moment in time, not only would wide receiver be a team need, it would be an urgent need for the Titans. So that's something that could be a huge task for them next offseason. Staying on the offense and moving forward, the interior offensive line. So right now, the Titans offensive line looks pretty set, and there's a lot of youth on there as well. Now you don't see Taylor LeJuan going anywhere, and Isaiah Wilson is probably going to be a starter by this point in time, the Titans first round draft pick. But Ben Jones and Roger Saffold are in their 30s, and although some offensive linemen are playing into their mid to late 30s,

they could both decline rapidly over the 2020 season. They could suffer injuries. They could, at some point in time, look to retire even. Some guys are not playing as long as they used to on the offensive line as well. So either of them, one or the other, could not be a viable option next year. And then, of course, Nate Davis, the third round rookie from 2019, while he improved his play later in the year, there's no guarantee that he is going to stay and remain as a starting quality player. The interior offensive line will most certainly need an injection of youth this time next year, and hopefully there's not a ton of turnover on the offensive line, but one of Saffold or Ben Jones could be out of the lineup

as well. So that's something to keep an eye on. Moving on to the defensive side of the ball, the interior defensive line is probably the Titans' number one need right now. So next year, I'm sure it'll still be a need again, especially with Daquan Jones, one of the Titans' only true reliable defensive linemen, along with Jeffrey Simmons. Daquan Jones is one of the Titans' only true reliable defensive linemen, along with Jeffrey Simmons. Daquan Jones is set to be a free agent after the season as well, so that could be a major need for the Titans next offseason. I would predict that it is.

The interior inside linebacker spot as well. Jayon Brown is set to be a free agent after this season and Rashawn Evans will be going into his fourth season and may be looking for a big time extension the Titans will have a fifth year option on Rashawn Evans that they could choose to pick up or decline hard telling if Rashawn Evans plays very well this year it could be a big time extension that he's looking to get if he just plays okay like he has in the past it could be something where the Titans would look to let him go so either way with Jayon Brown said to be a free agent Sean Evans could be looking for an extension or on his way out of the door inside linebacker will be something that the

Titans need to replenish next season even with somebody like David Long and then at the cornerback spot Malcolm Butler like Adam Humphreys could be a cap casualty as a veteran cut next offseason. And with Christian Fulton being so young and Jonathan Joseph being so old, the Titans will certainly have to look to bolster the cornerback position next offseason. And if you need to bolster your vehicle this summer, you have to check out rockauto.com. One reason to repair and maintain your car is to save money that you can use for more important things, like your mortgage or heck, even some more food. Why would you spend 30, 50, 100% more on the exact same auto parts at some sort of chain store or at a new car

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So you heard it. Go to rockauto.com right now and see all the parts available for your car or truck right locked on in the how did you hear about us box so they know that we sent you. Once again, there's a box on the website. It says how did you hear about us put Put Locked On in there so they know where you came from. Amazing selection, reliably low prices, all of the parts your car will ever need. RockAuto.com The triumphant return of Mock Draft Monday. Let's look forward as we have been doing all episode as we will do all week

and do a little Mock Draft roundup here for the 2021 NFL Draft. See some prospects that some of these pundits think the Titans could be targeting in next year's draft. See some prospects that some of these pundits think the Titans could be targeting in next year's draft. So we will start our first mock draft out of the four is from walterfootball.com. Charlie Campbell did this mock draft and the most notable thing here is where he has the Titans picking. He has the Titans picking at number 25. So that means that he does have them making the playoffs next year. And he has the Titans solving the primary need that I talked about in segment one, and that is the wide receiver position. So A.J. Brown is a physical specimen,

and I think that the Titans would be smart to pair him up with a route-running technician, somebody who's always going to be able to get open underneath but can also play on the boundary, which is a sort of versatility that Adam Humphreys doesn't necessarily offer you. So here, Charlie Campbell from Walter Football has the Titans going with wide receiver Chris Olave from Ohio State, and Campbell has this to say about the pick. At the time of the pick, everyone around the league felt that Tennessee general manager

John Robinson reached massively for Corey Davis, who has been a disappointment for the Titans. Here's an upgrade to go across from A.J. Brown. The Buckeyes had good receiving talent with more experience, but Olave, 6'1", 185, became the most dynamic receiving playmaker during the 2019 season with 49 receptions for 849 yards and 12 touchdowns. He's a big-time point producer and looked like he was just getting started. Alave has quality height to him with speed to get downfield. He could produce a huge junior year with a more experienced Justin Fields at quarterback.

I agree with the assessment. I watch a lot of big-time college football, which means I watch a lot of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and Chris Olave is just one of those guys who always seems to find a way to get open, whether it's down the field or underneath. He's got reliable hands. I think it would be a very good pick for the Titans late in the first round, and I think it'd be a very good fit for the team let's move on to the next mock draft and this one comes from Pro Football Network and here the Titans are selecting a little bit earlier than in the mock draft from Walter Football they have the Titans at 21 here and that would still be a playoff team but they do have the Titans going with tight end from Florida, Kyle Pitts.

And this is what Pro Football Network had to say about the pick. Pat Fryermuth, he's the tight end out of Penn State, gets a lot of hype at tight end. But there are other players at the position who have strong arguments to come out on top, including Florida's Kyle Pitts. Pro Football Network draft analyst Nick Faraball recently made the case that Pitts the number one tight end in the 2021 NFL draft citing Pitts top end athleticism, elite receiving ability, and versatility. On one hand a more effective blocker might be more attractive to Tennessee but on the flip side the Titans have looming

needs at both wide receiver and tight end and Pitts is a guy who can fulfill both roles situationally with his almigation of talent. So this is an interesting pick, and typically I would be critical of anyone selecting a tight end for the Titans, but let's go down the route of saying that Jayon Brown gets an extension from the Titans this offseason, and Jonu Smith doesn't, and then Jonu Smith has another year where he has some injuries. Could the Titans let Jonu Smith doesn't. And then Jonu Smith has another year where he has some injuries. Could the Titans let Jonu Smith walk? Even if the Titans bring Jonu Smith back, maybe he doesn't have as great of a year, and he's viewed as more of a role player, and the Titans would need to supplement him with an actual number one tight end.

The need at wide receiver, I agree with as well. The Titans will need receiving threat help next offseason, so someone like Pitts maybe isn't insane. I wouldn't say that it's the number one choice that I would pick personally, but not insane. Let's move to the next mock draft here, and it's from 24-7 Sports, and they actually have the Titans selecting at 15, so not making the playoffs, but they do have the Titans addressing another need that I mentioned in the first segment, and that's inside linebacker, and they have the Titans taking Nicholas Bolton, the Missouri linebacker, who is a bit undersized, similar to

Jayon Brown in that way, good speed, a little bit undersized, but seems to have good instincts and is all over the field, and 24-7 sports had this to say the titans who address their offensive line with their first round pick in 2020 shift to defense and snap up nicholas bolton who needs some work but always makes a big impact so that's something that i think the titans would look for the second round but uh if nicholas bolton has a great year and and shoots up the draft board maybe that's something they would consider And then the last mock draft that we're going to take a look at in our mock draft roundup for 2021 is from CBS Sports, and this is a pick that I think makes a lot of sense as well, and it's on my initial team needs for the Titans for next year,

and that's interior offensive line. Creed Humphrey out of Oklahoma, 6'5", 307 pounds. CBS Sports had this to say about the pick. Humphrey has played center for the Sooners, but he does not necessarily have to play there immediately in Nashville. The team has a need at guard, but a move back to center could be the end goal. So let's talk about that analysis. I agree quite a bit.

Let's say Nate Davis has a bad year, and the Titans give up hope for him to be a long-term starter. Move Creed Humphrey and pick 20. By the way, it's pick 20, so the Titans would be a playoff team here, but kind of a wild card end of the playoff field team. So if Nate Davis struggles, the Titans can move Creed Humphrey into the starting right guard position. If Ben Jones or Roger Saffold move on, retire,

regress so much that they aren't a starter anymore, he could go right in there. And let's say Nate Davis has a bad year. Creed Humphreys comes in, starts at right guard. Ben Jones will now be 32-33 by the end of the year. He may be on his way out by 2022, and then Creed Humphreys slides in as the Titans' center of the future. So that pick makes a lot of sense. So we saw wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, interior offensive line. I think all of those make sense to a point. I would say wide receiver makes the most sense. And then interior offensive line, then inside linebacker, then tight end if I had to rank them.

But that's what the pundits are saying right now for what the Titans may do in 2021. That is going to conclude our Mock Draft Monday portion of the show. We are going to move forward, and I'm going to talk to you guys a little bit about a rumor that is coming out about how training camp could go and what the rosters could look like heading into training camp at the end of the month and some of this conversation that we are going to have here is a little bit of a rehash of what we talked about

on Friday. That's why I tucked it in here at the end of the show, but I also wanted to make sure that you guys were up to date with these reports and rumors that we are hearing. So what we are hearing from some sources, and let me set the stage here this way, back up a little bit, just back up a little bit. Okay, back up a little bit beep beep beep just back up a little bit okay back up a little bit so typically we see 90 man rosters or at least in the high 80s for NFL teams as they go into training camp and this is so that they have camp bodies so that they can look at as many different players as possible all they're trying to do is get the best possible 50 man roster to take into the season that they can.

So getting as many guys out on the field to take a look at as possible is exactly what they want to do. Filling up with undrafted free agents, on-the-bubble veterans, your own rookies, your own practice squad guys. Everybody is out there trying to make a name for themselves. So that's why teams do that, most of you guys know. But hey, just want to make sure we cover all of our bases. So what we are hearing now is, is even though teams have the ability to bring 90 throughout training camp, we might see limited rosters. We might see only 75 guys on a roster. We might see only 80 guys, 70 guys. That would probably be the lowest number there, 70, but 75, 80, 85, rather than a full 90, just to try to limit the amount of

players that are out on the field, the amount of people that you have to test, the amount of people that you have to account for while they're trying to do all of these restricted activities due to COVID-19. So a lot of teams we're hearing may shorten their rosters down from the typical size just to try to limit the infectiousness of the disease, the amount of people that are around. Obviously, you guys understand the logic behind that, whether or not that's going to help. I don't really know. In my opinion, if you have 75 different players in there working out with all the personnel and all the staff, what's an extra 10?

I just, I personally don't think that, I understand the logic that they have. I understand what the thought is rooted in, the safety of it. You know, limit the amount of players, limit the amount of contact. I get the general thought process there. But I just think when you got guys 75 guys you've broken that I mean if we if we talked about 30 to 50 more people then yeah but 5 to 10 more people to have you know 80 85 guys even 15 to have not a full 90 I just don't see it making that big of a difference in terms of the safety of the situation quite frankly that's what it comes down to for me right now if you look at

the titans roster they are anywhere depending on how you want to look at it between 85 to 87 players that we've heard that they should have on the roster so they would have to cut down from that if they're one of the teams that are going to do that so i'm not 100 certain of how john robinson plans to handle that going forward or how each individual team will actually do it if the Titans are going to be one of the teams that has a limited roster but once again I don't see it as a big enough benefit to safety to actually do that and from the Titans perspective I think that they need to look at some of these undrafted free agent guys so I don't think it would be a smart decision for them anyways.

But just something to keep our eye on what the actual roster size is heading into training camp. And if the Titans cut off some of the guys that they had previously signed or wanted to bring to camp to try to, you know, keep things as safe as possible. We will see and I will continue to update you guys as I see any and all information that comes out about the subject. But that is going to do it for today's Monday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. On Wednesday's episode, I'm going to talk to you guys more about money related things

for the Titans 2021 look ahead. Talk about who could be some cap casualties for the Titans, who could get some extensions next offseason, who are some potential free agents as well that the Titans could look at. Really excited to talk about all of that with you guys, as well as we continue to kind of take an unnecessary peek ahead, but felt it was the best time to get ourselves ready for what could be coming down the pike next offseason for the Titans. But now that you are done with today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast,

make sure you check out the Mothership, the Locked on NFL National Show, the Locked on NFL podcast. Tell your smart device to play the Locked on NFL podcast. You will enjoy, but that is going to do it for me today. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.