Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - TITANS SQUAD SHOW: Titans WIN Sweat trade, still SHOULD DRAFT an EDGE
Episode Date: February 28, 2026In this episode, we break down the blockbuster player-for-player swap sending T'Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets in exchange for Pro Bowl defensive end Jermaine Johnson. We dive into why this is a ma...ssive win for the Tennessee Titans, securing a proven, high-motor pass rusher who fits Robert Saleh’s defensive identity perfectly. But does the arrival of Johnson change the plan for the No. 4 overall pick? With the NFL Combine in full swing, we analyze the standout performers and discuss whether the Titans should still pull the trigger on an elite EDGE prospect like Rueben Bain Jr. or if the focus shifts to a "blue-chip" tackle or playmaker. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! TurboTaxFor a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. FanDuel Use your Profit Boost on an NBA future and get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA Finals. Play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started. 5-Hour ENERGY Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It's party time. Order Now at 5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. HomeChefFor a limited time, Home Chef is offering my listeners 50% off your first box, free shipping, and free dessert for life. Just go to https://HomeChef.com/LOCKEDON. 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcript
Discussion (0)
I'm Julian Minnensohn. No more sweat, but hey, no sweat for the Titans.
They should still take an edge in the draft, even with getting one in the trade.
We'll talk about it.
And I'm Kayla Anderson.
Who will the Titans take in the first round?
I'm thinking DB?
No, not the back end of the defense.
That's not what I'm talking about.
I'll reveal coming up.
DB might not be there.
It may be AR, but either way, some big guns for the Titans in the future.
We'll talk about it.
Titan up.
It's the Titans.
Squad, everything Tennessee Titans every week.
Covering all the big hits and game-changing plays from the heart of Music City, the way only
the locked on podcast network can.
Squad up.
The Titan Squad Show starts now.
And welcome to the Titan Squad Show.
As you heard off the top right there, I'm your host, Julian Minnenzone alongside the legend,
Brad Hopkins, and a new member of the squad, Kayla Anderson.
Kayla, before we get into the episode, let people know.
who you are. Introduce yourself. Give them your creds because you got a lot of pelts on the wall when
it comes to covering the Titans. Yeah, that's right. I'm first of all so excited to join you guys
on Fridays talking Titans. I did send eight seasons in Nashville, Tennessee, covering the Titans
first for WKRN News 2 and then obviously 104-5 in the morning. So I am just thrilled to still be able
to talk Titans. I might not be right here, but believe me, I am paying attention to
everything that is going on with the two-tone blue.
Now, you already put the roots in, girl.
Are you kidding me?
Eight years on the ground you're covering this team,
regardless if you're in the state or not,
we know that you know this franchise.
So we're happy to have you here.
And, you know, like Kayla said,
it's going to be a pleasure to see exactly
how this team gets shaped up.
A lot of newness, fellas, is coming around the corner.
Coaches to players, free agents, draftees,
you name it.
So there's going to be a lot to talk about.
Indeed, there is.
is. We wanted to remind you today's episode is brought to you by Fanduel. Use your profit
boost on an NBA future and get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA finals.
Play your game with Fanduel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. So I wanted to
start with the big trade that happened this week during the combine. Devonre Sweat, getting
traded to the New York Jets for Jermaine Johnson, the defensive end, a guy who is familiar with
Robert Sala, played under Robert Sala during his early time in New York. What was your guys
reaction to this. I'll start with you, B. Hop. I understand where the potential is there.
You know, the 22nd pick of the, or even the 26th pick of the 22 draft, just four sacks,
three sacks, you know, in 14 games last season, 22 solos, 43 total. I know that there's
the potential for him to be, you know, someone that can be impactful. But I honestly think
that it may be more depth, a role that he plays this year, especially if the Titans end up drafting
high at edge or on that defensive side of that defensive front.
So I'm just thinking that it might have been just one of the situations that the Titans
are trying to hedge against the youth of a potential draft pick and getting somebody in
free agency that they know knows their way around the system, especially Roberts,
and can be a player that they can lean on in certain situations.
Yeah, I looked at it exactly that.
Robert Sala, it was more of a system fit for your now new head coach who is trying to
still his own install it to say his own type of defense, obviously that attacking style defense
where, you know, to Vondre sweat, it's really hard to lose a guy like that that I think so many
fans also connect with because he was a draft pick here. And for the most part, has had success
and become a fan favorite. But I think style-wise, he maybe makes sense over there with the New York
Jets and more of a three-four style defense. I think that Jermaine Johnson still has to
prove coming off of that Achilles last year.
He was his first year back.
I don't think like Brad said,
he was up to par with his production levels.
But I think the second year coming back from Achilles,
we should maybe expect a little bit more.
And again,
the familiarity with Robert Solis defense,
I think he can be a leader too in that room,
helping guide some of these younger players.
And a lot of times when you trade somebody like a sweat
who is a second round pick, right?
You're not going to get second round value back.
However, Jermaine Johnson was a first round pick.
And his second year, particularly under Robert Sala, Pro Bowl.
You know, he had seven and a half sacks.
It'll be interesting.
Now, what I want to know from you guys, because Kayla, this is the first time we'll get in to talk to you about who you think the Titans should draft number four overall.
Titans get a defensive end here.
And Behop, you mentioned maybe this is more of a depth piece.
So does this not change your David Bailey potential pick?
Because I know you've been banging the drum for that guy, or is it still?
Bill Bailey or is it somebody else now that you've got some extra depth here on the edge for
the Titans at number four overall.
Are you talking to me?
I'm so sorry.
Yes.
So for me, David Bailey might not be available, Kayla.
I know.
I know.
It really depends what you're looking for.
If you're looking for a true, a true, pure outside edge rusher, that's David Bailey.
Best in the draft.
Probably the most athletic pound per pound player that is.
we saw what the 40 numbers showed you 4-5-40 for a dude that big stop it already you know what I mean
the guy can get up put them up put him down but the thing is um the Jets have a similar need you
I mean they've got some guys that on the outside that need some help too so are they looking at
at David Bailey the same way that we're looking at David Bailey and they pick two picks in
front of us so yeah David Bailey may be the target right it may be the guy that we're actually
looking to get but if he's not there I'm going to
you what, Ruben Bain, a little heavier trump dude, him and both, a king
Mesidor.
Are you kidding me?
Yeah.
The edges for Miami were nasty.
One's a little more athletic than the other, but they're both, I think, very qualified to be
top 15 picks, both of them.
So I would probably say that if David Bailey is off the board at number two, with, with
Cedric Gray being a sideline-to-sideline kind of guy, Kayla, Julian, I don't think that there's
as much a need for a linebacker type like Arvill Rehn.
Reese.
Arville Reese is a guy that I got drafted with, or excuse me,
that guy I played against in Pittsburgh.
His name was Joey Porter Sr.
Mm-hmm.
The Porter was a linebacker by trade that ended up moving outside into 3-4 defense,
which is exactly where he said he likes to play on the outside is in the 3-4,
which there are obviously four backers on the field,
so it makes sense if he's a pass rusher to get your boat on the outside.
So that's all my concern is that if Bailey is your guy, he just might not be there.
Yeah, and you're exactly.
right, Brad. And I completely
know now, too, with
what's going on at the
combine and we've had, you know,
these guys talk and they're doing their drills
and everything. Like David Bailey
is a hot commodity. And I
think I agree with you 100%
for the pure fact that he is
primarily played the edge position
and is familiar with that. He
hasn't been like somebody
who's converted from
like Arville Reese has
a safety to a linebacker to
can play on the end.
So I get that part of it.
I just,
I fell in love with David Bailey,
not only for what he can do on the field and that first step that he gets and how fast he is.
And then also how he just finishes every play.
Like the guy plays like a guy with a guy with his head on fire.
Like he's a monster.
He plays violent.
And I,
I know that that would be perfect for a Robert solid defense.
I also like the fact that I think the Titans under Mike Borganzi look
for really smart players.
Like that's something that has been a theme with Mike Burgundy and the guys that he's
drafted.
Of course,
he spent three years at Stanford before transferring to tech where he kind of refined
his pass rushing moves.
And I think he's still going to refine those at the next level.
But yeah,
maybe he's not going to be there unless the Jets decide to take a risk on a guy like
Arvel Reese where you could maybe say his physical potential is a little bit higher.
He's kind of a freak, right?
And maybe they feel like they can tap more in and get more out of a guy like that who maybe
hasn't played the edge position as long as a guy like Bailey.
But he has those physical traits.
He's so athletic.
He kind of blows you away when you watch a guy like that.
As for Ruben Bain, guys, that could be the realistic option.
I know that he was a force at Miami.
He's an ultimate pro.
Absolutely loves the game of football.
You cannot question that.
I'm going to ask you one thing, though, Brad, are you worried about the short arms?
And I'm just going to put it out there because it's been the talk.
Are you worried at all about that?
You know what?
An advantage that defensive linemen have are long arms when they have them because it allows you to get that reach before they reach you.
And if I know that you can't reach me and I reach you before you can get to me, then I have more of a chance of locking my arms out and you can't do anything about it.
So it can be a concern, but what that makes you do is use your hands.
You see what I'm saying?
So now you have to use your hands to swipe.
You have to use your hands to rip.
You have to use your hands to pull by doing all these things that your arms are a liability at.
So if I get my mitt on you, maybe I have to use a little shoulder dip or something to get in there, right?
And then get some cloth to avoid those long arms that offensive linemen are will traditionally have an advantage over.
But if I can swipe them down and get you off balance, there's a lot of things put this way.
His arms have been short since he played football, right?
So it's not like they're grown anymore.
So he's had to get used to having shorter arms.
And he seems to be done well for himself as a prospect.
So I'm not too much concerned.
Yeah, something that Robert Sala did say that the arm length does matter.
However, Sala also said, you trust the tape, too.
And the tape tell you that Ruben Bain is a dog.
Oh, yeah.
And the thing is, though, remember I talked about it?
That's a by comparison standards.
That's a big booty boy right there.
He got that drunk.
You know what that means?
That means I get low, I get leverage.
I'm pushing.
You got to deal with that.
And I also want to say one thing real quick.
When you're talking about Germain Johnson being an acquisition,
them kind of moving on from Devon,
your sweat, letting him nap go to Europe, et cetera, et cetera.
I think when you can keep the same in-line ability to press the quarterback,
those guys get exhausted over there rushing the quarterback.
So when David Bailey gets tired, he's got his hands,
when he starts tapping his helmet, it's like, I don't come out,
Germain goes in.
Now you have that, you would hope,
That same level of productivity doesn't dip when one good player goes off the field.
No, absolutely.
And Titan Man 9,000 has a solution for Ruben Bain's arms.
He just says stretch a little more.
So maybe, you know.
I do hot yoga guys.
I do it five times a week.
I swear to you, I have actually gotten taller.
Like people will come to me that haven't seen me.
I'm dead serious.
I'm dead serious.
Even if it's a half an inch, I swear to you guys, just a little like, just a little.
You got women all over the country now doing yoga trying to get taller.
That's right.
If you don't want to get shorter, you want to get taller, do some yoga.
Ruben Bain getting him into yoga classes if he is drafted number four overall.
That's the top thing on the list for Sala and Borgonzi.
We're going to talk about more of the draft, the combine.
Some of the roster moves the Titans have made this week.
That's coming up next on the Titan Squad Show.
Keep it locked here.
Don't go anywhere.
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All right, guys, so the Titans not only traded to Vondre sweat this week,
but they released Lloyd Cushenberry at Center and Safety Xavier Woods,
Cushingberry with a failed physical designation.
What was your guys' reaction to that?
I'll start with Kayla on this one.
I was a little surprised.
I'm not going to lie to you.
I mean, you just saw Lloyd here two years ago signed,
and look, he was the talk of that, like that free agency class.
We knew that they were going to bring in,
A guy who had proven it in Denver, he had been a solid center.
He had been a leader.
We knew he had been somebody who worked really hard.
And then unfortunately, in that first year with the Titans guys, he has the injury.
And then coming back from it last year, let's just all be quite frank here, it wasn't good.
But did I think that they would just let him go and release him?
Not necessarily because it is hard to find.
And Brad can speak way more to this in a second.
But it's hard to find that trust between a quarterback, a young quarterback at that and your center.
And so they've got to have somebody in mind or a plan in place to think that they can upgrade at that position.
Could it be Tyler Lindenbaum?
Maybe, but you're going to have to fork out the money.
I was a little shocked, though, just because he was a guy that we talked so highly when he did get signed here.
Yeah, you know, I really was impressed with him when he first came here.
as well, a veteran, like you mentioned, Kayla, that definitely earned the stripes to be one of the
leaders, especially in the middle. But unfortunately, when we had to have Corey Levin come in on a number
of occasions because injuries took them off the field, it kind of says some things right there.
You're only as good as your physical abilities, okay? And it's unfortunate. Now, do I think
Corey Levin is the answer? No, the guy spent practice squad time in September. If you're a starter,
if you're qualified to be a guy that's worth the bite of an extended contract, you don't see the
practice squad ever. You know what I'm not going to say ever? Because,
some guys develop off of the practice squad,
but you don't go to the practice squad if you've been that guy.
He's never been that guy.
You see what I'm saying?
So at the end, I think that between he and Kevin Zitler,
an aging right guard potentially who's a free agent this year,
I think that they're going to be looking either in the interior
or maybe bumping somebody that's on the exterior,
on the interior, but they will be drafting the linemen sooner than later.
I'm not going to call the second pick,
but I don't know, Caden Proctor is the name that seems to be coming up
on people's radar,
as a potential tackle prospect of the big boy out of Alabama.
You already got one monster out there.
Wanted to get another crimson tie monster out there.
But either way, I think that what that says is there may be focus in the trenches,
on the offensive side of the football day two.
I think it's important though, Bradd, and you check me if I'm wrong on this.
You know, having somebody who has a little bit experience with such a younger quarterback,
it is a little bit important because I know that the center like Ben Jones was when
I was here covering the team is such a leader of that line and kind of a quarterback in a way of
that line. And so you do wonder, like, do they go get somebody who is a little bit more of a
veteran? And I know commanders, they just released their starting center in Tyler Beaudish.
They just released him. Like, do they pick up somebody like that? Or, like you said, do they
develop with Cam Ward one of these younger guys? I don't know if it would be the six-round pick
Jackson's later if he has, if they've seen enough out of him. But what?
I mean, what way would you rather go if you're an organization that's trying to rebuild?
Well, at this point, you've already planted enough seeds.
I think that Peter Skoronsky has been a terrific seed.
I think J.C. Latham, with some consistency, is developing, maybe a little slower than Peter,
into somewhat of a great asset as another first round pick.
Dan Moore, you've got to ask yourself, is he work $20 million a year?
Is he worked $20 million a year?
Just ask yourself that.
And then, of course, it's just a matter of them feeling comfortable with taking alignment that may be a center.
I'm looking at some of the center grades, right, for interior offensive linemen.
And I don't know that that's somebody that I would take before the third round in the interior alignment.
You know what I mean?
So, you know, it's just one of the things.
I don't have a problem with drafting young because at the end of the day, if you have the ability to develop that roster and develop talent,
then those guys stick around for a long time.
you know what I mean because they're now a unit that play together and that's what I think works the best
Bruce and I played next to each other for 10 years 10 years he and I played with each other
so if you had that kind of consistency where the communication is subliminal the communication is almost
nonverbal you know what I mean because you've done it so long that's where you want to get to
a smooth running machine that is that just basically doesn't need to be thought about you've got
monsters up front, it leaves so much more creativity in play calling and everything else that you're trying
to do. They need to win up front. Tyler Linderbaum for context, he's projected to get around a four
years, 70 to 76 million. He is like the class of this free agency, you know, the offensive
line, the centers. Brad, you mentioned Bruce Matthews. Hold on one second. I want to show you guys something.
Oh.
This is going to be for our viewing audience here. Here at News 2, we have a bunch of like Titans stuff.
see here. What is he pulling up here? What special thing? I have a picture right next to my desk,
and it's not just because I'm a Brad Hopkins fan, the 1997 Oilers offensive line. Oh, my goodness. Get
ready. Get ready. Where is he? There's Bruce and there's our guy. Oh my goodness. Behan.
Look at that. Young Stunner right there. Look at that.
I think you aged in reverse, Beehom.
Hey, do you know how unique that is, Julian?
That's Tennessee oil or stuff.
There's only been Tennessee oilers for two years.
So if you got Tennessee oil and stuff, you better hang on to it, man.
That's cool.
Yeah, it's a collector's item now.
I might need to get the autograph or something.
Yeah.
But yeah, no.
Obviously, Center is a big thing.
Safety, too, with Xavier Woods.
That opens the door, I imagine, for Kevin Winston, right?
Real quick, Julian.
Yeah.
I'm looking at Mike Bell.
at Mike Bell. He said, if you're not going to pay Dan more, 20 million, or you're not going to pay Dan more. Who else is going to play left tackle? I really don't have a problem with them moving JC back to left. He has left tackle ability. He just has to get himself trained in left tackle. And if you, if you draft a Caden Proctor, put his butt at right tackle. Now you've got the next bookends for at least five, six years. You know what I mean? Just say JC works out well enough to you.
get a second bite at the apple, renew his rookie deal.
You still got three years left on Cagin's deal or whoever you decided to pick.
But you can draft an offensive lineman pretty high to fill some of these holes that are
either natural or just by lack of competition.
I think Dan Moore should use have some competition.
So if you drafted a guy that you feel in a second round could push a starter,
then you know what?
It's his job to win, right?
That's what I would tell.
Indeed.
Brad would know.
Brad was held down that spot on the left side for years and years and years.
So he knows how important, especially also what we saw in the Super Bowl this past year,
where the defensive front of the Seahawks just ate up the Patriots line alive.
My team destroyed them.
Oh, yeah, that's right.
Yeah, Pacific Northwest, repping over there.
Harley Home, but always rapping.
All right.
So at the other side of the break, we're going to talk about some other combine takeaways.
I know some of our viewers who are live with us on YouTube have some questions,
and particularly about a Notre Dame running back who is getting talked about quite a bit over the combine.
We'll talk about all of that and more next on the Titan Squad Show.
Keep it locked here.
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All right, guys. So there's been a lot of talk especially today about Jeremiah Love.
I mean, the running back out of Notre Dame.
A lot of draft analysts have him as a top three player in the draft.
Of course, running back is interesting because the Titans have a ton of other needs,
but running back is kind of seen as a luxury pick.
But when you have a shiny toy like a Jeremiah Love dangling right in front of you to pair him with Cam Ward,
it's always intriguing.
Mike Borganzi talked about Jeremiah Love comparing him to Jemir Gibbs.
what do you guys think about the love potential?
Are the Titans open to love in 2026?
I love him.
Oh, my God.
We are just going to make this segment all about love.
That's dumb.
I'm sorry.
I had to do it.
Caleb's going to beat me to it.
Anyway, first off, phenomenal player.
He is the Christian McCabry, Sequin Barkley.
He is that elk, you know, that is at both a passing threat as much as a running threat.
He can help in a lot of different formations.
He'll even when I'm on the spot and he can run routes.
You know, he's just, he has that kind of capability.
On my draft, I have him going to the Saints at number nine.
The dudes from St. Louis, right?
You know, he went to Notre Dame.
He's from St. Louis, right up the river from New Orleans, you know, so he can just go on there and just hang out.
And do just like Bejan Robinson, right?
Atlanta, his counterpart there.
So I think that that new is amazing and very qualified to be a top three pick.
It's just for me, as I'm looking at my draft, I've got Fernando going first, obviously to the Raiders.
I've got Arville Reese going to the Jets because there's more of a backer edge rush need up there.
Arizona takes Francis Mauna from Miami.
It was either him or Spencer Fanonoh.
Then I've got the Titans taking David Bailey.
The Giants take Spencer and Cleveland's got Caleb Lomu, another tackle.
But Washington takes Rubin Bain and Jeremiah Love for me goes to New Orleans Saints in March.
Yeah, and look, we all know, like, I love making predictions during the draft.
Like how many times do we do that, right?
We're just trying to predict what these teams will do.
And then it gets closer and there's always surprises.
And I'm not saying the Titans are going to do this and take a running back.
You mentioned, Julian, that it is a bit of a luxury pick.
And I kind of look at what the Raiders did when they drafted Ashton Genty.
I think Ashton's going to have an incredible career.
Unfortunately, last year, they didn't have the pieces to fully support it yet,
including a god-awful offensive line.
Look, the Titans are ahead of them in that department a little bit.
But I think when you look at what Robert Sala wants to do in his first year,
it is really kind of establish that defense and get in the pieces he wants.
And if he sees one of those pieces early on that you can't pass on in terms of those edge players,
you've got to grab it.
But Jeremiah Love is one of those guys that it's hard to pass up on.
He's a three-down back.
I think when you relate him to guys like Christian McCaffrey, like not saying he's going to be him,
but I watched firsthand here with the 49ers this year,
have to rely on Christian for pretty much a past catcher role and a running back role.
So if you have a guy that it comes down to in need thought,
you can turn to him in whatever way.
So it is valuable.
Yeah, Mike Burgundy mentioned he loves him because he is an every down,
versatile, past catching, but also a demon in the backfield kind of running back.
Now, I want to ask this because it's been thrown around in the comment section a little bit.
let's say there is a team out there that is a running back away and they they fall in love with love
how open to would you be as the titans to trading back maybe maybe if it gets you an extra pick
in that second round but the risk is you lose out on getting one of the best players you really
really want there near the top 100 percent i i don't really see um them moving on from somebody
that can that can influence the passer because that's super important you know what i mean i think
while we're working on developing Cam Ward and finding him weapons and consistency,
you also need to look at slowing down the other team's ability to score, right?
Because that puts more pressure on Cam Newton, a younger guy.
If the defense is porous.
But here's an example, fellas.
Sequan Barkley rushed for over 2,000 yards the year they won the Super Bowl, right?
He didn't have near that this upcoming season, did he?
Same guy.
It's not like he stubbed his toe or lost ability to run the football.
What was the biggest difference?
how they played up front and the play calling
because the guy that was calling the plays and went to Super Bowl
is the head coach in New Orleans now,
so that might have had an effect.
But I said all that to say,
Tony Pollard is a very capable running back.
Imagine him behind a vastly improved offensive line.
Tad J. Spears, another example of someone
that could totally take advantage.
I would be so pissed off if I was Tony Pollard and Tadier Spears
if you dealt me away and then improved the offensive line.
So the next dude behind me has the easier road.
I will, I will, you know.
Go ahead, Kayla.
No, I know, Brad, but it's just like, you know, there's so much newness here in Tennessee.
It's hard to know what's on the brains of Borganzi and Sala and, you know, what they're thinking.
Because I don't think this is going to happen by any means because, Brad, your point right there,
the most important things right now in the game are do you have your quarterback and can you rush the opposing quarterback?
They have one of those.
They need the other piece.
And when you're a young team like this trying to get the best talent available,
you do not freaking trade down.
How many times have we said the Titans were the 20-something pick in the past 10 years?
And it's kind of like you don't get anywhere.
It's like a sticky area.
So I don't think they do that.
But then again, like I said, when you have a lot of new pieces up top,
it's hard to think what the heck they're thinking because none of them are tied to specific people.
I wanted to talk to you guys then about this argument because you're right, the Titans need stars.
They just need more better players, right?
And at four, you're expecting to get a star, right?
But how do you balance, let's say somebody like an Rvel Reese who probably if the three edge rushers
reach all of their highest potential, Reese is the next Micah Parsons.
At least that's what he's compared to.
But you have a Rubin Bain or a David Bailey who have the production, more production than Reese
had in college.
And so you kind of know what you're getting a little bit more than you are getting with
Ruth.
How do you weigh those two out, potential versus production?
So what I've watched, both, I watched the film on four, on all four of these rushes,
edge rushers.
I watched it on David, Arvel, Rubin, and Akeem.
And I wanted to see by comparison what the scouts would see.
The one that had the most bag of tricks was David Bailey.
I mean, the dude had, I mean, he had, he had.
had the rip. He had the spin. I didn't see anybody else using the spin. He had the spin move.
He had the inside out. He's an athlete, right?
Mesadora played sideline to sideline. You know, if he got stopped the blind streamers,
that wasn't it, man. He's got that motor. Now, bane's a little heavier, right, a little stronger,
so he wasn't near as conditioned like that, but he was more of a problem from a physicality
standpoint, especially when it comes to run defense from the outside. So that's some of the
things I liked about him. Arvel was everywhere.
Areville did a lot of faking fire zone where he's standing there in the A, B gap, right,
and acting like he's going to drop off into coverage, waiting for the linemen to turn his head,
and boom, he's in the crease.
I just think he's on top of the quarterback.
So they used them as a spy a lot of times, but also as someone that could rush the passer
from a delayed standpoint and also be a cover guy because he's basically a linebacker.
So there's a lot of usefulness in any one of those guys that's really about pick your poison
because I think they'll all be effective, but what do you need the most?
I think for the Titans, someone that could not basically force the quarterback to step up in the pocket into the waiting arms of Jeffrey Simmons, that would be the most advantageous pick for me.
I think if you are Mike Borganzi, you need to go with what is at least the most polished pick at that point.
I think that if you're another team that isn't really in the position the Titans are in right now that can have a little bit more time to see some development in a guy.
like Arvel Reese, let's say, right? Like he's been, he's been switching from safety to linebacker to
there's still a lot of rawness in his game. And I know that you had mentioned, Brad,
you broke down tape and some of those moves that David Bailey has already, you know, in his
arsenal are incredible. And I think those will only improve to tell you the truth. So you look at
him, he has the mindset, right? He's a Stanford guy who then went to tech and refined his skills.
He wins with power and speed.
I just think he's the more fine, refined, polished cross right there.
Cam, sail away, stop.
David Bailey don't use speed.
Because he don't have a lot of speed guys.
They put their hand in the dirt because they want to get low.
They want to get off the ground fast.
Like when you're watching these dudes run the combine at the 40,
how do they start the 40 with their hands on the ground, right?
Because the lower you are to the ground, the faster you get off.
David Bailey plays from a two point a lot.
Yeah. But he wins that first step.
Right. And for Mike, might be, come on now, you say stiff?
Really? It's hard to do. Right. Wow. Mike Bailey is. I'm not buying that, bro, because when I see him rush up field and spin move back inside and avoid a running back and then get the quarterback on the ground, ain't nothing stiff about that.
You know, so as a matter of fact, I would qualify him for a pound per pound guy as one of the most athletic in this class.
Yeah, Bailey had 14 and a half sacks last year on arguably the best.
defense in the country, Texas Tech.
So the production was certainly there.
What do you guys feel about, you know, obviously they added, like we mentioned at the top
of the show, Jermaine Johnson, who is more of a stand-up kind of outside defensive end guy.
Do you feel that maybe they should go opposite with this pick with a hand of the dirt guy,
like a Rubin Bain, like to have two different kind of versatile options there on each end?
I don't know because I don't really know if that is what Saul is looking for in his type of defense.
I just don't, if he, I just feel like Saul the way that he's described and the way we've seen him put together his defenses in the past.
Like he is looking for that attacking style, not really a hand in the dirt.
Like, hence why, I feel like a Tavondre sweat was traded away.
And they bring in a guy.
I know it's different positions.
But in terms of Jeremiah, it's like he is a guy that maybe is not the best run stopper per se.
but I feel like for his, the attacking style Saul is looking for, I just feel like it fits better.
Even if like Brad said, a depth piece, then you know you're never even missing a beat.
If he, if, you know, whoever you draft comes out, he steps right in or vice versa, you know.
Yeah.
I mean, it's just competition at that point.
Because I remember when, when they drafted, I'm trying to think of a good defensive end that they drafted.
Oh, we had Kenny Holmes.
You guys remember McKinney Holmes?
He probably don't remember McKinney.
He finished with New York Times.
Yeah, he was on a Super Bowl team.
And I remember when they brought in Javon.
You know what?
Javon started out as a linebacker.
He won the defensive end.
You know what I mean?
So it was the same situation.
Kind of like Arbel.
He's a lot bigger than Arvel, but it had a lot faster than Arvel.
It was crazy enough to say.
But it wasn't like they put Kenny on the shelf.
You know what I mean?
They rotated them, put them on the field together at the same time.
Put it this one.
You've got three or even four indefensible linemen up front.
That's what sends you to the show.
What did the dark side do against a very patient Patriots offense for the most part?
Dismaneled Josh McDaniels and took away anything that he could call.
There's nothing in his bag because he's getting punched in the mouth.
You know what I mean?
So if you can win up front, good God, man.
That's where it's at because you want to have that.
Well, first off, what did Robert Sala say he wanted the identity of the team to be?
Fast and vice.
to be fast and violent, right? Now, Brian Dayball said, we'll wait to see what we get as far as
the ingredients to call us what we are. I don't know what we're working with yet to call us what we
are. But at the end of the day, the only which you're fast and violent is if you're delivering
the goods, you know what I'm saying? You're not waiting. You're not being patient and waiting
for somebody to make a mistake, you know, that constrictor type game. You're on the attack.
You know what I mean? So that starts up front. Yeah. Indeed, it does. All right. Well, on the other side of the
break, we wanted to remind you guys, keep those questions and comments coming in the live chat.
If you're with us on YouTube, we'll do our best to answer them at the other side where we talk
Titans Talk, whether it be draft, combine, or just general questions about the team. That's next
on the Titans Squad Show. Keep it locked. All right, everybody. So Sanctified 17 has more of a comment.
I'm pulling for love. Take the best player regardless of value at four. Right now, Daniel
Jeremiah who's kind of like one of the
top analysts where best
players available. He has Jeremiah Love is
at number two behind
Fernando Mendoza.
And I know the fans right now,
a lot of them in this chat guys, they are
might be taking the cheese on
the shiny toy that is the running
back and the idea of Tam and love
together. What do you have to say
to Sanctified 17 right here?
What do you think, Kayla? I think
that
I understand what
saying because when I saw that comment before you highlighted it, Julian, I was thinking,
he ain't wrong.
Yeah.
At the end of the day, you're buying something with David Bailey that affects the problem.
Yes.
You know what I'm saying?
It actually is addressing the problem.
Getting a running back doesn't address the problem.
The problem would be the lack of run game because of the guys up front.
You see what I'm saying?
Because there are a lot of unbelievable running backs.
out there. But, I mean, look at Ashton Genty.
Yep. He's one of the best backs of coming out of college football. And he had kind of a
sub-bar season because the guys he ran behind. Exactly. So at the end of the day, if I draft
David Bailey, I expect David Bailey put his hand in the dirt and get sacks and affect that
side of the football directly. Yep. As for a running back, the running back, it's only as good
as the guy's blocking in front of him. Ask Derek Henry. And I did love that comment. Somebody said,
Derek Henry is peeking over the fence.
Yeah, yeah.
That's awesome.
You can see Derek go there, what y'all doing over there?
What you doing?
What you doing?
You're doing?
You're in the pool?
Exactly.
He's in that late-night text.
Exactly.
You love?
You love?
Exactly.
You love.
Look, I get it.
This is so funny because I feel like every year during drop time,
we have the same conversations about players that,
fans fall in love with and it's their damn right to fall in love with whoever they want right
that's what's so fun about the draft um but with this situation i think it's easy because it's like
offense is sexy so to take an offensive player in the draft that is going to get a lot of hype
and rightfully so because jeremiah love i believe will be a good player i think that we we kind
of put the cart before or is it the cart before the horse kind of thing yes and when you really
for the past how many years, guys,
there have been fans that are like,
we need an edge rusher.
We need a really good edge rusher.
We need someone who can affect the quarterback.
We have heard it year after year after year.
And you're finally in the position now
to get one of these really elite edges.
And now we're like, well, let's take the running back.
I'm just saying, like, again, get for a second,
and maybe just look at the bigger picture.
I will say, though,
We have had a staple of running backs for this franchise now.
It's kind of an identity in a way.
You know what I mean?
Very true.
It's a great point.
But yeah, it's a great point.
It's going back to Earl Campbell.
Yeah, the mantra of this team.
You're not wrong.
I don't know if that guy's on this roster yet.
It might be Jeremiah Love.
No, you're not wrong.
That's a great point.
I'll tell you what.
If they do draft Jeremiah Love, you're going to see the McNair,
Eddie George and then dissolve right into Cam Jeremiah
Love hype video and people are going to go back.
The love boat.
Yeah, exactly. The marketing will be out of this world.
On the club boat on the Cumberland.
Yes. Yeah, that would go right with your Musack City.
New Sack City.
I like that.
Yeah, B-Hop's already coming with the logo and
the trademark and the sayings and slogans, all that stuff.
Real quick, real Memphis vet, what you're asking for is the same thing.
The question is, what do you all look at when judging a DE solo tackles or pressures?
Well, a solo tackle for a defensive end is called a sack.
You know what I'm saying?
So that basically is the pressure that you want to create because, you know, a defensive end is contained.
He's making sure that you don't get to the edge.
But most of the running game, unless you have that ability with speed to get to the edges,
you're right in between the tackles, right?
Yeah.
It's not normally where defensive ends make their hay, you know.
There is creating pressure.
Now, if you're talking about a defensive tackle,
maybe solo tackles is more of a measurable
because those guys do affect the run like that.
But I think when you're talking about solo tackles
for a defensive end, especially where they're coming from,
that's called a TFL, that's called a stack,
and that's called pressure.
Yeah. Real Memphis vet also had another question.
Can we get some help at corner?
Obviously, the Titans are very thin in that department.
they're without a cornerback number one.
You know, there's options in free agency.
Alante Taylor has been thrown around from New Orleans.
Jalen Watson from, from, he's a former Coogh, obviously, and that's where Kayla, you know,
reps really hard.
But I also, I was watching the Combine is on here in the office.
And I'm looking at that either that 35th or 66th pick for the Titans is maybe where they
draft that corner spot.
Colton Hood from Tennessee.
I know we've talked about him.
lot.
Galen and Morritt.
Yeah, yeah.
You guys could speak about what they need at corner and maybe the options that they could
tell you all over that.
Oh, what, my Jalen Watson?
Yeah.
No, I'm, I'm still obviously digging deep into this draft in terms of, of those positions
particularly.
But here, I've been actually, I've actually been talking about this position for the last
couple of years.
And I know they've had guys that they were trying to figure out if it would work.
But with Legerius Sneed being such a, I'm going to say a bust here, unfortunately.
Well, I mean, I can be truthful.
I'm not in Tennessee.
I can't get eggs at my house and stuff, right?
You're going to get some rawness on this because I'm going to tell it how it is.
But in all seriousness, though, I think that that really pushed them back a little
because they were depending on him to be, at least on one side, be such a solid corner for them.
for a couple years to come.
And so I do think if you go out and get a guy like Jalen Watson, who you want to know
something, I talked to Mike Borgesi one-on-one when Borgo got hired with the Tennessee
Titans, I went up to him and I said, hey, you guys bring a lot of coogs to Kansas City,
don't you?
And he immediately named off Jalen Watson.
And he said, this guy is smart.
like this he's done really well for like I'm just saying keep that in mind guys because that is
somebody who he is very very familiar with and likes the player he is and the product that he puts out
on the field and he's won a ring right yes he's won a title 12 to 15 million dollars around is
what I've seen his contract and the Titans as it was said today this includes obviously the jets
trade would bring in jermaine johnson over with his 13 million dollar option have the most still in the
NFL 94 around 95 million dollars to spend on free agents and so I'd imagine the Titans to draft
one maybe two corners and then sign your corner one or your veteran corner that's kind of see because
they still have Marcus Harris on the roster sure last year for a six-round pick pretty good value
honestly yeah yeah he played some good ball um all right guys before we go any final thoughts
on draft combine, any of that stuff.
Them styles boy got styles.
Oh my God.
Sonny Stiles, man.
Lorenzo Stiles too.
That dude's a mutant.
Oh yeah, his brother ran a 40.
His brother ran the fastest 40 so far.
Crazy.
427.
That's insane.
You know what he said on Twitter, right?
No.
She put hashtag them styles men.
I love that.
They got style.
I mean, that's another good marketing.
How about you got two boys in the combine?
That's crazy.
Incredible.
Go ahead.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, that blew me away.
Like Sunny Stiles, I think his vertical jump was like 43 and a half.
Dude's in a little 83.
Yeah, it's insane.
I know the last guy, a short stint with the Titan, remember Cameron Wake?
I think he had like a 45 and a half.
But if you've ever seen Wake, like he's just a beats, right?
I love watching the Combine for so many different reasons.
but like I love letting these guys have those moments.
It's really special to see.
I also was just like incredibly impressed like always how many things come out of the combine,
the week of the combine.
So much business is done there.
And it's like from them leaking the grades of the teams,
which was another controversy within itself.
And now they're on the lookout of who leaked to, you know,
the straight up swap deals that will become official March,
you know, 11th for the Titans and the Jets.
It's always such a fun week up at Indy.
Yeah.
Real quick.
Derek DeShirich Rogers, 5816, said, did anyone see Sala complete the past?
Oh, yeah.
Maccabee show.
I did.
It wasn't the completion to do the first one.
Oh, man.
He missed the whole damn.
Oh, it was a duck, man.
When he threw that, that was the worst.
It looked like, you know, like somebody did a blow dart and tranquil.
that ball.
It was like, he needs to be that Homer Stinson gift of him backing up into the
bushes.
When you do that first and I thought, oh, my God.
I know.
You are a defense.
You are a defender for sure.
Well, yes, Kayla was right about one thing.
The St. Elmo's Steakhouse in downtown Indy gets crowded with all the GMs and nothing
a little shrimp cocktail can't help push a deal along.
That's for sure.
I did not have one or two.
or three maybe when I was over there at the combine.
That's right.
All right, well, that'll wrap us up for the Titan Squad Show this week.
I'm Julian Minnesone, joined by my friends,
Kayla Anderson, and Brad Hopkins.
We wanted to thank you guys for joining us.
Make sure, like, comment, subscribe, wherever you may be.
Make sure to get us live twice a week here,
and we'll answer your questions live on YouTube.
But for now, we'll see you guys next time on the Titan Squad Show.
Keep it live.
