Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Why Will Fuller is a Perfect Fit & Defensive Roster Needs

Episode Date: May 10, 2022

The Tennessee Titans need help at wide receiver and Will Fuller could be a perfect fit. Why would he be a match and is it realistic the Titans could target him? Tyler goes into a Rowland's Rant to explain why he thinks it should happen. Next, time to continue the roster review as we examine the Titans Defense! What needs still remain and what free agents could make sense at each spot? Tyler goes position by position to discuss just that!!Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitansFollow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPodSubscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitansSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Locked on Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland. Titans fans, it is a Wednesday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. On today's show, I'm going to start things out with a Rowland's rant on one particular free agent wide receiver who I think would be a perfect fit for the Titans why I don't understand the pushback then we are going to continue our roster review as we go position by position through the Titans defense to see what needs still remain and I'll

go over the veteran free agents at each of those positions to tell you who could help fix the problem for the Titans. So a lot to discuss on a Wednesday 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. Titans fans, it is a Wednesday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast, or a Tuesday night if you're watching on YouTube. We are going to get into who I think is the perfect fit for the Titans

as a veteran wide receiver and why I don't understand why there's so much pushback. We're also going to talk about the defensive side of the ball, what roster needs still remain, and what veteran free agents could fit those needs. Before we get into it, I've got to thank you guys for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen every day. If this is your first ever listen to the Locked on Titans podcast,

make sure you subscribe on whatever platform you do stream. You are going to find the Locked on Titans podcast everywhere, free and available on all platforms. That includes the Locked on Titans YouTube channel. Subscribe there, smash that notification bell so you know when all the content'm going to do a live schedule reaction on YouTube on Thursday night after the Titans schedule is fully released. I'm instantly going to see the Titans schedule and go live on YouTube. So make sure you subscribe to the Locked on Titans YouTube channel. You can find me on Twitter at TicTacTitans. You can check out the show Facebook page at Locked on Titans pod.

But with all that being said, I want to dive into today's discussion. And I'm going to start with a Rollins rant. I know we got a lot of new folks subscribed to the channel and to the podcast here recently. Boy, are you guys in for a treat when I go on my Rollins rant. And today is about the ideal perfect fit for the Titans in free agency at wide receiver. And it's Will Fuller. is about the ideal perfect fit for the Titans in free agency at wide receiver. And it's Will Fuller. I've gotten some pushback, not only from you listeners and from the fan base on Twitter,

but also from certain other Titans content creators. Shout out to my boy Sean from Broadway Sports and Titans Wire. We had a healthy discussion today about Will Fuller and why or why not he would fit with the Titans. Why are we had a healthy discussion today about Will Fuller and why or why not he would fit with the Titans? And for me, it's obvious that he is the perfect candidate for the Titans on the free agent market. And let me explain why. So just to quickly go through my number one reasons, he's going to be the Titans third or fourth wide receiver. What's up, Kevin cooking up lasagna. Heck yeah, man. I love lasagna. He's going to be the Titans third or fourth wide receiver. What's up, Kevin? Cooking up lasagna? Heck yeah, man. I love lasagna.

He's going to be the Titans' third or fourth wide receiver. So he's not going to have a huge role. There are some comparisons to Julio Jones by some people. Julio Jones was expected to be a heavy lifter for the Titans' offense, be their strong wide receiver too. Will Fuller is not going to be asked to do that. He's going to be a third wide receiver, a fourth wide receiver. He's a luxury for the Titans at this wave of free agency. We're not talking about a big time free agent in March. We're talking about a luxury as a summer veteran

free agent. These are decorative pieces on your roster, not the core of it. So he's a luxury. He's going to be on a prove-it deal with low money because of the injuries and missing most of the last season. He's reunited with Tim Kelly, the Titans' senior offensive assistant, who he had some of his most productive years with in Houston. He adds deep speed to the roster, which is an element the Titans simply do not have on the offense right now. I don't want overlapping skill sets from guys who are old and banged up anyways.

If we're going to go after a guy this late in the game, which it's late, you know, second wave of free agency, maybe even third, you could consider it. You're not going to get a guy with perfect health and great production who's young. You're going to have to make some concessions with these luxury players who you sign for cheap deals in the summer.

Duh. So, for me, you get the deep speed, which isn't a skill set the Titans have, and he's been productive when he's on the field. Okay? When he's on the field, he's productive. We'll get to that. But, let's continue diving into some of the knocks.

He's always injured. Okay, he is always injured. That's true. That's true. Played only 55 games in the last six seasons. Most games he ever played was 14 his rookie year. You're right. But the Titans have enough at wide receiver right now where a luxury player, this isn't like Julio Jones and A.J. Brown missing time where they are the guys who the Titans are counting on, where a luxury player isn't going to kill the Titans at wide receiver if Will Fuller can't

play in seven games, eight games. It's not going to kill the Titans at wide receiver if Will Fuller can't play in seven games, eight games. It's not going to kill the Titans at wide receiver or make them any much worse than they are right now. Remember, that's what you're comparing it to right now. Adding Will Fuller to the Titans roster, so what if he doesn't play in eight games? They still have what they have right now. Also, his role is not going to be anywhere close to what Julio was expected to do. Not only is he the third or fourth wide receiver on the team to be used in certain packages, but my thought is the Titans are going to go back to more 12 personnel. 12 personnel is two tight ends and one running back. That's what the Titans prefer to play in. They played more three wide receiver than I've seen them play last year, and I think it's because of the lack of talent at tight

end, especially when Michael Pruitt got hurt. So with the Titans playing more 12 personnel this year and more tight ends on the field, and Will Fuller being a third or fourth wide receiver on the depth chart, the role that he is expected to play is not going to be what it was for Julio, so the injury concerns are lessened anyway. Then the question is, he's always hurt. Yeah, but who else are you going to add?

What, you want Harold Landry, or Harold Landry, Jarvis Landry, who only played in 12 games last year and is going to get considerably more money? The Titans don't have the money to give Jarvis Landry $9 to $10 million for one year. Okay, they don't.

What do you want, Emmanuel Sanders, who's 35 years old and said on Good Morning Football that his body is breaking down? You want Julio again? Ha! Laugh out loud. You want Deshaun Jackson?

That's a laugh out loud to me too. He is always hurt. How can you not like Will Fuller and then say, bring in Deshaun Jackson who's older and been hurt more? Not only that, but Deshaun Jackson got let go in the middle of the year by the eventual Super Bowl champions. You think the Titans want him in the locker room?

Come on, man. Come on. So, I don't want Jarvis Landry because he's going to be the most expensive on the market and it's overlap. The Titans have Robert Woods who can play in the slot. They have Traylon Burks who I think needs to play mostly in the slot in his rookie year. They have Kyle Phillips who can play in the slot. And while Jarvis Landry is maybe just as good as Robert Woods, better than all those, the money and the

overlap and skill set doesn't make any sense to me to do that. Okay? Odell Beckham, he just tore his ACL. You guys don't want people who are injured and you want Odell Beckham? Plus, he is not a fit in the locker room at all. He was unhappy in Cleveland because they ran the ball so much. You think he's going to be

happy in Tennessee with Ryan Tannehill? Come on now. Odell Beckham ain't coming to the Titans. Cole Beasley? Again, that's overlap. I'd rather give that time to Kyle Phillips. Traylon Burks? Robert Woods in the slot.

Keylon Cole? I'm cool with Keylon Cole. That's a secondary option for me, but I think that Will Fuller offers higher upside. But yeah, if you want to say Keylon Cole to me, I'm cool with that. T.Y. Hilton? Ha! Marquise Goodwin? And Brent Keyes says Marquise Goodwin. Okay, but if you

want a speed guy who's a deep threat, Goodwin is always injured too! He's always hurt. And Will Fuller is a better player when healthy than Marquise Goodwin. So, if you want Marquise Goodwin, how can you deny Will Fuller? I'd rather take somebody who got cut during training camp or promote one of the undrafted free agents or one of the young guys on the...

Listen, guys. Des Fitzpatrick, Racey McMath, Mason Kinsey, Cody Hollister. Realistically, these guys are never going to be true NFL players. Okay? At least we know Will Fuller is. He's got 3,136 yards, 213 catches,

24 touchdowns in his career. He averages nearly 15 yards per catch and has 60 yards per game pretty much. So, compared to Marquise Goodwin, compared to Keelan Cole, compared to Marquise Goodwin is a guy who's always hurt too. And he's not as good as Will Fuller when he's healthy. So I don't get it. He adds the deep speed on the outside,

which is something the Titans don't have. So you don't have overlapping skill set. It's a new skill set. He's been productive. Yes, he gets hurt. But again, the role that he plays, where he's at on the depth chart and the money that he'll get paid, this is a low risk, high reward with no better options on the market. Will Fuller is a perfect answer for the Titans at wide receiver in this summer wave of free agency, and I'll stick to that. So that is your Roland's rant for the day.

We are going to move forward, look at some defensive roster needs for the Titans and some veteran free agents who could potentially fill those roles before we get into that, though. I do want to tell you guys about the best tasting protein bars in the galaxy from our friends over at Built Bar.

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Make sure you guys go to built.com right now. Use the code LOCKED15. You're going to get 15% off your order. Once again, that's promo code LOCKED15 for 15% off at built.com. Titans fans, it is a Wednesday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast, Tuesday night, if you're watching on YouTube. We just went over my Rollins rant on Will Fuller and why I think he is the perfect fit for the Titans in this veteran wave of free agency in the summer.

We are going to go into a defensive needs and look at some veteran free agents who could fill those needs as we cap off our two-part series. We did the offense yesterday, so go back and check that out if you have any questions. Jazzy Prince, greetings from Ohio. Hey, Jazzy, your boy is in Ohio too, man. So greetings from Ohio from this direction as well. Raheem Mostert as backup running back. I went over the offense yesterday.

I'm sorry, but with Derrick Henry, Hassan Haskins, Dontrell Hilliard, Trent Cannon, I just don't see a need at running back right now for the Titans. I just don't see it. And I believe Mostert actually went to the Miami Dolphins. So I believe Mostert is on the Dolphins right now. So unfortunately, Kays, I don't think that would be an option for the Titans, but I'm not really interested in looking at running back for the Titans. Like I said, I did go over some positional needs on offense yesterday. Kind of recap that for you guys. I don't see a need at quarterback.

I don't see a need at running back I don't see a need at running back. I do see a need at wide receiver, which I just told you I think my perfect fit would be. Don't see a need at tight end. Do see a need on the offensive line, whether it be an offensive tackle or interior offensive line, depending on how the Titans see Dylan Radins at this point in his career. Going to the defense. So we are going to start with the front seven here. We're going to talk edge, defensive line, and linebacker. Before we do, I've got to thank you guys again for making the Locked on

Titans podcast your first listen every day. Again, I will be going live once the Titans schedule is debuted on Thursday night on the YouTube channel. So make sure that you're subscribed and you stay locked in to the Locked on Titans podcast and subscribe to that Locked on Titans YouTube channel for my live show, breaking down the Titans schedule. But, Goodwin. Yes. Yeah, not Godwin. Correct. Yeah.

Yeah. Marquise Goodwin. If I said that wrong, my bad. I feel like Will Fuller is going to be fragile and not play like Julio did. Okay, but he's not expected to be Julio Jones. That's the point. He's got a way more diminished role. He costs way less money.

He's going to be the Titans' third or fourth wide receiver, not their bona fide No. 2 like Julio was supposed to be. And you want to look at other guys. Jarvis Landry only played 12 games last year. Marquise Goodwin is always hurt. Odo Beckham is always hurt. T.Y. Hilton, always hurt and old. I mean, what guy are you getting that's not always hurt? What do you want?

Cole Beasley? Well, you already have Kyle Phillips, Traylon Burks, and Robert Woods who could play in the slot, along with Nick Westbrook-Akino who could play in the slot. That's just skill overlap. That doesn't make any sense to me either. So, there is no better options. Greetings from Canada. Shout out. Nice to see you in Canada. I appreciate that, my North American brothers and sisters. Moving forward here, though, at edge, the Titans have Harold Landry, Bud Dupree, Rashad Weaver, Ola Adani.

I think they need a fifth guy. I think they need a fifth edge rusher, and I would like to see a veteran brought in who could be a rotational pass rusher for the Titans. They don't have the luxury of knowing what they're going to get out of Rashad Weaver with his injury from last year. And as much as I love Ola Adani, and I've had Ola Adani on the show, first Tennessee Titan to ever come on the Locked on Titans podcast.

I think he's a Pro Bowl caliber special teams player, and I don't mind him as part of the rotation. But as your third top rusher, I don't think that's a good thing. And again, you don't know what you're going to get from Weaver. So for me, a fifth rusher who could actually contribute on third downs and be in the rotation, a veteran guy, I'm thinking a guy like Melvin Ingram, Justin Houston, Ryan Kerrigan, maybe a Carlos Dunlap. I think a guy like that could make a ton of sense for the Titans. Come in, play 15 snaps a game on a cheap contract, and really impact the quarterback on third downs.

You could have a great rush package out there where you could rotate guys. If Bud Dupree stays injured, which he was for a lot of last year and has been throughout his career, then you have somebody, a veteran, come in on third downs. You play Rashad Weaver on early downs, or you play Danico Autry as an outside linebacker on early downs and use your interior defensive line group that I think is pretty stout. And then you could have Rashad Weaver and the veteran rotate at edge

on third downs when Autry and Simmons are inside. So I think that makes a ton of sense for the Titans. Again, Melvin Ingram, Justin Houston, Ryan Kerrigan. I wanted Kerrigan last year. And Carlos Dunlap, Pittsburgh in the building. How's it going? Goof Troop. Oh, that's hilarious to me.

I like Deshaun, but Will Fuller I don't hate. See, Deshaun is just older and more cantankerous in the locker room. So that's why I prefer Will Fuller over Deshaun Jackson. I don't see how you could prefer Deshaun Jackson over Will Fuller, considering age, considering similar injury history, and considering, I mean, the Rams kicked the dude off their team halfway through the year, and they went on to win the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl winning organization in the NFL

did not want Deshaun Jackson on their team. I'm sorry, he's not a fit for me in Tennessee if I'm running the team. That's why I don't like Deshaun. But not that I don't like him personally. I don't know the guy. But anyways, the interior defensive line, I don't see a need for the Titans. I just simply don't. Jeffrey Simmons, Danico Autry, Naquan, Jeffrey Simmons, Danico Autry, Naquan, T. Air Tart, Larell Murchison, Deshaun Hand, Haskell Garrett, Jordan Peavy. I mean, yes, Dontrell Hilliard is still on the team. They brought him back on a one-year deal.

I think he is the primary foster. I think he is the primary third-down running back. Late in the season last year, Dontrell Hilliard really improved in pass protection. So with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield to add a speed element to the running back group and to be pass protection and to be a kick returner. Yeah, I think that Hilliard is a solid player on the roster for the Titans.

But so D-line, I don't see a need edge. I would like to get a veteran guy like Ingram, Houston, Kerrigan, Dunlap. And for interior linebacker, the only thing I could want is a pass coverage guy. I kind of wanted that in the draft. The Titans went the other route. They have David Long, Zach Cunningham, Monte Rice, Dylan Cole, and Chance Campbell, the sixth round pick. None of those guys are like a pure pass-coverage linebacker. So I think a guy like Anthony Walker could make a ton of sense for the Titans. He was top 10 in pass-coverage grade per Pro Football Focus last year at 78.2.

He also could play on special teams. At this stage in the game, I don't think he's going to be getting any kind of big contract. So for me, a guy like Anthony Walker as a pass coverage linebacker, I think would have the potential to be the Titans third string line, or not third string, but third linebacker behind Cunningham and Long. So Anthony Walker could make some sense for the Titans. So that's the defensive line, the edge group, the linebackers. I see some holes at linebacker and an edge that I think could be filled.

I would obviously prioritize edge rusher and getting that rotational rusher in there for the Titans. But that's going to do it for the front seven. We're going to move the conversation to the secondary. We're going to talk about cornerback. We're going to talk about safety and round out our roster needs review here and our veteran free agent review as well. Again, another reminder for you guys.

I'm going to be going live after the Titans schedule is released on Thursday night. One more question from Mike. Why sign Swaim and not re-sign Foreman? I think Jeff Swaim is a really solid No. 2 tight end in run package situations and a No. 3 tight end overall. And I think Foreman, while he looked good for the Titans last year, is a running back who wanted $2 million, and the Titans played Derrick Henry $15 million.

You can't spend $2 million on a backup. So, anyways, Foreman's fine, but I think the Titans were smart to not sign him. And I'm not that mad about the Swain signing either as a third, second tight end. So I just don't think Foreman is as valuable as some of you guys seem to think he is. And that's just the reality. So I agree with what the Titans did and how they handled that. But again, moving forward, we're going to get into the secondary.

And we are going to get into the veteran free agents at those positions who could make sense for the Titans. Drink your water, folks. Just had a really, really nice drink of water in the little transition break. Oh, man, it was just delicious. Water is so good, guys. Just, please, drink water. Drink a ton of it every day.

Big water guy here. I'm going to continue to tell you guys every day to drink your water. But we are going to cap off this Wednesday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We talked about my Rollins rant on Will Fuller and how he fits with the team. If you guys missed that, as soon as I'm done here, the show will be up on YouTube.

Make sure you go back and check that out. We talked about the front seven of the defense and the Titans needs that they have there. And veterans, I I think could fill those needs. Now we're going to get into the secondary. Before we do, I want to thank you guys again for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen every day. As for your second

listen, check out the Locked on NFL podcast. You get all your Titans news here with me in under 30 minutes. Get all your national NFL news with the Locked on NFL podcast every single day, Monday through Friday, different Locked On hosts are bringing you that national news. I host the Thursday show.

So if you guys would subscribe to the Locked On NFL podcast or to the Locked On NFL YouTube channel, throw a thumbs up. When I drop mine on Thursday, I would really appreciate that. But moving forward with today's show, we're going to talk about the secondary, and we look at cornerback. So the Titans have Caleb Farley. The Titans have Christian Fulton. The Titans have Elijah Moulton. The Titans have Roger McCreary now.

They have Buster Screen, and they have Chris Jackson. Now, recently, the Titans added back a familiar face, Greg Mabin. And if you remember, Mabin's had some ups and downs with the Titans. One of the downs when he first was with the team, he was like the first COVID case before the Titans had that outbreak in 2020. So I'll always remember him for that no matter what. But he did play like 100% of the snaps against the Chiefs last year. So he's a guy the Titans feel comfortable with.

He'll play boundary cornerback. Again, like I said, they had a surplus at slot. Molden is a slot. I believe that McCreary is a slot. Mike, I know you're listening. Sorry, he's a slot. He can play some outside if they get in a pinch, but I think his best role in the NFL is a slot cornerback.

He'll be a third down slot. They brought back Buster Screen, who played third down slot cornerback for the Titans last year. And Chris Jackson has played his best football in the slot, not on the outside. So I thought the Titans had a lot of slot guys. They needed to bring in a guy who primarily plays on the boundary with the addition of Greg Maben. It's less of a need than when I initially started making my notes, but maybe if the Titans want even more there, yeah, patient zero, Brent. You're right.

Sorry, Greg Maven. Sorry about that, that you're there. But it's the truth. That's what it was. Patient zero. I wanted Kyle Fuller, A.J. Boye, take a chance on Kevin King, who's still 27 and 6'3".

So for me, that is what I was looking for. But with Maben back in the building, no issues there. Next, though, safety. Bayard, Amani Hooker, AJ Moore, who's primarily a special teamer, Theo Jackson, who's going to be fighting for a roster spot, the new rookie.

I think a guy, if the Titans add a safety, I don't think they need a box safety. I think they need a free safety. A guy who can roam over the field, let Amani Hooker, let Kevin Byard play those middle zones where they can read the quarterback's eyes, try to break on the ball, come downhill, create turnovers.

The Titans play dime safety looks. They could allow Amani Hooker to maybe play on some tight ends and play some dime linebacker, bring Elijah Molden in that role. Just give them some more versatility, I think, if they had a guy who could play deep safety well. So a Tashaun Gibson, Jaquiski Tartt, I think could make some sense for the Titans. But I got to tell you, if the Titans didn't add anything at cornerback,

I wouldn't be surprised if they don't add anything at safety. That would be a touch surprise. But either way, I'm not going to be worried if they don't make an addition at either position, especially I would be worried about that third safety role, but I really do think Elijah Molden is going to get more of a timeshare at that safety position for the Titans when they're in dime playing man coverage on tight ends, playing sub package linebacker. I think that's the natural progression of Elijah Molden, which increases the need for a guy like Roger McCreary.

So it all works out beautifully in that way. But again, guys, I'm going to be going live after the Titans schedule is released fully on Thursday night here on the Locked on Titans YouTube channel. Subscribe so you know exactly when I go live. Hit that notification bell. Throw a thumbs up on the video if you're watching right now. I really do appreciate it.

But that is going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.