[FREE] Titans That May Have to Step-Up
Depending on how the draft goes, some players may have to step up if the Titans don't draft players at positions of need.
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Let’s play a game of hypotheticals.
The Titans still have a wide range of needs heading into next week’s draft. The problem? They don’t have enough picks to address every single need.
Because of that, we’re going to look at each spot and judge which players could be in line to step up IF the team doesn’t address their specific spot.
Not only to inform others heading into the dog days of the off-season after the draft, but to give people a nice sized canister of copium to inhale from in case things go wrong.
So let’s get into it!
Offensive Tackle: Nicholas Petit-Frere, Dillon Radunz, Saadhiq Charles, Leroy Watson, Jaelyn Duncan
If the Titans don’t select a tackle in next week;s draft — I’d bet $1,000 that they do, but this is just for theoretical purposes — then you might see the team roll with an in-house approach.
If you have wood near you, knock on it so this situation won’t come to fruition.
But again, if the Titans don’t bring in another tackle during next week’s draft, these names — and maybe a few more…maybe — will compete to take over the starting left and right tackle spots on the offensive line.
We know what the Titans have in Petit-Frere, Duncan, and Radunz. They’re all feasible depth options, but they’re just not the names you want starting up front, especially if you want to keep Will Levis from…you know…dying.
I know Brian Callahn said he sees Radunz at guard — at this point, nobody knows where he fits — but he’s obviously had history at tackle there, so until we see the Titans go back on Callahan’s words, then it’s fine to keep him as a tackle option.
The new names though, those are the interesting ones.
Charles is more so a swing guy that can play multiple spots up front and Watson is a developmental guy that the Titans traded for out of nowhere, potentially signaling that Bill Callahan sees something in him.
It could be an interesting battle between these names when training camp rolls around, especially since the right tackle spot should be wideeeee open.
We’ll see how it, and the draft, goes.
Receiver: Treylon burks, Kyle Phillips, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
Another position you should expect the Titans to address in this draft is receiver.
There’s plenty of depth at the spot throughout the early rounds, which ties hand in hand with the Titans and any potential trade down scenarios that gives them extra picks.
BUT, in the event that the Titans don’t add any receivers in the draft, the team should be looking at some familiar faces to step up and contribute while DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley carry the majority of the load.
Of course, there’s still the well known slander subject known as Treylon Burks, who still has yet to put together a healthy, productive season since being drafted as a direct replacement to [redacted].
In my opinion, you shouldn’t put yourself in a position to where you *need* to depend on Burks for major production. He hasn’t proven he can do so and asking for it suddenly is like throwing a dart in the dark and hoping you hit a bullseye.
Same could be said for other names like Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, since he’s mostly a depth guy that is a fine WR5 for a good team.
Kyle Phillips showed some flashes as a slot guy last season, but was demoted to inactive status week to week since Mike Vrabel thought he needed special teams value to be on the game day roster lolz.
Still stupid by the way, but that’s all in the past.
He should get a look in the slot, a position Brian Callahan himself said that they need to find some guys there.
Defensive Line:
To be quite honest, I truly don’t expect the Titans to address this spot in the draft, unless most of their bases are covered.
Why?
Well, their remaining needs reign supreme over defensive line help.
That might sound dumb, but it isn’t, considering their remaining needs at tackle, receiver, and potentially inside linebacker (a more devalued position, but they have zero depth and proven quality there, like none. You think I’m playing? Go look at that roster and tell me who’s a proven starter there?) feel more important right now.
That’s why I don’t really expect them to address this spot, unless they run into some extra picks here and there.
For that reason, you can look at current guys like T.K. McLendon and newcomer Sebastian Joseph-Day to step up and provide some immediate depth.
EDGE: Rashad Weaver, Caleb Murphy
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about how the Titans have an EDGE problem and how they need to address it this off-season.
Maybe not add some big time productive star, but some more bodies with different profiles to compensate for the lack of diverse profiles on the roster right now.
If they don’t address this spot in the draft though, look for guys like Rashad Weaver and Caleb Murphy to step up and fill in with larger roles.
At least currently.
We don’t know if Weaver will be trusted and if Murphy will even be on the roster, but with Arden Key now being viewed as a bit of a rotational rusher, maybe Weaver and Murphy can get some more rotational snaps just to keep bodies fresh.
Safety: Elijah Molden, Mike Brown
Safety is another spot that feels a little iffy as to whether the Titans will address it during the draft.
There’s certainly a need there, and team knows it as well, evidenced by their interest in free agents safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson — now back with the Eagles — Justin Simmons, and Marcus Maye.
So far, the Titans haven’t brought in anyone new to solidify the spot next to Amani Hooker. But that should change as we get closer towards training camp, unless the team decides to draft one.
If they don’t though, look for what it feels like longtime option Elijah Molden to pick up the majority of the slack, as he did last season while the team went through bodies at the position.
Mike Brown is there as well, but honestly, what can you really expect from him?
Inside Linebacker: Jack Gibbens, Otis Reese IV
If I had to gamble — I don’t have a problem, I swear — I’d put a wager on the Titans eventually addressing the inside linebacker during the draft.
Why?
There’s virtually zero reliability there, even after they signed Kenneth Murray in free agency. Murray himself is what we call a loose cannon, which is somebody that can run around and impress you with his athleticism, but doesn’t have the on field intelligence to round out his game.
Behind him are a plethora of options, including: Jack Gibbens (yuck), Otis Reese IV (meh), and others that don’t need to be near any starting snaps.
Looking over this, it seems the Titans are in a bit of a pickle when it comes to this spot.
However, I feel confident they’ll address it one way or another. If they don’t….look out.
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