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Tennessee Titans News & Rumors

AFC Staff Rumors: Canada, Steelers, Shaw, Broncos, Chargers, Jaguars, Titans

June 26th, 2024 at 2:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers opted for an outside OC hire, adding Arthur Smith, but both halves of their interim setup from last season — Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan — remain with the team. Sullivan drew OC interest elsewhere, after calling the plays for a Mason Rudolph-led offense that ended up in the playoffs, but he is in place as a Steelers senior offensive assistant. Faulkner remains the team’s RBs coach. Smith should be considered likely to include the duo in his game plans, per The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly, who adds ousted OC Matt Canada was not known for a collaborative approach. Canada did not receive input from staffers especially well, Kaboly notes, before becoming the historically rare Steelers assistant fired in-season.

Here is the latest from AFC coaching staffs and front offices:

  • One of the Broncos‘ HC candidates in 2023, David Shaw is now in place to work remotely as a staffer under Sean Payton and George Paton. Shaw has coached with the former (on Ray Rhodes‘ 1997 Eagles staff) and began communicating with the GM more often since the January 2023 interview. Months after the longtime Stanford HC’s interview, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes he expressed an interest to Paton regarding work in NFL personnel. During the time between his Broncos connections, Shaw interviewed for the Chargers and Titans’ HC jobs. The Paton conversations, with likely help from the Stanford ties owners Greg Penner and Condoleezza Rice have, led to the longtime Stanford coach landing with the AFC West franchise.
  • Elsewhere on the Broncos’ staff, InsidetheLeague.com’s Neil Stratton notes Ty Murphy has moved from scouting intern to pro scout. Murphy initially caught on with the team in July 2023.
  • Four years ago, the Chargers were new on the analytics front. They hired Aditya Krishnan to lead that department in February 2020. Early in Jim Harbaugh‘s tenure, the Bolts are moving in a different direction. Krishnan, who held the title of football research and analytics director, is no longer with the team, according to ESPN.com’s Seth Walder. While new regimes shake up staffs, it will be interesting to see how Harbaugh goes about assembling an analytics department in Los Angeles.
  • The Jaguars are also losing an experienced staffer. Brian Squeglia, who worked as an area scout for the past six years and spent eight seasons in Jacksonville, is leaving the team, per Stratton. Squeglia is set to remain in the industry but is not planning to work for another team presently.
  • The Titans added two staffers recently, with Walder indicating they hired Erin Psajdl Davis and Alex Rogers as analysts. Psajdl Davis comes over from the Chiefs, having worked on the business side in Kansas City. She previously held a football-related role in Houston. Rogers interned for the Saints previously.

Latest On Titans’ RG, RT Position Battles

June 23rd, 2024 at 9:59pm CST by Ely Allen

The Titans and new offensive line coach Bill Callahan have quite a few familiar faces to work with in 2024, but there could be some big changes along the offensive line. A couple of position battles have developed in the early days of the offseason, according to Titans senior writer/editor Jim Wyatt.

The team utilized Daniel Brunskill and Dillon Radunz mostly at right guard and right tackle, respectively, last year, but neither player seems to be solid in their job security. Brunskill has lost his starting job before in San Francisco. After earning a starting job partway through his rookie season, Brunskill started two more years for the 49ers. In 2022, Brunskill found himself coming off the bench in favor of then-rookie Spencer Burford. He started 14 games for the Titans last year. Radunz finally earned his opportunity to start at right tackle last year after failing to win the job his first two seasons and being forced to work as a backup guard.

Radunz’s tenure as the starting right tackle may already be coming to an end, though, as Wyatt sees Nicholas Petit-Frere taking back the job in 2024. Petit-Frere started his rookie season at right tackle for the team in 2022, but a combination of a suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy and a stint on injured reserve restricted him to only three games last season. Wyatt predicts that, given a healthy recovery, Petit-Frere will reclaim his starting job and push Radunz back to guard-duty.

Wyatt sees free agent addition Saahdiq Charles as the biggest threat to Brunskill’s job. Despite being limited in how much offensive linemen can do in organized team activities, Charles has reportedly had a very good spring. Charles comes from Washington where he started 10 of 11 game appearances at left guard last year after only starting eight games in his first three years combined. He’s looked the part enough in Tennessee to convince Wyatt that a change could be in effect.

It’s still a competition, though, and Wyatt notes that Charles will have to beat out Brunskill, and potentially Radunz should he get pushed back inside, for the job. He notes that the right tackle position will be a battle, as well, and though Petit-Frere and Radunz will get first looks, Leroy Watson, Jaelyn Duncan, and the newly acquired Geron Christian will all be in the mix, as well.

The rest of the line seems set. Peter Skoronski is reportedly likely to stay inside at left guard, the team drafted Alabama’s JC Latham in the first round to start at left tackle, and they signed Lloyd Cushenberry to start at center. While battles are set to ensue, the expectation is that some combination of two of Charles, Petit-Frere, Radunz, and Brunskill will be alongside them on the right side of the line in 2024.

Giants, Titans In Contact With UFL’s Juwan Manigo

June 23rd, 2024 at 1:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

A number of players who took part in the 2024 UFL season have already landed NFL deals. Return specialist Juwan Manigo could be the next to do so.

Manigo has received interest from the Giants, Mauricio Rodriguez and Mike Payton of A to Z Sports report. The 26-year-old exceled in Mexico’s LFA league for two seasons, winning MVP honors in both campaigns for his play as a receiver and returner. That was followed by a spell with the UFL’s Arlington Renegades in which his special teams skills were on full display. Manigo ranked third in the league in all-purpose yards, racking up 1,116 in 10 games.

The Giants have not shied away from spring league additions this offseason, inking Jacob Saylors last week. He will compete for a position in the backfield, whereas Manigo would be added as a contender to win the primary return role. The latter was not a factor on offense with the Renegades, so third phase contributions will no doubt be his path to an NFL roster. New York used Parris Campbell on kick returns in 2023, but he departed in free agency. Gunner Olszewski – the Giants’ primary punt returner from last year – re-signed in March.

Manigo has also been in contact with the Titans, Payton and colleague Sam Phalen add. Tennessee remains in search of a primary returner, and a number of options have received a look so far this offseason. That group includes former first-rounder Treylon Burks, whose special teams performances during the summer will play a role in his ability to hold onto a roster spot in Nashville.

At five-foot-seven, Manigo will certainly face size concerns if he manages to land an NFL deal ahead of training camp. Still, the league’s new kickoff rules are expected to add to the number of returns, and increased emphasis will be placed on the play in 2024. Cowboys returner KaVontae Turpin is a recent example of an undersized player finding success after spending time in a spring league, and Manigo will look to join him in that regard. Both the Titans ($24.3MM) and Giants ($11.5MM) have the cap space to afford signing him in the near future.

Titans P Ryan Stonehouse Aiming To Return By Week 1

June 21st, 2024 at 4:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ryan Stonehouse broke an 82-year-old NFL record as a rookie and gave the Titans similar advantages in the punt game during his second season, but Year 2 ended abruptly due to major injuries sustained in December. The record-setting punter remains on the mend.

A game in which the Colts blocked two punts led to the firing of the Titans’ special teams coordinator, and the second of those blocks — by Indianapolis DB Tony Brown — resulted in Stonehouse being carried off the field. The talented specialist suffered ACL and MCL tears, along with a broken bone in his left leg, as a result of the second block, per veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky. While these issues have affected his non-kicking leg, Stonehouse is uncertain to be ready during training camp.

“Too early to tell,” Titans HC Brian Callahan said (via TennesseeTitans.com’s Jim Wyatt) regarding a timetable. “I mean, the injury is obviously significant enough to where he’s still out at this point. He is rehabbing. He’s doing a great job in his rehab process. We’ll see where we get to when we report to training camp and where that’s at. His progress has been really good. He has been working, and it’s going to be a matter of when the doctors clear it when we get to training camp and then when he feels confident enough.”

A 2022 UDFA out of Colorado State, Stonehouse was a revelation as a rookie. He broke Sammy Baugh‘s single-season punting average mark, moving the NFL’s standard from 51.4 yards per boot (set in 1940) to 53.1. Stonehouse matched that average in 2023, though his season ended in Week 13. Stonehouse’s first two seasons sit atop the NFL’s single-season punt averages, with the Cowboys’ Bryan Anger matching Baugh’s mark last season. Only one other player — Shane Lechler (2009) — has surpassed 51 yards per punt in a season.

Stonehouse’s skills certainly make this a rehab effort to monitor. The injury occurred Dec. 3, putting Week 1 as a better aim for a Stonehouse return. The third-year punter said recently during a Sirius XM Radio interview a Week 1 return stands as his goal.

The Titans added Ty Zentner following Stonehouse’s injury; the fill-in option remains on Tennessee’s roster. Zentner, who also served as a Texans fill-in for Cameron Johnston last season, averaged 44.9 yards per punt as a rookie. The Titans will not need to determine if Stonehouse needs to begin the season on the reserve/PUP list, a designation that would sideline him for at least four games, until late August.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/13/24

June 13th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Tennessee Titans

  • Waived/injured: OL X’Zauvea Gadlin

Gubner comes to the Chiefs after winning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year honors at Montana last season. Spending six years at the Division I-FCS program, Gubner totaled 28.5 tackles for loss during his college career. The Chiefs also have cleared the runway for Matt Araiza‘s second chance. The recently added specialist is now the only punter on Kansas City’s roster, with Rehkow signing as a UDFA in May.

A former fifth-round Panthers pick, Nixon played 14 games with his original team but did see any game action in 2023. Both the Panthers and Seahawks waived Nixon in 2022. After Nixon had spent last season out of football, the Dolphins signed him in March.

Titans To Sign OL Geron Christian

June 12th, 2024 at 12:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Titans devoted a top-10 pick to the tackle position, drafting an O-lineman (JC Latham) in Round 1 for a second straight year. Tennessee will still add another veteran to help fortify the spot, however.

Geron Christian agreed to terms with the Titans on Wednesday, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports. Christian spent last season with the Browns and Texans, being a nine-game Cleveland starter during a season in which the AFC North club lost both its starting tackles. This will reunite Christian with former Browns O-line coach Bill Callahan.

Christian marks the second former Callahan Cleveland charge to join the Titans this offseason. The team acquired Leroy Watson from the Browns in April. A former third-round pick, Christian has made 25 career starts. The former Washington draftee closed last season as Cleveland’s starting left tackle, with Jedrick Wills joining Jack Conklin and rookie RT fill-in Dawand Jones as sustaining a season-ending injury.

Christian, who went to training camp with the Dolphins before failing to make their 53-man roster, started the Browns’ final nine games and their wild-card outing in Houston. Pro Football Focus did not view Christian’s 2023 work fondly, though given how far down the depth chart the Browns needed to look at tackle last year, it is not exactly surprising their final LT option was inconsistent.

The Browns signed Christian after the Texans had released him from their practice squad in October. The Louisville alum combined for 14 starts from 2020-21, playing with Washington and Houston, initially changing teams after being waived in 2021. A rebuilding Texans team used the 320-pound blocker as a regular starter moving forward; the Chiefs slotted Christian as a backup in 2022.

Regarded as perhaps the NFL’s premier O-line coach, Callahan now has two of his recent pieces to help in Nashville. The Titans are expected to use Latham, 2023 first-rounder Peter Skoronski, free agent signing Lloyd Cushenberry and 2023 UFA pickup Daniel Brunskill as starters. Petit-Frere remains on his rookie contract, with fill-in starter Jaelyn Duncan also stands to be a right tackle option. Christian technically gives the Titans another option, but he has played left tackle for most of his NFL career. Still, the six-year veteran profiles as a candidate for a swing role in Brian Callahan‘s offense.

AFC South Rumors: Titans, Burks, Scruggs

June 7th, 2024 at 8:35pm CST by Ely Allen

The Titans seem confident in moving forward with second-year passer Will Levis as their starter under center. With Levis’ relative inexperience in the NFL, though, the backup quarterback job has become an important one.

In nine starts as a rookie, Levis struggled with a 3-6 record and only completed 58.4 percent of his passes. Not counting a Week 16 game in which he only saw the first two drives of the contest, Levis averaged 224 passing yards per game in an offense spearheaded by Derrick Henry. He showed considerable poise for a rookie, though, throwing eight touchdowns to only four interceptions and adding a rushing score to his total, as well.

So, despite Levis’ seemingly cemented status as QB1, the backup quarterback job will be a crucial one for the Titans in 2024, and new head coach Brian Callahan told the media that veteran Mason Rudolph and recent third-round pick Malik Willis will compete for the honor, per Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. In two years with the team, Willis has seen limited usage with uninspiring results. Discounting garbage time or gadget play appearances here and there, Willis has made three starts, all coming in his rookie season. In those starts, Willis completed a combined 25 of his 49 pass attempts and didn’t once eclipse 100 passing yards as the offense was focused around Henry.

Rudolph saw his highest usage in 2019 with the Steelers, making eight starts in 10 games as an injury replacement for Ben Roethlisberger alongside Devlin Hodges. Despite going 5-4-1 as a starter while throwing 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions coming into 2022, Rudolph found himself seemingly out of consideration for the starting job as Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett combined for just 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. As those two continued to struggle to produce in 2023, Rudolph helped revive one of the league’s least efficient offenses as it circled the drain, rattling off three straight wins to help keep Mike Tomlin‘s streak of winning seasons alive before ultimately losing the team’s first-round playoff game.

Now, Rudolph and Willis will duke it out for backup duties behind Levis. If Levis struggles, Rudolph provides an ability to fill in as a proven starter. Willis will have a chance to show what he can provide, as well, as he continues to develop at the NFL level.

Here are a couple of other rumors coming out of the AFC South:

  • Staying in Nashville, Callahan stressed in an interview this week that wide receiver Treylon Burks will have to contribute on special teams in order to justify a roster spot this year, according to Easton Freeze of Broadway Sports Media. We profiled Burks recently as a trade candidate as the acquisitions of Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd pushed him further down the depth chart after a disappointing start for the former first-round selection out of Arkansas. While the Titans may not be willing to give up completely on Burks, they do recognize that his continued presence on the roster means he will need to find other ways to contribute if not on the starting offense.
  • Lastly, former second-round pick Juice Scruggs debuted late into his rookie season last year, starting at left guard for the Texans‘ final six games of the season after coming off injured reserve and replacing an injured Tytus Howard. Originally projected as an NFL center coming out of Penn State, Scruggs is expected to return to his natural position and start for Houston in 2024, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2.

Titans Sign DT T’Vondre Sweat, Complete Rookie Signings

June 4th, 2024 at 5:44pm CST by Ben Levine

The Titans have officially signed their entire draft class. The team announced today that they’ve inked second-round defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat to his four-year rookie contract.

Sweat gradually took on a larger role during his time at Texas, culminating in a 2023 campaign where he earned the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award, a unanimous All-American nod, and the Outland Trophy, awarded to the best college interior defensive lineman. That performance (which included eight tackles for loss and two sacks) played a role in him being the fourth defensive tackle off the board during the 2024 draft.

Chosen 38th overall, Sweat will see his rookie deal almost entirely guaranteed. Sweat’s first three seasons are locked in at signing, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who indicates the Texas DT also received $472K of his 2027 base salary guaranteed. This is well north of the 2023 No. 38 pick’s Year 4 guarantee; Falcons O-lineman Matthew Bergeron received $10K of his final-year salary locked in. Sweat’s deal continues the run of success this year’s second-rounders are having with guarantees.

The Titans lost some defensive line depth this offseason in Denico Autry and Teair Tart, so the rookie should have plenty of opportunities for a significant role. He’s currently penciled in as the team’s starting nose tackle ahead of the likes of Keondre Coburn, Marlon Davidson, and Quinton Bohanna.

Sweat was the final member of Tennessee’s 2024 draft class to ink a rookie pact. The rest of the team’s draft class includes:

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/28/24

May 28th, 2024 at 8:17pm CST by Ben Levine

A couple of draft pick signings to pass along:

Minnesota Vikings

Tennessee Titans

Gray earned first-team All-ACC honors in both 2022 and 2023, collecting 266 totals tackles at North Carolina over that span. Despite being selected in the fourth round, Gray was still only the seventh linebacker off the board, with scouts lauding the former UNC captain’s defensive savviness. The linebacker’s four-year rookie contract is worth $4.85MM, including $834K in guaranteed money (per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston).vWith the signing, the Titans only have one unsigned draft pick: second-round defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat (Texas).

Jackson joins the Vikings following a productive lone season at Oregon. After transferring from Alabama, the defensive back had his best collegiate season, finishing with 34 tackles, three interceptions, and a pair of sacks for the Ducks. With this signing, Minnesota only has two unsigned rookies: first-round QB J.J. McCarthy and first-round edge rusher Dallas Turner.

Trade Candidate: Treylon Burks

May 25th, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Almost a year ago to this day, the Titans claimed they were “satisfied” with their group of wide receivers heading into the 2023 season. Two months later, the team decided to augment the group with the acquisition of veteran free agent DeAndre Hopkins. Still, the team finished 29th in the NFL in passing yards last year, leading to lots of investment in a new wide receiving corps.

Hopkins did his job. In 17 games, he led the team in all receiving categories with 75 catches for 1,057 yards, and seven touchdowns. He didn’t have much help, though, as his 137 targets were more than three times higher than the next most-targeted wideout, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (45), though tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo (77) and running back Tyjae Spears (70) received their fair share of targets.

The rest of the wide receiving corps provided nothing more than auxiliary numbers. After Hopkins, the next leading receivers were 30-year-old Chris Moore (22 receptions/424 yards/zero touchdowns), the undrafted Westbrook-Ihkine (28/370/3), and finally, former first-round pick Treylon Burks (16/221/0).

Burks experienced a bit of sophomore slump in 2023, even after putting up middling stats (33/444/1) in his rookie season. In both seasons, Burks has missed six contests with injury. His rookie year, turf toe landed him on injured reserve. This past season, an LCL sprain caused him to miss even more time.

Burks opportunity to turn things around in 2024 will be difficult in Tennessee. Though Moore has departed in free agency, Hopkins and Westbrook-Ikhine return next season. Additionally, the Titans invested massive capital in signing free agents Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. Not only is this group a massive improvement over last year’s, but Hopkins also claims this is one of the best wide receiving corps he’s ever been a part of, per Michael David Smith of NBC Sports. That’s big praise for someone who shared the field with Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk.

With Ridley, Hopkins, and Boyd manning the first-team offense and Westbrook-Ikhine showing more reliability in 2023 than Burks, the 24-year-old out of Arkansas will struggle to see much of the field this year. Even if he does get some snaps, he’s going to have to earn targets over those four, as well. It’s starting to seem that if Burks is going to turn things around, it will require a change of scenery.

Before last year’s trade deadline, the Titans made it clear that running back Derrick Henry and Hopkins were not available. They were more receptive to hearing offers on Burks but were not necessarily inclined to move a young, former Day 1 pick. One has to imagine that, with the additions of Ridley and Boyd, their stances may have changed.

Tennessee is likely not going to fetch a first-round value out of Burks like what Baltimore got out of Marquise Brown a couple years ago, but some teams may still see the potential value in acquiring the sixth receiver off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft. Even if they aren’t quite satisfied with the offers they receive for Burks, his value is likely only going to decline in 2024, barring a shocking breakout season.

As for teams with wide receiver needs following the draft and free agency, the Ravens, Bills, Chargers, Steelers, and Jets could all stand to take a swing. The Bills and Chargers probably house the biggest need. With Buffalo losing both Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis this offseason, Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and rookie second-round pick Keon Coleman lead their room. After losing star veterans Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, Los Angeles is depending on Josh Palmer, last year’s first-round pick Quentin Johnston, and second-round rookie Ladd McConkey in 2024.

The Steelers (George Pickens, Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson) and Jets (Garrett Wilson, Williams, Malachi Corley) are each relying on a dynamic, young talent, an intriguing free agent, and a third-round rookie, while Baltimore could be looking to add another pass catcher to replace Odell Beckham Jr.‘s production from last year.

The Titans should have some options if they feel the need to move Burks or if Burks feels the need to request a change of scenery. Either way, it’s hard to see a situation in which Burks finds tremendous success as WR4 or WR5 on a Tennessee offense quarterbacked by Will Levis. If Burks wants to turn his career around and if the team wants to maximize his value, a move might be necessary this offseason or before the next trade deadline.

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