Let’s talk about Offensive Linemen
OL on the roster for 2022
Taylor Lewan
Rodger Saffold
Kendall Lamm
Nate Davis
Dillon Radunz
Corey Levin
Daniel Munyer
Aaron Brewer
Jordan Roos
Derwin Gray
Brandon Kemp
Christian Delauro
Free Agents
Ben Jones
David Quessenberry
Avery Gennesy
The Titans offensive line remained one of the best in the country at run blocking in 2021 but fell to nearly dead last in pass protection (only Miami was worse). Look at these pass blocking grades and cringe: Lewan 71.1, Saffold 46.7, Jones 66.3, Davis 49.5, Quessenberry 61.6, Brewer 48.7, Lamm 46.7, Levin 7.3, Radunz 39.5. Clearly, the only decent 3 on the team were Lewan, Jones and Quessenberry. My guess is all three are back in some capacity. Saffold feels destined to be released. Radunz, Brewer and Davis will all need to improve if they expect to start for this team. In all likelihood, there will be at least 2 new starters next year, with pass protection guiding what we do next.
Free Agent OL
Guards
Brandon Scherff
Andrew Norwell
Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff
Austin Corbett
James Daniels
Connor Williams
Alex Cappa
Alex Lewis
Laken Tomlinson
Mark Glowinski
Tackles
Orlando Brown Jr.
Duane Brown
Nate Solder
Cam Robinson
Terron Armstead
Eric Fisher
Riley Reiff
Chriss Hubbard
Trenton Brown
Morgan Moses
This is a pretty good OL pool from which to draw, but money could be tight for the Titans and there is always stiff competition for good FA O-linemen. If we are looking to upgrade one Guard and one Tackle position as expected, a combination of draft and FA additions will likely be the best scenario. It should be noted that of the top 40 highest-graded guards and tackles in the league last year, only 15 out of the top 40 were taken in the 1st round. Meaning spending a 1st on OL isn’t a necessity for quality. Sidenote: QB and EDGE are the only positions where 1st round selections consistently do better than later choices.
Top OL draft prospects who likely go in Round 1-4
Guard
Kenyon Green
Zion Johnson
Ed Ingram
Jamaree Salyer
G/T Luke Goedeke
Marquis Hayes
Chasen Hines
Justin Shaffer
Thayor Munford
Tyrese Robinson
Tackle
Evan Neal
Ikem Ekwonu
Charles Cross
Trevor Penning
Tyler Smith
Nick Petit-Frere
Daniel Faalele
Darian Kinnard
Rasheed Walker
Bernhard Raimann
Abraham Lucas
Max Mitchell
What we have here is a pretty terrible group of Guards and a deep group of Tackles, including several that could still be available in Round 3. If the Titans decide to forego selecting an offensive lineman in Round 1, they should still be able to find viable prospects in later rounds.
I’ll get the conversation going.
Re-signing Ben Jones is a no brainer, and I’m sure he’d love to end his career in Nashville. It’s clear that this is a better draft class for tackle than guard and guards are much cheaper in FA. Radunz clearly looked more comfortable at Tackle, and should be part of the competition for a Tackle spot in camp. If Saffold is released as expected, that really only leaves Davis and Brewer in the Guard mix. That can’t happen. Bringing in Guard competition via FA makes too much sense. Norwell and Sherff are the best pass blockers but are already 30. Corbett and Cappa are both younger but still very solid. I’d probably go all in for Cappa who should be pricey ($10 mil/yr.), but would be a stalwart at the Guard position for 4-5 years. I’d then draft a Tackle in the 3rd round to compete with Radunz and Quesenberry (who I would re-sign for cheap). Thoughts?
OL on the roster for 2022
Taylor Lewan
Rodger Saffold
Kendall Lamm
Nate Davis
Dillon Radunz
Corey Levin
Daniel Munyer
Aaron Brewer
Jordan Roos
Derwin Gray
Brandon Kemp
Christian Delauro
Free Agents
Ben Jones
David Quessenberry
Avery Gennesy
The Titans offensive line remained one of the best in the country at run blocking in 2021 but fell to nearly dead last in pass protection (only Miami was worse). Look at these pass blocking grades and cringe: Lewan 71.1, Saffold 46.7, Jones 66.3, Davis 49.5, Quessenberry 61.6, Brewer 48.7, Lamm 46.7, Levin 7.3, Radunz 39.5. Clearly, the only decent 3 on the team were Lewan, Jones and Quessenberry. My guess is all three are back in some capacity. Saffold feels destined to be released. Radunz, Brewer and Davis will all need to improve if they expect to start for this team. In all likelihood, there will be at least 2 new starters next year, with pass protection guiding what we do next.
Free Agent OL
Guards
Brandon Scherff
Andrew Norwell
Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff
Austin Corbett
James Daniels
Connor Williams
Alex Cappa
Alex Lewis
Laken Tomlinson
Mark Glowinski
Tackles
Orlando Brown Jr.
Duane Brown
Nate Solder
Cam Robinson
Terron Armstead
Eric Fisher
Riley Reiff
Chriss Hubbard
Trenton Brown
Morgan Moses
This is a pretty good OL pool from which to draw, but money could be tight for the Titans and there is always stiff competition for good FA O-linemen. If we are looking to upgrade one Guard and one Tackle position as expected, a combination of draft and FA additions will likely be the best scenario. It should be noted that of the top 40 highest-graded guards and tackles in the league last year, only 15 out of the top 40 were taken in the 1st round. Meaning spending a 1st on OL isn’t a necessity for quality. Sidenote: QB and EDGE are the only positions where 1st round selections consistently do better than later choices.
Top OL draft prospects who likely go in Round 1-4
Guard
Kenyon Green
Zion Johnson
Ed Ingram
Jamaree Salyer
G/T Luke Goedeke
Marquis Hayes
Chasen Hines
Justin Shaffer
Thayor Munford
Tyrese Robinson
Tackle
Evan Neal
Ikem Ekwonu
Charles Cross
Trevor Penning
Tyler Smith
Nick Petit-Frere
Daniel Faalele
Darian Kinnard
Rasheed Walker
Bernhard Raimann
Abraham Lucas
Max Mitchell
What we have here is a pretty terrible group of Guards and a deep group of Tackles, including several that could still be available in Round 3. If the Titans decide to forego selecting an offensive lineman in Round 1, they should still be able to find viable prospects in later rounds.
I’ll get the conversation going.
Re-signing Ben Jones is a no brainer, and I’m sure he’d love to end his career in Nashville. It’s clear that this is a better draft class for tackle than guard and guards are much cheaper in FA. Radunz clearly looked more comfortable at Tackle, and should be part of the competition for a Tackle spot in camp. If Saffold is released as expected, that really only leaves Davis and Brewer in the Guard mix. That can’t happen. Bringing in Guard competition via FA makes too much sense. Norwell and Sherff are the best pass blockers but are already 30. Corbett and Cappa are both younger but still very solid. I’d probably go all in for Cappa who should be pricey ($10 mil/yr.), but would be a stalwart at the Guard position for 4-5 years. I’d then draft a Tackle in the 3rd round to compete with Radunz and Quesenberry (who I would re-sign for cheap). Thoughts?