Tennessee Titans J.C. Latham named a potential breakout star in 2025 by Pro Football Focus.
The Tennessee Titans have a ton of work to do this offseason. The process started with firing Ran Carthon and bringing in Mike Borgonzi, adding some veteran coaches to the special teams unit, and sending a delegation of staff to the Shrine Bowl this week. They’ll have another contingent at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Alabama next week as well.
The Titans’ biggest focus is fixing the offense. They will look at the quarterback position, and with that comes bolstering the offensive line. One way they can boost the line’s success is if they move J.C. Latham to his natural right tackle position. If they do that, Pro Football Focus thinks Latham could be Tennessee’s breakout star in 2025:
TENNESSEE TITANS: T J.C. LATHAM
“Tennessee’s entire offense floundered for most of 2024, including its offensive line. Latham, though, flashed his skill set with a 67.8 PFF pass-blocking grade, including six games above a 75.0 mark. The former No. 5 pick will need to improve his run-blocking consistency, but potentially sliding back to right tackle in 2025 could make him more comfortable.”
As much trouble as Tennessee had with the right tackle position in 2024, it would have been a far worse problem if Latham had lined up in his natural position and left the blind side to the likes of Nicholas Petit-Frere.
The Titans allowed 52 sacks in 2024, tied with the New England Patriots for the fourth-most sacks allowed. It’s definitely an area of opportunity that will be a focus of the Titans’ offseason efforts, but having Latham as a cornerstone will be pivotal moving forward.
Tennessee Titans’ JC Latham and T’Vondre Sweat were named to the ESPN regular-season All-Rookie team.
The Tennessee Titans are in the middle of a general manager search after firing Ran Carthon earlier in the month. While that is taking place, accolades for some of their 2024 draft haul continue to roll in.
At 3-14, there is no doubt that the team is flawed. The roster lacked depth and was exposed when the injury bug hit. That doesn’t mean it was a total loss, especially for some of their rookies who gained valuable experience.
JC Latham, T’Vondre Sweat and Jarvis Brownlee all played major roles in 2024, while Cedric Gray, Jha’Quan Jackson, James Williams and Jaylen Harrell all logged playing time near the end of the season.
While JC Latham lost out on the top spot to New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga, he was named second team left tackle by Ben Solak.
Left Tackle
Sorting out the first- and second-team left tackles was a heartbreaking endeavor. Fuaga, JC Latham (Titans) and Olu Fashanu (Jets) all delivered on or exceeded their draft billing as blindside protectors. Having to rank them is impossible and unfair, and Jets and Titans fans can be justifiably upset with me.
This was a fair take and one that seems to come up a lot in conversations about this rookie class. Fuaga, Latham and Olu Fashanu are consistently grouped together at the left tackle position.
The same cannot be said about Sweat, who was named one of the top interior defensive linemen.
If you had asked me for my rosiest projection for Sweat’s rookie season, I don’t think I would have gotten here. At 360 pounds, he consistently played over 50% of the defensive snaps, and while he was occasionally flagged in the fourth quarter of long games, it wasn’t any more or less than an average defensive tackle.
He was a perfect pairing with franchise defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, as he punished teams that made Simmons the focal point of their pass protection and run schemes, and Sweat consistently won when he was doubled. While it will never be a featured strength of his game, he flashed more pass-rush arsenal than I could have dreamed. Sweat clearly has a ceiling beyond that of a Jordan Davis or Michael Pierce; he might be a Vita Vea.
Second team: Braden Fiske, Los Angeles Rams
While neither Latham nor Sweat were perfect, they showed signs with their performances that they can be foundational pieces for the future. With the Titans holding the No. 1 overall selection, fans hope that the next general manager can select players that will have a similar impact in 2025 and beyond.
ESPN named Taliese Fuaga the NFL’s best rookie left tackle. He won All-Rookie team honors over several players drafted before him:
Shout to Taliese Fuaga — the New Orleans Saints left tackle was named the best rookie at his position by ESPN. Ben Solak shared his 2024 NFL All-Rookie team, and Fuaga won top honors on the first team.
Its’s even more impressive when you remember that Fuaga didn’t play on the left side in college. He moved from right tackle to left after turning pro and proved to be the team’s best option at that spot. Here’s how his rookie season stacked up against his peers:
Sorting out the first- and second-team left tackles was a heartbreaking endeavor. Fuaga, JC Latham (Titans) and Olu Fashanu (Jets) all delivered on or exceeded their draft billing as blindside protectors. Having to rank them is impossible and unfair, and Jets and Titans fans can be justifiably upset with me.
With that said, I found myself most impressed by Fuaga, who I thought would take more rookie lumps transitioning from the right side to the left and pass-setting against NFL pass rushers. Fuaga still has a wart or two in pass protection, but he more than makes up for it with dominant power in the running game and the strength to recover when he loses early in his reps. The future is bright at left tackle in New Orleans.
There was plenty of debate about who the Saints should have picked at No. 14 last spring before they took Fuaga; Latham and Fashanu were popular in mock drafts, too, but ultimately neither of them made it to New Orleans’ pick. It turns out the Saints did well to get Fuaga where they did.
Fuaga was the only rookie to clinch a spot on the All-Rookie team ahead of his peers is tremendous. We’ll see whether he stays at left tackle in 2025 or moves back to the right side (or inside to guard, depending on how the Saints move in this year’s draft) but he’s clearly someone they should have on the field for every offensive snap. This is exactly the kind of pick the team must hit on to rebuild their roster.
The Tennessee Titans have many needs heading into the 2025 offseason, and offensive line is a major issue according to PFF.
The Tennessee Titans finished the season at 3-14 and have major questions to deal with in the offseason.
On top of finding a new general manager after parting ways with Ran Carthon, the organization must retool their roster. While they do have talent, they also have a ton of holes that they must address.
Due to good play from rookie left tackle JC Latham and a late-season emergence from 2023 first-round pick Peter Skoronski, the Titans took a step forward from being the worst offensive line in football. However, there is still a long way to go until the unit can be considered even average.
From Week 10 onward, Skoronski earned an 84.5 pass-blocking grade, which led all guards in the NFL over that period. He gave up only eight pressures on 349 snaps over that span.
Best Player: JC Latham
Latham appeared to hit a rookie wall toward the second half of the season, but up until Week 11, he earned a 74.2 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked 21st among left tackles.
With center Lloyd Cushenberry coming off a major injury and guard Dillon Radunz being a free agent, the Titans will have to make some decisions on the unit, with none bigger than who will eventually play right tackle. Tennessee struggled to fill that hole and it plagued the unit all season, Nicholas Petit-Frere, John Ojukwu, Jaelyn Duncan, Leroy Watson and Isaiah Prince all took turns at the position and failed. This issue complicated line cohesion and likely had an impact on overall performance.
This is just one of the units that need to be addressed by the new general manager this offseason. One thing is certain, if they don’t get it right, the offense will continue to struggle.
Tennessee Titans’ JC Latham, T’Vondre Sweat and Jarvis Browlee were named to The Athetic’s regular-season All-Rookie team.
The Tennessee Titans are in the midst of their general manager search after firing Ran Carthon just two years into his stint. After finishing the 3-14 season, this is a crucial time for the franchise.
With the team holding the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft, the team needs some clarity and stability in their front office. The roster lacks depth and talent at many positions and there are many tough decisions ahead. Still, 2024 wasn’t a total loss, especially with some bright spots from the 2024 NFL draft.
JC Latham, T’Vondre Sweat and Jarvis Brownlee all played major roles in 2024, while Cedric Gray, Jha’Quan Jackson, James Williams and Jaylen Harrell all logged playing time and gained valuable experience.
Three of those players, though, performed better than many expected and played their way onto Dane Brugler’s regular-season All-Rookie Team for The Athletic.
Offensive tackle
Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 1, No. 5); JC Latham, Tennessee Titans (Round 1, No. 7)
The Chargers passed on Nabers, but I don’t know many who believe they made the wrong choice. That is how good Alt has been.
He is incredibly consistent with his steps, hands and body movements to frame up rushers and win with leverage. And he is doing all this at a position he hadn’t played before this season. This is going to sound hyperbolic, but based on Alt’s performance and development, it wouldn’t be surprising if he ascends to be the league’s top right tackle at some point the next few seasons.
While Alt moved from the left side to the right, Latham made the reverse transition and played well in his first season at left tackle. It was far from perfect, and he had understandable struggles for a rookie, but Tennessee can feel comfortable it has its long-term left tackle.
Latham was far from perfect, especially down the stretch, but he did show the talent to be a solid NFL lineman. There were some bumps with his transition to left tackle, although he did hold up. The Titans have options moving forward if a better left tackle prospect comes along, with his ability to slide back to right tackle and be a dominant force that solidifies arguably their biggest hole.
Braden Fiske, Los Angeles Rams (Round 2, No. 39); T’Vondre Sweat, Tennessee Titans (Round 2, No. 38)
Fiske finished as the rookie leader in sacks (8.5) and collected 51 pressures, three behind Quinnen Williams. He always had the twitchy urgency and quickness to make an impact in the NFL, but the continued development with his hands was awesome to see.
Selected one spot before Fiske, Sweat generally was viewed as a potential first-round pick based on size and ability, but questions about his weight and off-field consistency removed him from several boards. The Titans rolled the dice and, so far, that gamble has paid off. Sweat might never be a playmaker as a pass rusher, but he destroys gaps in the run game and has better range than his 360-pound size would suggest.
Sweat out-played all of the noise surrounding him coming out of Texas and proved to be a force in the middle of their defense. While there is room for growth in technique, you cannot teach his natural combination of size and athleticism. Sweat appears to be an anchor for the defense and was a big hit in the second round.
Brownlee did not finish in the top four cornerbacks on this end of the season list, but was given an honorable mention nod by Brugler and rightfully so. He was thrust into action and delivered. Yes, it wasn’t the smoothest year and he had a rollercoaster season, but no one expected him to jump into the starting role early in the season. When L’Jarious Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie were out, Brownlee stepped in and held his own. If Sneed can return healthy in 2025, the Titans cornerback room looks to be in good hands.
While none of the rookies were perfect, they showed signs with their performances that they can be foundational pieces for the future. With the Titans holding the No. 1 overall selection, fans hope that the next general manager can select players that will have a similar impact in 2025 and beyond.
Tennessee Titans’ JC Latham and T’Vondre Sweat were named to the Pro Football Focus (PFF) regular-season All-Rookie team.
The Tennessee Titans just finished off a disappointing 3-14 campaign where nothing seemed to go right. Now, entering the offseason, they have a multitude of questions to answer; more now that the fired general manager Ran Carthon.
There is no doubt that the team was flawed and the roster lacked depth and talent at many positions. Yet, there were some bright spots, especially with some of their selections in the 2024 NFL draft.
JC Latham, T’Vondre Sweat and Jarvis Brownlee all played major roles in 2024, while Cedric Gray, Jha’Quan Jackson, James Williams and Jaylen Harrell all logged playing time and gained valuable experience.
JC Latham, Tennessee Titans and Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers
On the left side, it was between Latham and Taliese Fuaga. Latham was a tad more consistent and flashed some long-term starter potential. The right side was an easier pick, as Alt showed why such a high pick was invested in him. A top-20 finish of all tackles as a rookie is no easy feat.
Latham came in and made the transition to left tackle. Yes, he seemed to hit the rookie wall and struggled down the stretch, but his athleticism and leadership were apparent all season.
DEFENSIVE INTERIOR
T’Vondre Sweat, Tennessee Titans and Braden Fiske, Los Angeles Rams
We didn’t see fireworks from the rookies here, but Sweat showed long-term starter potential due to some good work against the run. Fiske, on the other hand, struggled against the run, but his production rushing the passer got him selected.
Sweat was an immovable object in the middle of the Titans defense. Known as more of a run stuffer, Sweat flashed three-down ability and proved to be an outstanding compliment to Jeffery Simmons.
While neither Latham nor Sweat were perfect, they showed signs with their performances that they can be foundational pieces for the future. With the Titans holding the No. 1 overall selection, fans hope that the next general manager can select players that will have a similar impact in 2025 and beyond.
The Tennessee Titans added offensive tackle JC Latham to the injury report after practice on Thursday with a hip injury.
The Tennessee Titans were again on the field continuing their preparations for their Week 15 battle with the Cincinnati Bengals.
After injuring his ankle on Wednesday, linebacker Otis Reese did not take part in this session; his absence, coupled with starter Kenneth Murray still being sidelined, could impact depth at the inside linebacker position this weekend.
Kicker Nick Folk returned to practice but is dealing with soreness in his groin. Kicker Brayden Narveson also practiced but is being viewed as an insurance policy in case Folk can’t go.
Murray, Reese, and Tony Pollard were the only players to sit out in practice. Offensive tackle JC Latham was added to the injury report and was a limited participant with a hip injury.
All other players returned to the field were full participants.
The Titans’ complete injury report for Thursday can be found below.
Did not participate: LB Kenneth Murray (hamstring), RB Tony Pollard (ankle), LB Otis Reese (ankle)
Limited participant: OT JC Latham (hip)
Full participant: CB Roger McCreary (shoulder), OT Jaelyn Duncan (hamstring), OG Peter Skoronski (ankle), LB Jerome Baker (neck), LB Luke Gifford (calf), QB Will Levis (shoulder), DT Jeffery Simmon (NIR/rest). DT T’Vondre Sweat (shoulder), WR Tyler Boyd (foot), K Nick Folk (groin)
Tennessee Titans’ JC Latham partnered with Second Harvest to help those less fortunate have everything for a Thanksgiving feast.
Like most people across the country, the Tennessee Titans are preparing for a big Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. On Tuesday, rookie offensive tackle J.C. Latham did his part to help those in need around the Nashville area have all the necessities that make for a memorable day.
Partnering with Second Harvest, Latham spent his morning at JC Napier Homes in Nashville distributing meals to 150 families in need for the holiday.
.@Titans rookie tackle JC Latham @TKJaayy is spending his morning at the JC Napier Homes in Nashville, distributing Thanksgiving groceries to 150 families in need.
“To give back to those who support you, the ones who are around you,” Latham said,”I feel it’s really important, especially being on this platform and having the opportunity to do something.”
Latham is developing into a leader for the Titans on the offensive line and now in and around the community. This gesture is especially important around the holidays as many fans and people are struggling with the added financial stress that comes with this time of the year.
For many, 2024 has been a disappointment for the Titans, but so far, Latham has been one of the bright spots and looks to be a solid building block for the future. Latham and the rest of the team will be back at practice on Wednesday, preparing for their Week 13 battle with the Washington Commanders.
Titans defensive end Jeffery Simmons and offensive tackle JC Latham add commentary on the controversial officiating on Sunday.
During the Tennessee Titans loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, the story changed course in the second quarter when the Titans stopped the Vikings on 3rd-and-goal. A flag came out after safety Mike Brown laid out Jordan Addison in the end zone.
The officials called unnecessary roughness on Brown, despite Brown hitting Addison in the chest, not launching, and not leading with his head. As NFL officials continue to get calls wrong, Clete Blakeman’s crew heads the list of controversial calls.
Titans’ defensive end Jeffery Simmons chimed in on the impact of the officials:
“It’s hard, you know?” Simmons told reporters, “It’s hard when you getting them type of calls when you’re making plays, you’re getting ready to get off the field on third down, what may be, and we get a penalty. And some of them were late, it’s like we’re coming off the field and I’m celebrating, and here comes a flag. Things like that, man, it’s out of our control. I think we’re cursed when it comes to officiating right now.”
He’s not wrong, the timing of many of the Titans’ penalties came at times when the momentum could have swung their way. Offensive tackle JC Latham noted that one of the officials told him to scootch up on the very first play.
JC Latham said an official told him to scooch up on the very first play. Isaiah Prince got called for three illegal formations, to avoid erased big plays. #Titanspic.twitter.com/KbuGE8AsMq
“I mean, the rule is your head has to crack the center’s hip,” he said. “You know, I always, every time I inches away, I kind of just look to my left and I see the center’s hip. Sometimes they call it and sometimes I disagree, but it is what it is, you just have to keep playing.”
This only adds to the controversy around the Week 11 matchup as it becomes apparent just how involved they were with what happened on the field.
The Tennessee Titans square off in a Sunday afternoon battle against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11. Here are three reasons for concern.
The Tennessee Titans host the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CST.
The Titans’ 2024 season has been rough. Not that anyone expected Brian Callahan to come in and take this team to the Super Bowl in his first season, but people expected a better showing than what we’ve seen so far. It’s not all bad, but there’s a lot of work to be done.
The Vikings, on the other hand, are 7-2 and sit in second place in the NFC North, right behind the Detroit Lions. Their biggest goal is to keep winning and hope the Lions lose or they make wild card weekend. In the toughest division in the NFL this season, the Vikings have their work cut out for them to make the postseason.
Those concerns don’t start for the Vikings this week, though. Up against a Titans team that isn’t playing like it can, the Vikings are heavy favorites this week. That’s certainly a cause for concern for the Titans, although not the only one. Let’s take a look at three causes for concern for the Titans heading into Week 11.
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union
Vikings boast the top run defense in the NFL
The Vikings typically have a strong defense year-to-year, but this year they hold the top spot in the league with their run defense. In 2024, the Vikings have allowed just 711 rushing yards, that’s an average of 3.8 yards per carry or 79 yards per game. They’ve allowed only two run plays over 20 yards and only one over 40 yards. This is as stout of a run defense as we’ve seen in a long time.
The concern here is that the Titans’ offense goes through Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears on the ground. That is simply not going to be effective against the Vikings, so Brian Callahan and Nick Holz better have a plan in place for when the run game fails.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
More defensive players sporting injuries
Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed has missed weeks with a quad injury, which was recently revealed to be a substantial bruise and a strain. He’s not happy and feels guilty that he’s not out there on the field, but he’s not alone. Injuries on the defensive side of the ball have been a problem all season. The concern this week is there are three new defenders with injuries: Arden Key has a back injury, Roger McCreary is dealing with a knee injury, and Justin Hardee has a groin injury.
We won’t know if they will carry an injury designation into the game until Friday, but that none of them practiced on Wednesday shows they all needed rest.
The severity of these injuries isn’t apparent yet, so all three of them may still play this week. Even so, the defense is already struggling with injuries and fatigue, so adding more isn’t helpful.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The offensive line is still a problem
Last week, Will Levis was sacked seven times. The Los Angeles Chargers rank fifth in sacks this season, and the Vikings are right behind them in the sixth spot. They’ve recorded 30 sacks this season, and the Titans’ offensive line simply isn’t going to fare well against the Vikings’ defensive front.
Leroy Watson IV and John Ojukwu will likely continue to rotate at right tackle, although Watson is nursing a back injury now, so who knows how much he will play. On the left side, rookie JC Latham has largely done his job well, but fatigue started to set in last week against the Chargers and could be seen in his play.
The Titans’ offensive line has allowed 28 sacks this season and seven of them happened last week. Brian Callahan and Nick Holz have to find a way to keep Levis protected against a strong Vikings defense in Week 11.
