As NFL training camps are set to open at the end of the month, teams will be finalizing their offseason rosters. The Tennessee Titans are in unfamiliar territory this year with a new coaching staff and plenty of roster turnover at key positions.
Among those is the appointment of second-year player Will Levis to starting quarterback for the upcoming season after getting a taste as a rookie last year.
The Titans will need to protect him better, as he was sacked 28 times in nine games last year. The team as a whole was sacked 64 times, tying for the third-most in the league with the New York Jets.
To address their pass protection issues, the Titans made a significant move by selecting Alabama standout tackle JC Latham with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Latham, who spent three years with the Crimson Tide, only allowed two sacks and five quarterback hits during his college career.
Additionally, the Titans bolstered their offensive line depth through minor transactions, acquiring tackle Leroy Watson in a trade with the Cleveland Browns and signing guard Saahdiq Charles.
However, one outlet feels that more is needed prior to the start of the season. Pro Football Network’s Lorenzo Reyna suggested one free-agent signing for every team and identified offensive tackle Conor McDermott as a player the Titans should bring in.
Help and more help are needed to protect Will Levis moving forward. The towering 6’8″ veteran Conor McDermott can come in and give Tennessee breathing room in the tackle department.
McDermott was released by the New England Patriots back in April after initially signing a two-year, $3.6 million contract extension with the team in February 2023. The 31-year-old has made his way through the AFC East, spending time with the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and the Patriots.
Throughout his career, McDermott has seen action in 55 games (17 starts), including a career-high 15 contests during the 2020 season with the Jets. With New England last year, the Nashville native saw 228 snaps in six games and made five starts and allowed two sacks.
The favorite to be the starting right tackle, Nicholas Petit-Frere, isn’t a sure thing entering his third season, and the same can be said for the other players vying for that role.
Signing McDermott would provide the Titans with experienced depth at both tackle spots, as well as another insurance policy for the right tackle job.
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