NASHVILLE — While the Tennessee Titans have done a lot to transform their offensive line for the 2024 season, the starting group is still not set in stone.
Rookie JC Latham, who the Titans selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is going to be the team's starting left tackle. 2023 first-rounder Peter Skoronski will be beside him at left guard. The center is Lloyd Cushenberry, who was paid handsomely in free agency to be the anchor of this group.
That trio has been easy to project as starters ever since the Titans announced that Latham would be moving to the left side. But on the right side of the line, things have been more wide open.
Tennessee's starting right guard from 2023 was Daniel Brunskill, who is being shifted to the bench as a versatile backup that primarily works at center. 2023’s right tackle was a combination of Chris Hubbard, Nicholas Petit-Frere, and Jaelyn Duncan.
At the start of training camp, the Titans were playing Saahdiq Charles (veteran free agent signing) and John Ojukwu (2023 UDFA) with the first-team offense. The coaching staff declared both positions an open competition and within the first few weeks, changes started to take place.
Petit-Frere returned from injury after an offseason knee scope and immediately slotted in as the starting right tackle.
After the shocking retirement of Charles (25), the Titans turned to former second-round pick Dillon Radunz to fill the void. Andrew Rupcich was also thrown into the rotation at right guard.
Since camp opened, the Titans' coaching staff has been hesitant to evaluate the offensive line play or name a starting group. Head Coach Brian Callahan even said that he may not name his starters until Week 1 of the regular season is here. But in Sunday's press conference following a preseason victory over the Seattle Seahawks , Callahan got transparent with the media and made a big announcement regarding the offensive line hierarchy.
"I think what you see with our starting group, which was Dillon (Radunz) and Nick (Petit-Frere), are trending in the direction as being the starters," said Callahan. "It's not over yet for sure, but those guys have performed well enough at that point that if you walk out with the starters against New Orleans, those would be the guys that are starting this week. I reserve all right to pull the plug on that one if I so choose to. But as of right now, those guys have been the guys that have played the best."
While Callahan reserved the right to change his mind, I have a hard time seeing the status quo changing here. I feel confident in saying that, barring injury, Radunz and Petit-Frere are going to be starting on the right side of the offensive line for the Titans next to Cushenberry, Skoronski, and Latham.
I have no doubts that this is the best five on Tennessee’s roster right now. They also fit into Callahan’s offense better than some of the other candidates. Their play in practices and preseason games reflects as much.
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