NASHVILLE, Tenn. – During the TV broadcast of the Cardinals-Titans game, Jon Robinson stated the obvious: Nicholas Petit-Frere is the Titans’ starting right tackle.
NPF did well with his chances, but the inability of second-year, second-round pick Dillon Radunz to rise to the occasion and take the job he was drafted to fill was a part of it as well.
The Titans have now spent a first-, second- and third-round pick to replace Jack Conklin at right tackle.
Conklin understandably did not get his fifth-year option picked up in 2018 as he was recovering from a torn ACL. After his fourth season in 2019 he signed a big-dollar deal in Cleveland.
It's fine that the Titans' intention was to fill the job more inexpensively, but they've failed badly at identifying talent. Robinson's made two terrible picks since.
Isaiah Wilson was Robinson’s choice as Conklin's successor, but he was a complete bust who played four snaps in his rookie season as the 29th pick in 2020 before the Titans dumped him for next to nothing to the Dolphins, who quickly cut him.
Nicholas Petit-Frere says he’s still competing. #Titans. pic.twitter.com/DsWCzLECVf
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 28, 2022
Robinson and Mike Vrabel said Wilson turned into a guy who was nothing like the one they scouted and drafted. They did very well at letting themselves off the hook for the error that's had giant ripple effects.
Radunz was the 53rd pick a year later and got the bulk of his work at guard after the Titans' second preseason game. He played at both guard spots against Arizona.
Petit-Frere was the 69th pick of the most recent draft. He’s a strong run blocker who will need help in protecting Ryan Tannehill as he grows.
Radunz will be looked to as a versatile swing guy among weak depth.
Still, the Titans need to be combing the waiver wire Tuesday when teams trim their rosters to 53 in order to find better depth than the candidates they have including Radunz, center Corey Levin, the injured Jamarco Jones and guard Jordan Roos.
Aaron Brewer was one of a number of players who didn’t play against the Cardinals, along with Taylor Lewan, Ben Jones and the injured Nate Davis.
Brewer faced no serious competition for the open left guard spot and is in line to replace Rodger Saffold there.
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