Tennessee Titans: Expect good things from Dillon Radunz in year one

As most of you know, the right tackle position has been one of much uncertainty for the Tennessee Titans since Jack Conklin left this team.  HIs expected replacement won’t be mentioned by name as he flopped massively, but it looked like they could depend on Dennis Kelly to hold onto that spot after a solid outing in 2020.

That was until they surprisingly cut him as a cap casualty during the 2021 offseason, a decision that left many Titans fans disillusioned with the team’s approach. Kendall Lamm had just been signed a day earlier but few had faith in him to fill Kelly’s spot. No one seemed to know what the team’s plan was moving forward.

General manager Jon Robinson and company were forced to go back to the drawing board, and they addressed the position early in the 2021 NFL Draft.  They took Dillon Radunz with the 53rd-overall selection, and fans should be optimistic about his future on the team.

Expect good things from Dillon Radunz if you love the Tennessee Titans.

One of the main reasons to be excited about Mr. Radunz is because of Kieth Carter’s track record with this franchise.  Look at how far Nate Davis has come since assuming a full-time role, and how Kelly, someone who was not trusted to perform well enough, became a very formidable player in 2020.

Another reason to be confident in Radunz is that the job he will be expected to do will suit his strengths.  With Taylor Lewan being the team’s blindside blocker, Radunz will be expected to play on the right side in more of a run-blocking role, something in which he excelled in college.  Not playing at left tackle takes much pressure off of players, and the less pressure, the better for him.

While Radunz has reportedly struggled in the first few days of training camp, there is no reason to panic.  The simple reason for this is because he is a rookie, and it is completely normal for players in his situation to initially struggle.

Remember that even Rodger Saffold, a seasoned veteran, struggled badly in his first few games with the Titans, then quickly got it together, which further speaks to Carter’s coaching ability.  While he may take more time, the same thing could happen to Radunz.

It can take time for any team to figure out what roles best suit their raw players, and from what we can gather, that is what the Tennessee Titans are doing with Radunz.  Be patient, he will turn out fine if he is given the time he needs to develop and get ready to become a full-time starter.