Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan admitted that the team was surprised by Saahdiq Charles' decision to retire when speaking with local media on Wednesday. Charles was entrenched in a very legitimate battle to be the starting right guard this season. Though nothing had been decided, some even considered him the in-house favorite to outright win the gig.
Brian Callahan on OL Saahdiq Charles retiring says “it was not an event.” Callahan said he was surprised by the news, “anytime someone says they are retiring middle of camp is surprising.”@FOXNashville #Titans @Titans
— Jill Jelnick (@JillJelnick) August 7, 2024
Brian and Bill Callahan are left with three in-house options at right guard in the wake of Charles' retirement. The competition should remain open and fluid throughout the remaining training camp practices and the preseason. We've ranked Tennessee's best options one through three.
1. Dillon Radunz
This arguably represents the biggest opportunity of Dillon Radunz's career as he prepares to enter a contract year. Radunz has been involved in training camp battles before, losing one previous competition to right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere. The pathway to a starting job in Week 1 has never been clearer.
Callahan: Dillon Radunz had been splitting reps with Radunz with the 1s at right guard before Charles decided to retire. There was no determination on who starter would be, it was a competition. Now Radunz gets big chance@Titans
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) August 7, 2024
Radunz began the 2023 season as a backup reserve linemen, but injuries and inconsistencies routinely elevated him into the lineup. The former second-round selection ended up being the Titans' third-most snapped linemen (and player) with 776 total snaps. The majority of Radunz's reps occurred at right tackle (504), but he did play nearly 200 snaps at guard, and nearly logged 300 plays as a guard in 2022.
Radunz has played for two general managers and coaching staffs in Tennessee, and both regimes agree that his primary position is guard. Radunz had been gaining momentum in the competition with Charles at guard even before the latter's retirement. The interior blocker ranks as the likely in-house solution.
2. Andrew Rupcich
Saahdiq Charles' unforeseen departure has catapulted a third player into the right guard competition. Andrew Rupcich received some first-team reps with the starting offense at Wednesday's practice. That is a new development.
Maybe we should include Andrew Rupcich in the RG convo. #Titans
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 7, 2024
Rupcich is a third-year undrafted free agent that has spent the majority of his career developing on the practice squad. He nearly made the 53-man roster last season, but ultimately had to settle for the PS. Rupcich was eventually elevated to the active roster, logging 209 total offensive snaps.
Rupcich handled himself okay in limited action, earning a pass protection grade of 68.6 from Pro Football Focus. He was credited with allowing five pressures and one sack via 130 pass-blocking snaps. Rupcich was a better pass protector than he was run blocker, and that's notable given the shift to a pass-happy offense.
3. Daniel Brunskill
Daniel Brunskill was last season's primary starting right guard. Head coach Brian Callahan and offensive line coach Bill Callahan presumably don't see him as a natural fit for that position. Brunskill has endured more reps as a backup center than guard this offseason.
Almost by default, Brunskill's name is now floated into the right guard competition. The Titans possess better cover at backup center now that veteran blocker Corey Levin is on the roster. Levin's presence should allow Brunskill to earn more practice reps at right guard following Charles' retirement.
Dillon Radunz is “certainly an option” at right guard according to Brian Callahan. Adds that they’re fortunate that Daniel Brunskill has had a lot of work there as well.
— Buck Reising (@BuckReising) August 7, 2024
Ranking Brunskill as the third and final option may qualify as a surprise, but the Callahan's don't seem to prefer him at guard. Right guard was more of a two-man competition between Dillon Radunz and Charles. Including Rupcich in this competition doesn't evoke much confidence in Brunskill's chances.