Tennessee Titans Signing OT Chris Hubbard While George Fant Signs With Texans
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans needed some veteran depth at offensive tackle after their starter on the right side, second-year Nicholas Petit-Frere, was suspended for six games due to a gambling violation. Now, they get it in the form of nine-year veteran Chris Hubbard. According to multiple reports, the Titans will be signing him.
Hubbard spent the majority of his career in Cleveland, playing multiple positions on the Browns' offensive line. Despite playing at different spots at times, Hubbard has spent the majority of his career at right tackle. Out of his 3,589 career snaps, 2.967 have come at right tackle. Exactly where the Titans need him.
The only issue is, Hubbard has been awful for quite some time. Hubbard hasn't seen over 300 snaps in a season since 2019, and for good reason. Hubbard started for most of the season in three consecutive years, 2017 through 2019. In that time, Hubbard allowed 15 sacks, 115 pressures and committed 14 penalties. There is a reason he lost the chance to start and now we are three seasons removed from that stretch.
Hubbard will be asked to come in and compete with Jamarco Jones for the starting right tackle spot until Petit-Frere returns after his six-game hiatus. Now, Petit-Frere has a great chance of getting his starting gig back as soon as he returns.
That may have always been the case, but the Titans also worked out George Fant the same time they worked out Hubbard. Fant has decided to sign with the Houston Texans instead. It appears Fant wanted to be compensated at a rate higher than the Titans were willing to go.
Fant still sees himself as a starter and probably thought he could retain the starting role even when Petit-Frere returned. Understandable considering Fant has played much better ball than Hubbard and much more recently. In 2020, as the Jets starting left tackle, Fant only gave up one sack and 18 pressures in 15 games.
Neither of the options the Titans had were great options. You don't see starting-level offensive tackles available in late July, but it is clear the Titans decided to go with the cheaper option even if it was clearer a lesser player. A bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it works out for them.
A lot of fantasy football players are paying close attention to the Titans' offensive line situation because running back Derrick Henry is usually a high first-round pick in fantasy. Maybe not so much this year after the way the 2022 season ended.
The Titans are projected to finish second in the AFC South division, according to our friends at Fanduel. The Jacksonville Jaguars, who won the division last year on the final day of the season, are favored at minus-155, while the Titans are at plus. 315.
Titans Training Camp Stories
- Vrabel Names RT Options: The Tennessee Titans need to find a replacement for starting right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere due to a gambling suspension. Mike Vrabel named the internal options for the Titans at the first press conference of training camp. CLICK HERE
- Malik's 'Glaring Improvement': The Tennessee Titans hosted a press conference to kickoff their 2023 training camp and Mike Vrabel spoke about second-year quarterback Malik Willis, noting his "glaring improvement." CLICK HERE
- Titans Offseason Awards: As we see each year at the start of Tennessee Titans training camp, Mike Vrabel announced the 2023 offseason winners on offense and defense led by starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill. CLICK HERE