Bring Them Back: Offensive Linemen Who Must Return to Tennessee Titans in 2024
The Tennessee Titans sit at 4-8 ahead of a Monday Night Football matchup with the 9-3 Miami Dolphins who sport the best record in the AFC and one of the NFL's most deadly offensive attacks. Odds are not great that the 2023 Titans make a playoff run and that means it is time to look ahead to 2024.
The rest of the season should be about who can help this team in 2024. We should look at the remainder of the schedule as auditions for next year's team. With that in mind, who do we know right now will be back or should be back with the Titans? Let's take a look at the offensive line.
Offensive Line: Peter Skoronski, Jaelyn Duncan, Dillon Radunz
The offensive line needs a major overhaul so it would not be a surprise to see only Peter Skoronski return, but odds are a few young guys on rookie deals stick around. Skoronski is a given, but Duncan has shown enough to warrant more development time, even if he isn't ready to start and can serve as the Titans third tackle next year. Radunz seems preferred at guard by the team and should get a chance to fight for a spot on the interior in the final year of his rookie deal while providing more depth at tackle.
That leaves a lot of names that aren't must-haves for me. Daniel Brunskill has done well, but I think a healthy Radunz could do close with a healthy offseason. If Brunskill was brought back for cheap, I could understand though. He has been solid as a starter this year and far from a big problem. He just doesn't offer upside at his age and Radunz would be cheaper.
As for center, Aaron Brewer may have his moments in run blocking, but the liability he is in pass blocking due to being one of the smallest lineman in the NFL is something that can't be glossed over. The Titans have more pressing needs, so a cheap return for Brewer could be in the cards, but if the Titans tried to add real competition there, I would not be shocked.
At tackle, I will shock no one when I say I don't expect Andre Dillard back. He clearly isn't the player the Titans hoped for and he doesn't seem to have the mentality Mike Vrabel is looking for either.
Chris Hubbard played well for the Titans in nine starts and could be brought back if fully healthy, but Hubbard was a late signing before training camp and will be 33 years old. If the Titans want to really fix this offensive line, they should have higher expectations and look for a more long-term solution.
Nicholas Petit-Frere was my only hesitation. The former Buckeye has had a horror season. He was suspended for the first four games, came back and did not play well, then was injured for the entire season shortly after returning. Now his status on the roster is in jeopardy after being the fulltime starter at right tackle in 2022.
Petit-Frere could be brought back and given a chance to compete for a roster spot. He did beat out the more experienced Radunz in his rookie year for that right tackle spot. In my opinion, Radunz offers more upside at guard, but if Petit-Frere can beat out Radunz in that aspect as well, he may win the battle.
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