The Tennessee Titans may be staring at another lost season, but JC Latham is giving them something real to hang onto.
While the Titans slipped to 1-6 after a 27-24 Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns, the second-year right tackle has quietly put together the kind of stretch that changes the conversation around a player. Tennessee’s offense has had its share of problems in 2026, but Latham has been one of the few steady hands up front.
The 2024 No. 7 overall pick has allowed just one sack and five quarterback pressures in 248 pass-blocking snaps. Pro Football Focus has rewarded that work with a 76.5 pass-blocking grade, and he’s added a 70.2 run-blocking grade to go with it. At 6-foot-6 and 342 pounds, Latham has also been a real problem for defenders in the run game, where his size and force have started to show up consistently.
What makes the recent surge even more notable is how clean he’s been lately. Over the last two games, Latham hasn’t surrendered a single quarterback pressure or committed a penalty. That kind of stability is exactly what Tennessee hoped for when it drafted him, and it’s starting to look like he’s finally becoming the kind of plus starter the Titans need on the edge.
That matters because the clock is already ticking on a bigger decision. Tennessee must decide on Latham’s fifth-year option next May, and if he keeps playing at this level, the choice could become pretty straightforward. He’s beginning to make the case that he belongs in Nashville for the long haul, and he’s building the foundation for a possible extension down the line.
There’s still plenty of football left in 2026, so the Titans don’t need to rush into contract talk. But with Latham now looking the part of a top-10 pick, it’s hard to ignore how important he has become to one of the team’s few bright spots.
Tennessee’s next test comes in Week 8 on the road against the 4-2 Cincinnati Bengals. The Titans are running out of time to save the season, and a loss going into the bye could push them toward a fire sale before the November 10 trade deadline. Even if that happens, Latham looks like one player Tennessee should be planning to keep.
In Other News...
Titans Suddenly Have A Real RB2 Debate Behind Tyjae Spears
Tyjae Spears was supposed to have a firmer grip on the Titans No. 2 running back job, but a knee injury and uneven play have opened the door for someone else. Michael Carter has been getting more work in recent games, and his ability to handle all three downs has caught attention from coach Robert Saleh. In a backfield that already leans heavily on Tony Pollard, the battle for touches behind him has become a real subplot.
Carters recent production has outpaced both Spears and rookie Nick Singleton, and that alone is changing the conversation about how Tennessee wants to structure its backfield. If Spears cannot get back to form, the Titans may have to decide whether Carter is simply a short-term fill-in or the more reliable option as RB2. The picture could shift again if Pollard is traded, which would only make this situation more important to watch in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Trade Buzz Now Centers On One Name Fans Wont Like
The trade chatter around the AFC South has widened beyond the usual deadline-day noise, with multiple NFL teams reportedly inquiring about deals for Colts receiver Josh Downs and Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The latest buzz has also linked Jacksonville to a possible pursuit of Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne, adding another layer to a division already full of roster questions as teams weigh whether to buy, sell or stay put.
League sources have also put Jermaine Johnson, Tony Pollard and Alontae Taylor in the conversation as potential trade candidates, which only adds to the sense that the market could move quickly if one deal gets enough traction. For the Titans, it is another reminder that the division around them is not standing still, and any shift at the deadline could alter both the short-term race and the longer view of how these rivals are built. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Loom In One Of The NFLs Biggest Trade Decisions
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the league has already seen one of its most consequential in-season swings, as the Colts moved guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks for future draft picks and sent defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the 49ers for a draft pick. Deals of that size have a way of resetting the market, and they tend to invite every team with a meaningful decision to the center of the conversation.
For Tennessee, that matters because Jeffery Simmons is part of the wider trade discussion now forming around some of the leagues biggest names. Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Brian Thomas and Budda Baker are also being floated as potential candidates, with possible landing spots already being mapped out, but the bigger question is how aggressive teams become once a move like Seattles changes the temperature. The Titans may not be the only club watching closely, but they are firmly among the teams who need to know where that market is heading before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]