Forget high-priced stars and rookie quarterbacks. Offensive tackle J.C. Latham must overcome injuries and position changes to anchor the line and protect Tennessee's future in 2026.
The Tennessee Titans have several exciting players on this year's roster.
Still, there's the question of who will be the X-Factor for this team in 2026.
The obvious choice would be players like Cam Ward or Carnell Tate. Ward now has offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who has experience in developing young quarterbacks.
Tate is going to be the WR1 for the Titans as a rookie.
The Titans' X-Factor was actually neither of those players. Instead, ESPN's Ben Solak chose a player on the offensive line.
It wasn't Peter Skoronski or promising rookie Fernando Carmona. Skoronski just became the highest-paid guard in the NFL, and Carmona is going to start for the Titans at right guard as a rookie.
That only leaves Dan Moore Jr., Austin Schlottmann or J.C. Latham. Moore had a poorly graded season on PFF last year, and Schlottmann is a newcomer after joining in free agency from the New York Giants.
Solak went with Latham and he explained why in his recent article.
"I can see the diamond in the rough in Latham," Solak said. "He is 6-foot-5 and 340 pounds with great length, and those dimensions allow him to be effective despite imperfect technique and poor leverage. He has had a rough go of it through two seasons -- he switched from college right tackle to NFL left tackle as a rookie, then back to right tackle in his second season, during which a hip injury hampered his play -- but there's a functional starter there in his game. The Titans need to find it now. Current projections have Tennessee starting Fernando Carmona, a fifth-round rookie, at right guard. Center Austin Schlottmann is a career backup. Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and left guard Peter Skoronski have their roles locked down, but it's unlikely that either Schlottmann or Carmona will become needle-moving contributors on the line this season. It's make-or-break for Latham, who likely will not get a fourth season at tackle if he cannot put the pieces together."
Latham understands that this is going to be a very crucial year for his Titans career.
He missed time last season due to a hip injury, and when he was back, he didn't look his best at times.
He is taking his no-excuses attitude into his third year with the franchise. To his credit, he looked very good in the preseason games he played in.
The Titans need Latham to anchor the right side of the line with Carmona as they try to do a better job of protecting Ward.
The Titans have been in the top 10 for most sacks allowed in the NFL over the last two seasons, and now is the time for the offensive line to get things right with Ward entering a pivotal year.
If Latham can finally play up to his potential, the Titans' offensive line may finally be able to improve.
