After battling injuries and position shifts, the former first-round pick returns to his natural role at right tackle, determined to anchor Tennessee’s evolving offensive line without looking back.
The Tennessee Titans selected J.C. Latham No. 7 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Alabama.
Has he lived up to being a first-round pick so far? Most Titans fans would probably say no.
As a rookie, he was asked to play left tackle, which is a position that was quite unfamiliar to him. He played right tackle at Alabama but still suited up for the Titans and tried to learn the position anyway.
He played in all 17 games in 2024 and then moved back to right tackle last season, where he was more familiar. The 2025 season didn't go quite as planned for Latham.
He dealt with a nagging hip injury last season that allowed him to play in only 12 games. Then, this offseason, he was added to the PUP list ahead of training camp after General Manager Mike Borgonzi shared that the tackle had had a pectoral injury since OTAs.
Latham has since been removed from the PUP list and returned to practice on Saturday.
Continuity will be important for this Titans' offensive line going forward. They already lost two starters from last year's team in Lloyd Cushenberry and Kevin Zeitler.
Cushenberry was released after injuries kept him off the field, and Zeitler wasn't re-signed after his one-year deal expired.
Latham went to the podium after Saturday's practice and was asked what a successful third season would look like for him. He's taking a no-excuses mindset into 2026.
"I think first is team success," Latham said. "You know, there's, like I said, no sympathy in it. So there's no excuses, no, 'Yeah, he was hurt last year, played left tackle rookie year.' You know? There's none of that going on. You know, I'm here playing right tackle now. So doing things, our number one rule is protect the team. So, are you helping the team or are you hurting the team? And showing up every day, you know, just doing my best for the team so that we can have success on the field and that we can establish ourselves as a team that's going to compete every single play, down in down out and earn the respect of the NFL."
Latham understands that he hasn't lived up to the expectations of being a first-round pick yet. The Titans are going to need a full season out of him this year, and he knows that there are no excuses for how he's played lately.
This franchise will have two new starters on the offensive line, whether it's Austin Schlottmann, Pat Coogan, or Andre James at center, or Fernando Carmona, Cordell Volson, or Jackson Slater at right guard.
Getting consistent play from someone like Latham, who's been with the team for several years, will be crucial in 2026.
This is going to be a make-or-break year for Latham.
