“We play a child’s game for a king’s ransom, so I just want to come out here and do my best and maybe inspire others to do their best,” Radunz says.

-- Photo By Tyler Kaufman | Ap

While the Titans offensive line remains a serious work in progress, one player who has held his own among that group is a player who had been written off multiple times as a failure in his time in Tennessee.

Dillon Radunz, a second-round pick and the last man standing from the Titans’ ill-fated 2021 draft, has been one of the Titans’ better players on an offensive line that is still struggling.

Radunz, through the first three games, had allowed just one of the 15 sacks the Titans offensive line had yielded and only had one penalty call against him. His 64.9 grade from Pro Football Focus was second only to rookie JC Latham among Tennessee’s offensive linemen.

For Radunz, who came in as a rookie after playing just one game at North Dakota State in 2020 due to COVID canceling the Bison’s season, was behind and not really ready to play as a rookie.

He was supposed to win the right tackle position in his second season but wound up losing the job at the end of training camp to then-rookie Nicholas Petit-Frere. At that point, many fans and media began to write Radunz off as a failed draft pick.

Later that year, when he filled in at left tackle after Taylor Lewan was lost to a knee injury and Dennis Daley turned out to be a turnstile in pass protection, Radunz tore his ACL in his first extensive action at the position.

Losing the right tackle job, being relegated to backup status and then suffering a knee injury was reminiscent of a similar situation that happened during his redshirt freshman year at North Dakota State.

“My second year, between losing the job and then tearing my ACL, as well, was a low point,” Radunz says. “Being able to go through adversity, I remember when I was in college and I tore my ACL after I had redshirted. I played in one game and tore my ACL and had to sit out all that season.

“I was able to learn from that, and then my second year in the league I went through that adversity. I relied a lot on my faith and I think I grew a lot through all those trials. That low point was really low, but I’m happy to say that I’ve come back from it and hopefully still climbing.”

Radunz returned in 2023 much sooner than anticipated, playing in week two and filling a utility role on a disappointing offensive line. He wound up making 11 starts, seeing action at both tackle spots and at left guard.

This season, with Bill Callahan coming in as coach and the Titans again reshuffling the line with a new center and a new left tackle, it looked as if Radunz would have to fight just to keep his utility role.

He was in competition at right guard with free agent signee Saahdiq Charles, who abruptly and unexpectedly retired in the middle of camp. That gave Radunz, who was working mostly with the second -team, the inside track to the job.

“Dillon had a great camp,” Bill Callahan says. “He’s earned that position. It’s been remarkable watching his progression through the OTAs and through training camp and fighting for that spot.

“Saahdiq Charles left in training camp, and when he left, Dillon just took it over. His confidence has grown, his technique has improved and just his overall game in pass protection has gotten better. I’m awfully proud of where he’s come from and what he’s learned and taken out to the games.”

Head coach Brian Callahan says Radunz was ready for the role.

“I think the cool thing is it’s been consistent and that’s, to me, the mark of a guy who’s ready to step into that role,” he says. “He didn’t flinch during the competition. He competed hard, he practiced hard and then when he was named as a starter he didn’t change anything about how he approached it.

“So I like to see the consistency in the approach. That, to me, is the mark of a guy that’s matured and ready to take on that kind of role. So that was really positive to see is that he was the same guy throughout the entire process.”

Radunz says his faith is one reason he didn’t blink when his chance to be a full-time starter finally arrived.

“My faith is my biggest driving factor in life, and that being said, football-wise, just getting the opportunity to play this game, you can’t take it for granted,” Radunz says. “We play a child’s game for a king’s ransom, so I just want to come out here and do my best and maybe inspire others to do their best.

“Just to have the opportunity to start in the NFL, it’s a blessing. I’m just going to continue to run with it and be the best that I can be.”

Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com