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FRAMINGHAM — A trendy and fast-growing chain of chicken restaurants is coming to the city later this year.

Dave’s Hot Chicken, a Los Angeles-based chain of fast-casual restaurants, plans to open at 341 Cochituate Road (Route 30), in the Route 30 Mall. The shopping complex is also home to Five Guys, Nzuko, Tennessee’s Real BBQ and Brooklyn Water Bagel.

Glazer Properties, the company that owns the Route 30 Mall, confirmed on its website that Dave’s Hot Chicken will fill a vacant slot beside Nzuko. Rebecca Nau, of the Framingham Licensing Department, said the chicken chain has submitted an application for a common victualler's license and will appear June 12 before the Framingham Board of License Commissioners.

It's not known when the restaurant will open.

Humble beginnings in East LA

Dave’s Hot Chicken was started in 2017 by four friends in southern California who, according to the company website, pooled together $900 to run a small cart with a grill in East Los Angeles. Using a signature developed recipe for hot chicken (sometimes referred to as "Nashville-style" chicken), the business was an instant success and the brand quickly began to expand into brick-and-mortar restaurants.

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Less than a decade later, the chain now has more than 100 restaurants in 22 states. The first Massachusetts location opened last year in Newton, with a second following in Woburn. A Boston location is set to open later this year, in addition to Framingham.

For one menu item, sign before you eat

Similar to Raising Canes, another national chicken chain that recently expanded into MetroWest, Dave’s Hot Chicken primarily sells chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches, all carrying the signature Nashville-style recipe. Guests can choose their level of spice from no spice, to mild, to hot, to the incredibly hot “reaper” flavor — so hot that customers are asked to sign a waiver before consuming it.

Side options include crinkle-cut fries, macaroni and cheese and kale slaw. The restaurant also carries homemade milkshakes in multiple flavors.

Dave's Hot Chicken is known for its celebrity investors, including actor Samuel L. Jackson, rapper Drake and former NFL player-turned-TV host, Michael Strahan. Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner is also an investor.

You know where the Tennessee Titans turned, right? The exact moment it all went wrong?

Consequently, their ex-general manager was fired, they blew a huge lead in the AFC South and a once-stable playoff contender veered into a shaky, downward trajectory toward irrelevance.

What happened?

The A.J. Brown trade happened, of course. That iceberg for the RMS Titans. As bad a fleecing as the NFL had seen in a while, putting the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl and Jon Robinson out of work. This narrative about the Titans' demise is so widely accepted, it ignores a good reason why it could still prove false.

And that reason stood Tuesday behind a podium at the Titans’ facility, drenched in sweat, talking about how this year is different. How he's different.

Titans receiver Treylon Burks, indeed, sounded like a new person.

“I feel great,” he said. “Running fast, not having any problems with breathing, and really just having fun, man. I'm in a good place.”

Good for him. Better for the Titans.

Other than maybe quarterback Ryan Tannehill, no player looms more important than Burks in determining the success or failure of the Titans in 2023. It isn’t just that he’s the Titans’ No. 1 receiver. It’s that the Titans, at this point, don’t even have a No. 2 receiver.

Burks is by far the most formidable pass-catching option for the Titans, given how they dropped Robert Woods in the offseason and did little to replace him or beef up an alarmingly thin group. A breakout sophomore season for Burks wouldn’t be a luxury. It looks more like a necessity.

Estes:One aspect of Titans rookie camp made me more enthused about this 2023 team

More:Treylon Burks opens up about rookie breathing issues, being WR1

More:A.J. Brown finally tells all about Tennessee Titans trade — and it's a lot

What if Treylon Burks does it, though?

Why not? It could happen. He could be a special receiver in the NFL. He showed that in college at Arkansas. He hinted at it last season, too. While slowed by injuries as a rookie, he flashed enough talent to show why the Titans thought he was worthy of a first-round pick, essentially as their A.J. 2.0.

Burks isn't there yet.

But, in fairness, who would be?

Has any rookie receiver been shoved into a more unfair situation than Burks was in 2022? Bad offense, soon-to-be-fired coordinator, injured quarterback, sub-par receiving group and, perhaps worst of all, a Titans fanbase that – through no fault of Burks – can’t help but associate him with the memory of that excruciating draft-night trade.

That last part isn’t going away, either. As long as Burks is playing in Tennessee, he’ll be compared to Brown. And as high as that bar was to start, Brown raised it last season. His 1,496 receiving yards in 2022 for the Philadelphia Eagles would have been the third-best season in the history of his old franchise.

If Burks were to even get within 193 yards of that total in 2023, it’d be something that hasn’t been done for the Titans (or Houston Oilers) in 59 years (including Brown’s first three seasons).

That’s the standard we’re talking about here.

Let's see what happens

Titans fans should be encouraged by what Burks said Tuesday – and how he said it. He was open and direct and confident in a way that he wasn't in 2022.

He referenced “mistakes that I made, especially coming into camp,” and you’d assume that had to do with being in better shape. Because he spoke a lot about his decision to train exclusively at the Titans facility this offseason. In doing so, he discussed his struggles in the past to breathe, a topic he went out of his way last summer to avoid discussing publicly.

That was back when Burks was missing practice time for mysterious reasons. Receivers coach Rob Moore later told ESPN that Burks was dealing with asthma.

“That's why I've been here,” Burks said Tuesday, “making sure that I'm running in the heat. When I do get that feeling, I know how to control it now. … I've been here the whole offseason. I didn't go train out at the beach or anything. I stayed here. I wanted to stay around the facility.”

Don’t gloss over that. It’s a big deal. Offseason conditioning has been referenced as a hurdle for Burks in the past.

Coach Mike Vrabel likes Titans players to stick around and train with the team, and on Tuesday, Burks’ new teammate Sean Murphy-Bunting offered insight into why that may be the case.

“We do a lot of things that other teams in the league aren’t doing at this time,” said Murphy-Bunting, a cornerback who joined the Titans from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “… We’re doing stuff that’s not easy. There are days where I’ve trained last year and the year before where it’s like, ‘Oh, that wasn’t bad.’ But every day you come here, it’s work.”

Burks has embraced the work. You can tell.

Through his words and his actions, Burks appears to be all-in with the Titans right now.

Good thing, too.

Because the Titans dang sure are all-in on him.

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Gentry_Estes.

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The Tennessee Titans have been in the midst of a franchise-altering past few months after a season that saw a seven-game losing streak that ultimately caused the team to choke away a third-straight division championship.

Since then, the team has hired a new general manager, parted ways with several notable players, re-signed the pillar of the defense, selected its heir apparent at quarterback, and announced a new billion-dollar playpen that will open by 2027, if everything goes according to plan.

Despite all this, it’s fair to say the Titans have had a polarizing offseason thanks to the moves (or lack thereof) they have made, and that has left a lot of people feeling underwhelmed about the 2023 group.

Former NFL Executive and Titans president, Jeff Diamond, certainly feels that way, as he listed Tennessee as one of the four teams who “failed” the offseason in his latest article on The 33rd Team.

Diamond believes there “wasn’t enough progress” made after the team came off a season in which it finished with the 30th-ranked passing offense.

These feelings only got amplified after the team released the likes of Taylor Lewan, Ben Jones, and Robert Woods, while replacing them with mostly questionable and/or inexperienced talent.

Diamond did go on to praise the selection of Kentucky quarterback Will Levis in Round 2, calling him an “intriguing prospect with a major chip on his shoulder after his draft fall.”

The former Vikings general manager also goes on to point out how Levis’ development could be a game-changer for the franchise due to the money it would free up to inevitably stack the team around the young quarterback.

Diamond’s lengthy statement can be seen in its entirety below.

The Tennessee Titans’ finish in 2022 was even more disastrous than the Chargers, who at least made the playoffs. Tennessee was sitting at 7-3 with a four-game lead on Jacksonville, Then, injuries to quarterback Ryan Tannehill and several other starters, along with poor play, caused the team to lose its last seven games, including getting swept by the Jaguars.

Not enough progress occurred this offseason to believe this team will rebound to when it was the AFC’s top-seeded team two years ago. The Titans released several past starters for cap relief — due to being less productive and often injured in some cases — including edge Bud Dupree, tackle Taylor Lewan, center Ben Jones and receiver Robert Woods.

The passing game fell to 30th in the league as the team could not replace A.J. Brown after he was traded to Philadelphia in a move that contributed to the firing of GM Jon Robinson. Derrick Henry is still an elite back, but his yards per carry have fallen the past two seasons, and he turns 30 in January.

Perhaps first-round pick Peter Skoronski can lead a resurgence of a once-strong offensive line after the team decides if it will play him at guard or tackle. He worked at both positions in Titans camp. The Titans also lost perhaps their most effective offensive lineman from last season in free agency when guard Nate Davis left for Chicago.

Second-round QB Will Levis is an intriguing prospect with a major chip on his shoulder after his draft fall. Coach Mike Vrabel says Levis is the No. 3 quarterback. If Levis can move up quickly and become the starter this season or by next year, it will help the team cap-wise once Tannehill is off the books.

Other talented players arrived via the draft, such as third-round back Tyjae Spears, but free agency appears to have brought no impact additions.

Leading the signees were Andre Dillard, who was often injured and considered a bust in Philadelphia as a first-round tackle, and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, who missed 13 games in Tampa Bay during the past two seasons.

The Titans gave a $7 million per year deal to Arden Key, who is now with his fourth team in a six-year career and has never been a full-time starter.

The good news was the Titans’ extension of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who is expected to lead the defense that fell from No. 12 in 2021 (when Tennessee was a 12-5 team) to No. 23 in 2022 (and last against the pass).

If there’s one Tennessee Titans undrafted free agent signing who has caught the attention of fans and media, it’s Ferris State edge rusher, Caleb Murphy.

That attention comes from the fact that Murphy tallied an NCAA record 25.5 sacks in his final season with the Bulldogs. As a junior, he finished with 15, giving him an impressive 40.5 sacks over his final two collegiate seasons.

The knock on those numbers, of course, is that Murphy tallied them at a D2 school. However, at least he dominated that level of competition, am I right?

Nevertheless, the 6-foot-3, 254-pound EDGE enters a fairly favorable situation with the Titans, a team that needs to lock down a fourth outside linebacker outside of Harold Landry, Arden Key and Rashad Weaver.

In my way-too-early 53-man roster projection, I have Murphy grabbing that final spot at outside linebacker, but there’s a long way to go with OTAs, mandatory minicamp and training camp still to come.

In order to get more information on the Ferris State product, we’ve rounded up some scouting reports to get a feel for how experts viewed him prior to the draft. A few of them even had Murphy being drafted.

What he said:

STRENGTHS: Displays natural pass-rush instincts … runs the arc with thought and urgency to stay free from blocks … has a few “go-to” moves, including a jab-jump through to the outside with a club-rip … large hands are physical and non-passive … sets up blockers with an inside counter to disrupt weight transfer … dips his body around the reach of blockers … always keeps tabs on the football to retrace and let his motor clean up plays … exceptional production with 60.5 tackles for loss, 40.0 sacks and eight forced fumbles in 29 games at Ferris State … became the first Ted Hendricks Award winner to play outside of the FBS.

WEAKNESSES: Undersized with middling arm length and play strength … posted below-average athletic testing numbers during the pre-draft process … first step is solid but not exceptional … stiff punches can rock him off his rush path … speed-to-power conversions will meet quick resistance against pros … not going to outphysical NFL offensive tackles with his hands … average base strength and can be locked up or moved by drive blocks … reactive athleticism for sudden direction change is lacking … all of his experience has come against Division II competition.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Ferris State, Murphy lined up as an edge rusher in defensive coordinator Ryan Hodges’ attacking scheme. A five-sport athlete in high school, he led Ferris State to back-to-back Division II national titles the last two seasons and had a record-breaking senior year, leading the NCAA in tackles for loss (39.0) and sacks (25.5). The latter number broke Terrell Suggs’ all-divisions single-season NCAA sack record. A light-framed and peppy rusher, Murphy uses natural dip to get underneath the reach of blockers and credits his ability to play close to the ground from wrestling most of his life. He needs to continue developing his strength and prove he can mix up his pass rush against higher-quality offensive linemen. Overall, Murphy is missing twitchy explosion and power in his pass rush, but he is slippery and instinctive with the backfield production that cannot be ignored (even if it did come against Division II competition). He is a draft-and-develop rotational pass rusher.

GRADE: 6th-7th Round

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

What he said:

Overview

An edge defender with adequate size and skill, Murphy will need to prove his gaudy production can translate into an opportunity to make plays on the professional level. He dominated Division II competition with stat lines that are inconceivable. However, his rush appeared to lack power and unpredictability when matched against better opponents during his week at the East-West Shrine Bowl. He plays with average explosiveness but a quality motor and could create buzz in the future if he can become a more diverse and skilled rusher.

Strengths

Posted an astounding 40 sacks with 60.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.

Charges toward the pocket with inside/out fakes to open the corner.

Swift, forceful chop can eliminate puncher’s outside hand.

Maintains step cadence to eventually find an edge.

Refuses to stall his motor when attacking the pocket.

Drives hands upward into leveraged strike to set the edge.

Weaknesses

Monster production came against Division II competition.

Needs to continue adding lean muscle to his frame.

Struggled to beat run-blocking tight ends at East-West Shrine Bowl.

Below-average knee bend in his rush.

Needs to develop and get to rush counters more quickly.

Would benefit from better marriage of hands and feet.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

What they said:

Evaluation:

Murphy took official measurements at the Shrine Bowl. He’s 6030 and weighs 254 lbs. He has ten-inch hands, 32 5/8-inch arms, and a 79 3/4-inch wingspan. At Ferris State, Murphy frequently took snaps in a stand up two-point stance but also has experience in a three-point stance. He took advantage of some snaps from wider alignments in the 7 and 9-tech positions while also receiving a steady diet of snaps in a traditional 5-tech role. Ferris State occasionally dropped Murphy into coverage as an inside linebacker or blitzed him from that alignment so he could ram into guards with a full head of steam. Those aren’t roles he’ll fulfill in the NFL. Murphy imposed his physical dominance on the NCAA Division II level during his two seasons with the Bulldogs. Many of the opponents he faced had no counter for his acceleration, closing burst, and power. A large portion of his wins came from hustle plays and out-athlete-ing the competition. However, Murphy still displays many desirable traits. He quickly accelerates into his rush and activates his hands early in the play. Murphy gets into and attacks the tackle’s chest, frequently converting speed to power on a bull rush or deploying a long arm move. He also uses a double-handed swipe, rip move, and spin move. His hands pack enough pop to stun linemen. Murphy showed flashes of reducing his surface area and attempting to dip under tackles at the peak of his rush. The Michigan native has strong leg drive and excellent closing speed as a backside run defender. His motor runs hot, and he’s relentless in pursuit. Murphy displays good balance to maintain his footing when cut low by blockers. Unfortunately, Murphy doesn’t have much real game tape against NFL-caliber competition. His arm length falls below the 33-inch threshold, and he possesses limited bend and short-area agility. The reigning Ted Hendricks Award winner has room to improve his pad level and time the snap better. Murphy was physically dominant at the Division II level, but he entered the pre-draft process with limited technical refinement. He lacks a deep bag of pass rush moves and counters. Attempting to win with acceleration and speed often led Murphy too far upfield and out of the play. Offensive linemen occasionally torqued him out of rushing lanes. Murphy doesn’t consistently set a hard edge against the run. Sometimes he collapses too far inside and opens outside rush lanes. Linemen had some success sealing him inside or outside on run plays. Murphy lacks the agility, awareness, and instincts to play off-ball linebacker in the NFL.

Grade:

6th Round

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

What they said:

Summary:

Caleb Murphy is a fluid edge rusher who is used as an off-ball linebacker at times. He shows a variety of moves off the edge but is unable to turn speed to power with below-average play strength. Murphy has average waist bend at the high side of his rush but struggles to get off blocks. He will always give maximum effort.

Strengths:

Fluid athlete who plays to the whistle

Average waist bend at the high side of his rush

Shows a rip around the edge, euro step and other moves

Weaknesses:

Below-average play strength

Struggles to get off blocks

Fails to turn speed to power

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Tennessee Titans announced that TVS will serve as Architect of Record (AOR) for their new stadium project. The Metropolitan Sports Authority approved the selection at its May 18 board meeting.

As AOR, TVS will be working in tandem with the design architect, MANICA, to lead the design team through the completion of the stadium design and through the administration of construction activity, the Titans said.

The award-winning architecture and interior design firm is headquartered in Atlanta and has experience in both sports and other large-scale venues, the Titans touted. They’ve also got experience working on major projects in the Nashville area, having served as AOR for the Music City Center, and has NFL venue experience through work on Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“As a proud Tennessee native, I am beyond excited to be a part of the team that will bring this transformational new stadium to the residents of Tennessee,” said TVS Principal, Rob O’Keefe. “This project will usher in a new era for Titans fans and residents of the broader region as a premier destination for sports, entertainment, and impactful community events year-round.”

TVS will be delivering the construction documents that will be used to construct the stadium and will hold all contracts with certified subconsultants necessary to complete the full stadium design, according to the Titans. They will also provide oversight during the construction administration phase to ensure all materials and construction are being utilized correctly and per specification and design.

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According to SSP Architects, “An Architect of Record (AOR) is the architecture firm that designs and prepares the construction documents for a new building project. If an architecture firm performed services for a project in civic architecture, the architecture firm’s name will appear on building permits and other public records for those specific commercial projects as the Architect of Record.”

Titans Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer Gil Beverly said they were impressed with TVS’ portfolio and are excited to welcome them to the project team.

“They bring a significant breadth of experience in large-scale venues and share our dedication to delivering a game-changing, high-character facility to Nashville,” Beverly said.

The Titans add that following the AOR selection, a request for proposals for the role of construction manager at risk (CMAR) is open on their procurement website.

“Companies interested in responding to the CMAR RFP need to submit their interest by May 26, and submit their full proposal by July 7. The procurement website also lists a number of design subconsultant roles currently available on the architectural and engineering team, and a form to record future interest as other roles and services are needed,” the Titans said.

Groundbreaking on the new stadium is slated to begin in early-to-mid 2024, following the 2023-24 NFL season. The facility is anticipated to open in 2027.

Previously, the Titans had said the stadium could be ready for the 2026 NFL season.

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