Minicamp is over, OTAs are almost complete and the Tennessee Titans are just a few days away from embarking on their summer hiatus. So before the team reconvenes in July for training camp, let's take another swing at projecting what the 53-man roster will look like come September.
The Titans' roster is hardly set in stone. Four of the 53 players who made the team to start 2023 weren't added until July or August. Safety, running back and outside linebacker are among the positions where finding extra depth feels realistic.
But for now, based on the 89 players on the offseason roster, here is The Tennessean's projection for which 53 will make the team out of camp.
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Quarterbacks (3): Will Levis, Mason Rudolph, Malik Willis
It's plausible that the Titans could add another passer for camp to compete with Willis. But until that happens, expect all three quarterbacks to stick around and remain on the active roster.
Running backs (3): Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Hassan Haskins
Undrafted free agent backs Jabari Small and Dillon Johnson haven't shown enough yet in OTAs to unseat Haskins for a third running back spot. They should be in the mix along with veteran Julius Chestnut for practice squad spots, but this is the offensive position group with the least certain depth outside of the two starters.
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Wide receivers (6): DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Jha'Quan Jackson
Expect Colton Dowell to start the year on the physically unable to perform list, which makes the final few spots a tight competition between Westbrook-Ikhine, Jackson, Kyle Philips, Kearis Jackson and Mason Kinsey. Ultimately, Jackson's upside and Westbrook-Ikhine's experience are the deciding factors.
Tight ends (3): Chig Okonkwo, Josh Whyle, Nick Vannett
Maybe this is the year Thomas Odukoya makes the jump from practice squad to active roster. But short of that sort of development in training camp, these are the three names to consider.
Offensive line (9): JC Latham, Peter Skoronski, Lloyd Cushenberry III, Saahdiq Charles, Daniel Brunskill, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Dillon Radunz, Leroy Watson, Jaelyn Duncan
There's a lot more depth here than the Titans have had the past two years. John Ojukwu could very easily beat out Radunz, Duncan or Watson for the ninth spot, or the Titans could keep 10 linemen. Any way you slice it, this group is a notable improvement over 2023.
Interior defensive line (5): Jeffery Simmons, T'Vondre Sweat, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Keondre Coburn, Marlon Davidson
Simmons is the only carryover from the opening week roster of 2023, but the Titans have reloaded with a number of big, versatile, powerful space eaters.
Outside linebackers (4): Harold Landry III, Arden Key, Rashad Weaver, Jaylen Harrell
Harrell, the rookie seventh-round pick, gets the nod over returners like Caleb Murphy and Thomas Rush. This is certainly a position where it would make sense for the Titans to add another veteran in July or August.
Inside linebackers (6): Kenneth Murray II, Jack Gibbens, Cedric Gray, Chance Campbell, Luke Gifford, James Williams
Gifford and Campbell make the squad by virtue of their skills on special teams. Otis Reese IV is on the fringe with those guys; he proved last year he's a resource. After Murray, Gibbens and Gray, no one feels like a lock yet.
Cornerbacks (8): L'Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie, Roger McCreary, Tre Avery, Eric Garror, Caleb Farley, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Gabe Jeudy-Lally
Undrafted rookie Gabe Jeudy-Lally has positioned himself to make the roster better than any other undrafted free agent. Farley's journey back to the active roster will be a long one and is no guarantee, but for now the Titans bet on his talent, and save the money on his contract by not waiving the former first-round pick.
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Safeties (3): Amani Hooker, Elijah Molden, Mike Brown
Another spot where depth concerns keep the room a little bit light. Adding another body here can change the numbers at safety and corner. For now, though, the three holdovers from last year's squad stick around.
Special teams (3): Nick Folk, Ty Zentner, Morgan Cox
In the event punter Ryan Stonehouse can't make his way back from injury in time for the start of the season, Folk, Zentner and Cox are the trio that sticks around.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick atnsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
