[FREE] Titans Roster Reset Before the Draft

Taking a deeper look at the Titans roster from top to bottom.

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Well, here we are, on the 11th of April in the year 2024.

Draft season is in full swing, fans are excited about the prospects of chaos in the top ten, and plenty of incoming players have some very intriguing stories that fans across the league have become pretty invested in.

However, despite all the talk about the draft and picks and blah blah blah, we’re gonna ignore that and take it pretty easy today.

And by easy, I mean looking over the Titans’ roster and evaluating the state of each position, where improvements need to be made, and if the Titans can/need to address these positions by way of the draft.

So I’ll quit my waffling for right now and get into the juicy stuff.

You know, the stuff I hope you came here to read.

Quarterback

Starter: Will Levis

Others: Mason Rudolph, Malik Willis

We know the deal here, with Will Levis solely positioned as the starter, and Mason Rudolph joining Malik Willis to round out the secondary and tertiary spots on the current projected depth chart.

Big time year for Levis is incoming, as his play this year could really determine whether the Titans will be looking for a new quarterback option in 2025. It’s a lot of pressure yes, but with the way the Titans have spent money this off-season — and the way they’re going to use their remaining resources in the draft — Levis has to show them something concrete or doubts will begin to rise.

As for Rudolph, it’s an encouraging backup quarterback signing, as he showed he could still step in and keep an offense competitive during the tail end of 2023. You only hope he doesn’t have to come in at any point, but that’s what insurance policies are for, right?

Willis is on the outside looking in, potentially even for a roster spot depending on if the Titans’ new staff wants to keep three quarterbacks and if Willis shows that he isn’t…well…bad during camp and the preseason.

So stay tuned!

Running Back

Starters: Tyjae Spears/Tony Pollard

Others: Julius Chestnut, Hassan Haskins

Pollard and Spears should create one of the more interesting running back duos in the league. Both are shrewd between the tackles, both can make people miss outside the numbers, and both are reliable pass catching options out of the backfield.

Geez, if both can do the same thing, who do you even start?

That’s the million dollar question right now. The best guess is that both will share snaps, with the hotter hand getting the dominant portion depending on the game.

Which is a development I’m really looking forward to witnessing this season.

Chestnut and Haskins will likely battle it out for a potential third running back spot/special teams spot. It really just depends on how Ran Carthon and Brian Callahan want to set up their roster.

Wide Receiver

Starters: DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Treylon Burks/Kyle Phillips

Others: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Mason Kinsey, Colton Dowell, Kearis Jackson, Tre’Shaun Harrison, etc.

The two boundary receiver spots are set, with Hopkins and Ridley taking up the spotlight there.

The real question is the slot spot and who steps up to take command of it. The easiest answer previously was Treylon Burks, since his experience as a slot guy in college could help jumpstart his otherwise disappointing career so far.

But during a presser yesterday, Brian Callahan mentioned the team needs to find a guy to step up to take the spot, however he didn’t mention Burks as one of the candidates.

Overthinking a measly comment? Maybe, but maybe we also got a hint as to how the new staff views Burks. Maybe as a boundary receiver solely?

Again, who knows.

That’s why it’s fun to speculate.

Aside from that, the Titans really need to find some more depth in the draft. There’s still heavy unease regarding what the Titans do at 7, but a receiver could be on the cards here.

Hell, it will be on the cards, it just depends on where the team will take one.

Tight End

Starter: Chig Okonkwo

Others: Josh Whyle, Thomas Odukoya

Okonkwo will remain the starter, but he needs to be better than last season, one in which drops became an unnecessary yet big part of his game.

His skill set is very valuable, but it can only be used properly if he can drop the mental mistakes and put it all together on the field.

Whyle could remain the backup, with Odukoya mayyyyybe sticking on as a blocking piece.

Either way, Callahan mentioned the need for more tight ends in his presser yesterday, so this group will get another face at least before OTA’s and training camp begin.

Offensive Line

Starters: Peter Skoronski, Lloyd Cushenberry, Daniel Brunskill, Nicholas Petit-Fere

Others: Jaelyn Duncan, Dillon Radunz, Saahdiq Charles, John Ojukwu, Andrew Rupcich, etc.

Notice there’s only four starters listed.

It’s because the Titans’ current starting left tackle isn’t on this roster. Or better yet, it just can’t be on this roster.

The team did everything to find a left tackle that could simply do their job in 2023, but to no avail. So that’s why the team is expected to draft a suitable tackle to pair up with Peter Skoronski on the left side of the offensive line.

Maybe they do that at 7 — which is what I think they should do, don’t sue me — or maybe they wait until 38. Whatever they do, left tackle needs to be addressed.

You can’t put this off, especially with the Texans and Jags loading up with talented defensive fronts.

Defensive Line

Starters: Jeffery Simmons, Sebastian Joseph-Day

Others: TK McLendon Jr, Shakel Brown, Keondre Coburn, etc.

Outside of Jeffery Simmons and maybe Sebastian Joseph-Day, there’s absolutely zero depth in this group.

I really mean it, there’s not a single ounce of optimism depth wise on this roster on the defensive line right now. But I sort of expected it to play out this way, since the Titans have more pressing needs at the moment, limited draft capital, and weren’t able to bring in quality pieces at a price that made sense with their current situation.

It isn’t ideal, but it’s something the team just has to live with right now.

I honestly find it hard for them to address the issue in the draft, at least finding an impact player to inject some talent into this group, since again, they have more pressing needs.

But they’ll be active in finding more bodies, since defensive line play is one of the more important facets this team could stand to have moving forward.

Outside Linebacker

Starter: Harold Landry

Others: Arden Key, Rashad Weaver, Caleb Murphy, Rashad Weaver

Harold Landry is locked in as a starter, but the other spot remains up for grabs.

Why? Especially when Arden Key is literally sitting right there?

Well, because it seems like Callahan himself doesn’t really view Key as a starting edge rusher, at least according to the comments he made at the owners meetings in March.

"I think good, I think with Harold (Landry) we've got a guy with proven ability to rush," Callahan said. "I think Arden (Key) is a proven situational rusher. I think he played really well last year.

Quote via TitansOnline.com

I wrote about how the team has a bit of an edge problem a few weeks ago and the problem remains one till this point in time. If the team trades down and acquires some extra picks, I could really see them addressing this spot in the second round and adding another body or two before camp begins.

If they can do that, then I’d say that’s a good start…for now.

Inside Linebacker

Starter: Kenneth Murray Jr.

Others: Otis Reese, Chance Campbell, Jack Gibbens, Luke Gifford, etc.

Good lord man, where do we even begin?

The only projected starter right now is Kenneth Murray, who played like a chicken with their head cut off more times than not during his time with the Chargers.

Everything else is just bleh, at least on the surface.

Otis Reese showed some flashes in 2023, but he’s still young and quite frankly needs to show a loooot more for me to consider even giving him a respectable amount of snaps. Jack Gibbens is slow and athleticism kills his instinctual ability.

After that, it’s just more and more bleh.

Which is why the Titans could be interested in addressing this spot at 38.

But that’ll be a tough call, depending on how the Titans’ plans at 7 unravel. It’s one of those wait and see scenarios to sum it up.

Corner

Starters: L’Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie, Roger McCreary

Others: Eric Garror, Tre Avery, Caleb Farley, etc.

Corner looks set for the first time in a long time.

Sneed, Awuzie, and McCreary will make up the base corner group, with McCreary staying inside at his preferred nickel spot, Sneed and Awuzie roaming the boundary spots.

The only question here is depth, as behind these three looks a little shaky with the often burnt Tre Avery and Eric Garror still holding down spots.

Then there’s still Caleb Farley, who’s just there at the moment.

Maybe some lingering questions regarding Sneed and his knee management, but we won’t know about that “problem” until it potentially becomes one, so there’s no use worrying about it right now.

But it’s one to keep an eye on, at least when the season comes around and the games are being played.

Safety

Starters: Amani Hooker, Elijah Molden

Others: Matthew Jackson, etc.

Geez, lots of questions defensively huh?

Apart from Amani Hooker, there isn’t a lot to be excited about regarding the Titans’ safety group. Elijah Molden had some moments of good play last season, but he isn’t the profile you need at the other safety spot right now.

Hooker is a roaming guy with ball skills, but he can play a lot closer to the LOS and make things happen in coverage in that 10-12 yard area.

That leaves a center fielder, at least in theory.

We don’t know how Dennard Wilson wants his safeties to play, so this is another one of those wait and see moments. But it’s still clear that the team needs another safety, as the quality there right now — outside of Hooker — leaves much to be desired for.

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