What is the dream scenario for the Tennessee Titans UDFA class.
By my count, the Tennessee Titans have added 19 UDFAs to the roster once you add tryout guys and take away some guys who ended up cut or on IR.
These players are important because there is a good chance that at least one or two of them make the opening roster. So, what is the best case scenario?
I’m not calling for the Hall of Fame for any of these players, but what if one of them hits? What if one of them turns into the next Phillip Lindsay, Keelan Cole, Taysom Hill, or Robby Anderson?
If any of these players could hit, which one would give the Titans a piece that they are missing to help this team take the next step.
My educated guess on the most reasonable player that could hit and help this team take the next step: Alex Barnes RB, Kansas State.
KC Kingdom’s own Leigh Oleszczak wrote a little bit about Barnes right after the draft here. In her words:
"“Here was a guy who rushed for 1,355 yards last season to go along with 12 touchdowns and went for over 100 yards in seven games in 2018. In other words, Barnes at times carried the KSU offense and him not landing with an NFL team during the actual draft was a bit odd.”"
She is right, it is really strange that he went undrafted. Barnes was 10th in the NCAA in rushing yards last year, and every other back in the 2019 NFL Draft above him was drafted:
2nd: Darrell Henderson RB, Memphis (3rd round)
3rd: Trayveon Williams RB, Texas A&M (6th round)
6th: Benny Snell RB, Kentucky (4th round)
8th: Alexander Mattison RB, Boise State (3rd round)
So his productivity isn’t in question, and his athleticism shouldn’t be either. Look at his web on Mockdraftable. Sure, maybe his 40-yard dash and his 60-yard shuttle aren’t the best, but everything else is above average with his bench, vertical jump, broad jump, and short shuttle all looking outstanding.
He is a talented back with production and athleticism who played vs real competition at the college level. If he hits, it would give the Titans a running back who could not only start long term but someone who could immediately contribute.
I know the offseason is full of optimism, but for the first half of last season the Titans running game was terrible despite getting several opportunities to work themselves out of a slump.
Maybe that was blocking and maybe that was inconsistency in the backfield, either way it really hurt this team. If the coaches feel that Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis are players who need yards created for them and not players that create there own yards, it is going to be really hard for me to see them on the roster in 2020.
Short term, that should mean that the Titans have two backs competing for a contract in 2020 so if you add in a third player like Barnes to push everyone even harder it could make the run game even better.
As a result, the Titans can use Lewis correctly and sparingly, Henry can stay fresh for his late game home runs, and Barnes can be a guy who can do a little bit of both while hanging on special teams.
My heart says that having an EDGE or a WR from the UDFA class step up would be the best case scenario, but my head is telling me that the Titans will probably be too run heavy this year…again…
So, if that is true then they need another back who can come in and get what more than what is blocked up. Barnes has the athletic profile and the production against power-5 defenses to be that player if he hits.