Tennessee Titans: Biggest takeaways from unofficial depth chart

Rashaan Evans has arrived

While I understand linebacker Rashaan Evans was likely set to play the majority of the snaps over Wesley Woodyard and be the starter anyway, I expected to see the veteran linebacker ahead of the second-year pro on paper for now.

Evans is still in a prove-it kind of situation as he enters his sophomore campaign, and my thought was he’d have to wait until training camp was over before he was officially on paper as a starter.

That must mean Evans is having the kind of camp that makes it impossible to ignore his concrete position as this team’s starter on the inside. It’s further evidence that Evans is taking steps in the right direction and is set to have a breakout season for the Titans.

This is nothing to be ashamed of on Woodyard’s part, however. The 33-year-old led the team in tackles last season and would be a starter on probably 99 percent of the teams in this league, but the Titans have such depth at the position that he’s relegated to a rotational role in 2019.

Along with linebacker Jayon Brown, the Titans could have an elite pairing on the inside this season. Brown is a sensational linebacker in coverage, and Evans has flashed the chops to be a great run-stopper.

Add in the fact that Evans should be able to get to the quarterback and you have a special situation at inside linebacker this upcoming season. Expect to see Evans play some on the outside, as well, where he can really show his ability to get to the quarterback.