With Training Camp fast approaching, it’s time to break down the Titan’s roster position-by-position and see where the team currently stands.
The Titans have not yet announced when they will begin training camp, but the Buccaneers have recently set July 21st as their start date. In 2019, the Titans and Bucs started training camp on the same day, so I would look for the Titans to get started around July 21st as well.
What this means is that the Titans have about a month waiting period before their season kicks off. The roster is probably just about set, but i’m still watching what Jadeveon Clowney does.
Other than maybe a Clowney signing, I don’t expect any other big additions before the season. So that means that after a free agency period that consisted of losing a blue-chip tackle in Jack Conklin and veteran starters in Logan Ryan, Jurrell Casey, it was down to the draft to make the biggest impact on the roster.
With that being said, let’s take a look at where the roster currently stands. I am going to go position-by-position, assigning each group a grade A-through-F.
Note some groups might have an A+ starter, but almost no depth behind them, thus negatively impacting the grade. This is a grade as the position as a whole and not player by player because that would get very monotonous and very few of you want to know whether Khari Blasingame is better than Jamil Douglas (he is though).
Quarterback
-Ryan Tannehill
-Logan Woodside
-Cole McDonald
Tannehill inked a massive extension and is undoubtedly the starter. The Titans should be good as long as Tannehill is healthy, but he hasn’t played a full 16 games since 2015.
Thus, the Titans need a capable backup.
Currently, Logan Woodside is the backup, with rookie 7th-round pick Cole McDonald also contending for that spot. Woodside has shown flashes in the preseason but has yet to take a regular-season NFL snap.
McDonald is only 22 years old, and a rookie 7th-rounder from Hawaii. McDonald could have some potential, but clearly the Titans need a capable backup now.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Titans bring in a veteran backup. Woodside or McDonald could be the third-string, or possibly practice squad for a year. One reason why I say third-string is that with the recent roster expansions in the new CBA, teams are now much more likely to stack their rosters at the most important position in the NFL.
Tannehill is an above-average starter, but if he goes down, the team is in real trouble. The lack of depth here drags down the grade.
Grade: B-
Running Back
-Derrick Henry
-Darrynton Evans
-Dalyn Dawkins
-Senorise Perry
-Khari Blasingame
Well, having the NFL rushing champ certainly helps the grade here.
Also, the team parting with Dion Lewis and replacing him with rookie Darrynton Evans helps the grade. This may be the classic example of addition by subtraction.
Lewis was a colossal disappointment in Nashville, so when you hear people compare Lewis to Evans you need to know that is a stylistic comparison and not a projection on his production. I
Evans landed in a dream scenario here with the Titans because he can come into a pretty specific role immediately. He will spell Derrick Henry and also come on to the field on 3rd down if it is a clear passing down, but there is a difference from what he will do and what Lewis did last year.
Last year, teams knew that Lewis was not going to run the ball and if he was then he would be quickly stopped. Evans is just as capable of running the ball or catching the ball, making him much harder to plan against.
Behind Evans, assuming no other move is made, Dalyn Dawkins, Senorise Perry, Shaun Wilson, and Cameron Scarlett will battle it out for what is likely 1 or 2 spots.
Khari Blasingame should make the team as the fullback.
Grade: A
Tight End
-Jonnu Smith
-Anthony Firkser
-MyCole Pruitt
-Cole Herdman
Jonnu Smith took some leaps last year, and looks like he should be the TE of the future. It will be strange not seeing Delanie Walker on the field, but at this point, Jonnu shouldn’t be much of a downgrade, if at all.
Pruitt will make the team as a solid blocker, and Firkser is a good pass-catching option behind Smith.
Herdman could make the team as the 4th TE, but I expect this spot to go to Blasingame, who’s more of a FB/TE hybrid. Solid position group.
Grade: B
Wide Receiver
-AJ Brown
-Corey Davis
-Adam Humphries
-Kalif Raymond
-Cody Hollister
-Trevion Thompson
AJ Brown is a complete stud. Corey Davis has been a disappointment considering he was a top-5 pick, but he’s a solid secondary option at receiver. Adam Humphries is getting $9 million a year, so he needs to contribute more than the 37 catches he had last year. Kalif Raymond had flashes, and should make the team as the deep threat.
Behind Raymond, there’s a whole lot of nothing.
Tajae Sharpe left, and team brass did nothing to replace him. Unless Hollister, Thompson, or one of the UDFA’s shine, this group is rather shallow.
Take Brown away, and this is one of the weakest WR rooms in the league.
Grade: C-
Offensive Line
-Taylor Lewan
-Rodger Saffold
-Ben Jones
-Nate Davis
-Dennis Kelly
-Isaiah Wilson
-Jamil Douglas
The offensive line of the Titans will be a determining factor in how successful this team is in 2020.
This line is tailored to a power run approach, as they look to once again lead the way for Derrick Henry.
Lewan will not be missing the first four games of the season like he did last year, and that will go along way. Davis and Saffold should improve after another year in the fold, as they both improved as last season went on.
The interesting part here is right tackle. With Jack Conklin heading to Cleveland, the team will look to veteran swingman Dennis Kelly and rookie Isaiah Wilson to man the right side.
I expect Kelly to get the nod, at least at first, but I fully believe Wilson can be the RT of the future.
Expect the line to be much improved from last year, and build upon the strong showings toward the end of last season.
Grade: B+
Defensive Line
-Jeffery Simmons
-DaQuan Jones
-Jack Crawford
-Larrell Murchison
-Isaiah Mack
Similarly to Wide Receiver, this is a position group that has a potential Pro Bowler at the top, but paper-thin depth behind him.
Jones and Crawford profile as the other two starters next to Simmons, with rookie Murchison and former UDFA Isaiah Mack providing the depth.
This is a position the Titans desperately need more depth at. Perhaps the Titans could snatch Timmy Jernigan up, as his deal with the Texans quietly fell apart.
Grade: C-
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Outside Linebacker
-Harold Landry III
-Vic Beasley
-Kamalei Correa
-D’Andre Walker
-Reggie Gilbert
Another top-heavy position group. If the Titans finally put an end to the Clowney Saga, this would be one of the strongest position groups on the team.
Right now, however, too much is resting on the shoulders of Landry.
Beasley could have a bounce-back year, but I wish Landry had more help. Perhaps Walker can contribute, as he has yet to make his NFL debut after spending all of 2019 on Injured Reserve.
Grade: C-
Inside Linebacker
-Rashaan Evans
-Jayon Brown
-David Long Jr.
-Nick Dzubnar
It seems like Wesley Woodyard might be done, but honestly, it shouldn’t matter too much from a production standpoint.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better 1-2 punch at Inside ‘Backer than Evans and Brown.
Long Jr. produced when called upon last year, and seems more than capable of filling in.
Recent FA addition Dzubnar provides special-teams prowess and essentially takes over Daren Bates‘ role.
Grade: A+
Cornerback
-Adoree Jackson
-Malcolm Butler
-Kristian Fulton
-Johnathan Joseph
-Tye Smith
-Chris Jackson
This is a solid group.
Yes, Logan Ryan is gone, but unlike some, I actually think the combination of Fulton and Joseph should more than make up for the loss of Ryan.
The fifth CB on the roster should be Tye Smith, Chris Milton, or rookie 7th-rounder Chris Jackson. All three of those guys are good special-teamers, and can also fill in when needed.
I expect this to be an above-average cornerback group.
Grade: B
Safeties
-Kevin Byard
-Kenny Vaccaro
-Dane Cruikshank
-Amani Hooker
-Joshua Kalu
Possibly the most talented group on the team.
Byard is a top-5 safety on the roster, and Vaccaro is above-average in his own right.
Cruikshank and Hooker provide solid depth, along with their special-teams contributions.
Joshua Kalu provides versatility and can play corner or safety.
Similarly to Evans and Brown at ILB, the Titans have one of the best safety duos in the league in Byard and Vaccaro. The Titans’ secondary will be a force to be reckoned with.