What Tennessee Titans cuts told us about each position
By Will Lomas
Defensive back
What they told us: Athleticism and versatility are at an all-time high unless you can also be a coach on the field.
Tye Smith was someone that I thought was nearly a guarantee to make the roster as a backup cornerback. However, the Titans preferred to go with Johnathan Joseph because of his knowledge of the playbook, familiarities with coaches and his friendship with Jadeveon Clowney.
What was most surprising though is that they went with the athleticism of Chris Jackson over any of the other cornerbacks who probably provided a higher floor at the position. I have said for a while that after your top-four cornerbacks, you either need a special teams ace (if you don’t have that at other positions) or someone with high upside.
Jackson is a great athlete with great college production who profiles like other hybrid defenders like Dane Cruikshank and Amani Hooker as someone who can play any defensive back position if asked to do so.
Outside of those two, the group is chalk, although Joshua Kalu seems to have earned eternal praise from the coaching staff because of his blocked kick against the Kansas City Chiefs and I completely understand and agree with that.