The undefeated (in the preseason) Tennessee Titans finished strong with a shootout win against the New Orleans Saints, but there is no time to celebrate.
Roster cuts are looming and each team has to cut nearly half of their roster (from 90 players to 53). The cuts might not stop there, especially for a team like the Titans.
For the first few months of the season, the Titans will have the seventh-highest priority in the waiver wire because they had the seventh pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. That is a fairly high spot and the Titans will be in a good position to poach talented players that other teams are forced to cut.
Without knowing which players are available, it is hard to pinpoint exactly who the Titans might look at, but there is an obvious position group they should target: the defensive line.
When you look at the Titans' front, there are blue-chip players and young guys with high upside. Jeffery Simmons and Harold Landry stand out above the rest. Arden Key is a serviceable starter in an aggressive defense, and rookie T'Vondre Sweat has fans very optimistic about how he finished the preseason.
Behind them, Keondre Coburn has been a standout performer, and rookie Jaylen Harrell looks like he is ready for his chance against NFL starters.
That is as good as fans could have hoped for after Sweat's slow start, and after Key was nearly suspended for the first six games of the season. However, there is still room to get better and there are three defensive linemen who may hit the waiver wire that caught our attention throughout the preseason.
1. Jamie Sheriff, EDGE
Despite being one of the Seattle Seahawks' most active players and the preseason leader in sacks, Jamie Sheriff might not make the opening-day roster for the team. After his final preseason game, head coach Mike McDonald said,
"He’s a guy that really stood out during the rookie tryout...Just kind of the message with all the guys; if there’s not a spot for you right now, we’re still invested in your growth and development. To his credit, he didn’t skip a beat since he’s been here. He should be proud of the way he played.”
That sounds like someone the Seahawks want to stash on the practice squad for a year and maybe call up during the season. After seeing him for a week in joint practices, I have a sneaking suspicion that the Titans might be interested in someone who made life hard for them.
2. Leonard Taylor III, DT
Coming out of high school, current Titans linebacker James Williams was a five-star safety in the 2021 recruiting class. After committing to Miami, he never developed into a player whose tape matched his talent, but after getting with the Titans coaching staff he looks like a seventh-round gem.
Do you know who else was a five-star defender in Miami's 2021 recruiting class who never developed into a player whose tape matched his talent? Leonard Taylor III.
Taylor was a UDFA for the New York Jets, and his 2.5 sacks led all defensive tackles in the preseason.
While the Titans have plenty of big, pocket-pushing defensive tackles, they could use another penetrating player like Taylor if he becomes available.
3. Thomas Booker IV, DT
In terms of roles, Thomas Booker IV is similar to what Taylor would bring to the Titans defense. Another guy who can do a little bit of everything, or who could be the third defensive lineman if the Titans want to use a five-man front.
Booker was a fifth-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2022, but they released him after the 2023 preseason. Booker then signed on to the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad. There, he was coached by new Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, which could make him attractive to the Titans if he is released.