Tennessee Titans 53-man roster projection following preseason Week 2

Brian Callahan announced that the Tennessee Titans starters will play roughly three drives in the final game of the preseason on Sunday.

That means that there's approximately half of a preseason game left for fringe roster players to improve their chances of making the team.

For the most part, the hay is in the barn and we have a good idea of about 50 players that are likely to make the roster. The other three spots are in flux and have as much to do with roster composition as it does with the talent of the player.

Having said that, every year there are some players cut that shock everyone and a player or two that make the roster that leaves fans scratching their heads. Here's our latest 53-man roster projection.

Offense

Quarterbacks (2)

- Will Levis
- Mason Rudolph

Malik Willis has had ups and downs this offseason and for a week it seemed like he might make a push to make this roster. Anything could happen, and the Titans could elect to keep three quarterbacks, but I just don't think that Brian Callahan and his staff look at Willis and see a guy that they couldn't replace quickly.

Running Backs (3)

-Tony Pollard
-Tyjae Spears
-Hassan Haskins

The first two are a given, but Haskins wins the job over Julius Chestnut because he is a more proven player on special teams.

There is a lot of conversation about this offense running the ball more than originally anticipated, but I have a hard time believing that will actually happen. When the Titans have their starting pass-catchers on the field, this team is going to be much more talented through the air than they are on the ground, and a big part of that is because Pollard and Spears are going to be quality targets in the passing game.

Wide Receiver (6)

-Calvin Ridley
-DeAndre Hopkins
-Tyler Boyd
-Treylon Burks
-Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
-Jha'Quan Jackson

Mason Kinsey is a nice story, but when you compare him to other NFL receivers, I don't think he does anything at an above-average level. He and Kearis Jackson needed to earn a roster spot because of what they can do on special teams, but it looks like Jha'Quan Jackson can be all of that and then some for the Titans.

Kearis Jackson and Kinsey are prime candidates for the practice squad and could potentially be called up if the Titans wanted to use one of them as a returner to start integrating Jha'Quan Jackson into the offense more.

Tight End (4)

-Josh Whyle
-Chig Okonkwo
-Nick Vannett
-David Martin-Robinson

Martin-Robinson has been on the rise throughout camp, and he just feels like a guy that the coaching staff likes and wants to find ways to use in the passing game. Vannett makes the roster on veteran experience alone. Martin-Robinson is more deserving if the Titans keep just three.

Offensive Tackle (4)

-J.C. Latham
-Nicholas Petit-Frere
-Geron Christian
-Jaylen Duncan

This is the group I feel the least confident about. Based purely on what they have shown on the field, Latham and Petit-Frere are the only guys who look like NFL players.

None of the backup tackles have shined. Christian has familiarity with Bill Callahan, and the Titans still have a little something invested in Duncan as a sophomore sixth-round pick. This is a position where the Titans shouldn't be afraid to churn the roster in an attempt to get better.

Interior Offensive Linemen (5)

-Peter Skoronski
-Lloyd Cushenberry
-Dillon Radunz
-Daniel Brunskill
-Andrew Rupcich

Nothing too surprising here. For a while, it seemed like Brunskill was in a free fall, but he has found his footing and has consistently been one of the better linemen during the preseason games. If the Titans fall out of love with Rupcich before the season starts, it might be a good idea to keep Corey Levin instead and let Brunskill get more reps as a backup right guard.

Total offensive players: 24

Defense/Special Teams

Defensive Linemen (7)

-Jeffery Simmons
-T'Vondre Sweat
-Sebastian Joseph-Day
-Keondre Coburn
-T.K. McLendon Jr.
-Quinton Bohanna
-Isaiah Iton

This is a group where depth is necessary because the Titans could use a lot of three-man defensive line packages this year. If that doesn't happen, this might be one too many players, and you could pick any of the bottom three to remove because they 're all very similar in terms of talent.

EDGE (4)

-Harold Landry
-Arden Key
-Rashad Weaver
-Jaylen Harrell

The Titans are going to blitz early and often, and I think that means that EDGE depth isn't quite as important as everyone thinks it is. Their pressure is going to come from the second and third levels as often as it comes from the EDGEs.

Both Weaver and Harrell have played a ton of snaps in the preseason in order to get them ready to rotate, but outside of those two, no one stands out in terms of talent or preseason usage.

Off-ball Linebackers (5*)

-Kenneth Murray
-Jack Gibbens
-Chance Campbell
-Otis Reese IV
-James Williams
*Cedric Gray

With Cedric Gray's injury, it wouldn't surprise me if the Titans put him on I.R., the only question is whether they do it before cut-down day or if they get him on the roster first so that they can recall him from I.R. down the road.

If he makes the team outright, I think the Titans might have to roll the dice on cutting Reese IV and putting him on the practice squad.

Cornerback (5)

-L'Jarius Sneed
-Chidobe Awuzie
-Roger McCreary
-Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
-Gabe Jeudy-Lally

The last cornerback spot comes down to Tre Avery vs Jeudy-Lally, but Avery has been thoroughly unimpressive in the preseason and this coaching staff doesn't have the same relationship with him that the last coaching staff did.

Safety (5*)

-Amani Hooker
-Quandre Diggs
-Jamal Adams
-Elijah Molden
*Matthew Jackson

If the Titans elect to keep all six linebackers heading into the season before putting Gray on I.R., Jackson is a guy who could be cut and brought back after Gray is moved.

Long Snapper, Kicker, and Punter (3)

-Morgan Cox
-Nick Folk
-Ryan Stonehouse

Brayden Narveson is a fun story, but I don't think he will make the roster.

Total defensive and special teams players: 29