The Tennessee Titans have made additions to their wide receiver room all throughout the offseason, most notably by drafting Carnell Tate fourth overall. They have also generated some buzz from a move they made after the draft -- signing undrafted free agent Tyren Montgomery.
The signing of Montgomery is a pure upside move, as he has not played football for very long, but was extremely productive in the few short years he played at the lower college levels. Fans are inevitably going to fall in love with his potential, but they might want to be realistic about his chances of making the roster.
This is especially because of the guys Montgomery will be battling with, one of whom has been a training camp standout for the past two years. Bryce Oliver has officially been put on notice given the moves at receiver this offseason, but fans and media would be making a very big mistake to write him off moving forward.
Tennessee Titans still value Bryce Oliver and will give him a chance to re-claim roster spot
Oliver officially jumped onto the scene during training camp in 2024, and right from then, it was evident he had serious potential. He made plays all throughout the preseason, earning himself a roster spot, and he even made some plays in the regular season once he earned more playing time.
Things looked even more promising for Oliver during the 2025 preseason, as he had solidified himself as a virtual roster lock by the start of August. Unfortunately, a knee injury limited him to just three games in the regular season and he did not get a chance to build on a strong training camp showing.
Now, Oliver essentially finds himself back at square one, firmly on the roster bubble, as he will have to re-prove everything he showed to be capable of since 2024. That being said, earning a roster spot in 2026 is still a very attainable goal for him and as of now, it is reasonable to think the final spot is his to lose.
For one thing, the Titans used their exclusive rights tender on Oliver in March, keeping him from being free to negotiate a new contract with other teams. If they thought a player like him was simply replaceable, they would have let him walk, but they did not, showing they still think he can provide legitimate value.
Secondly, an area where we know Oliver has an advantage over his competition is on special teams. In addition to making plays during camp and the preseason, he has excelled as a gunner and blocker, something that we have no idea if a guy like Montgomery can learn.
As much as everyone wants the players who can make the exciting plays on offense, prioritizing special teams is vital, especially at the bottom of the roster.
It is oftentimes more responsible to keep a guy who does not do much on offense but makes a huge difference on special teams, instead of keeping a guy who does not do much on offense or special teams. Brian Callahan learned that lesson the hard way. John "Bones" Fassel already knows it.
Let's also be careful to not get too carried away with the Montgomery hype, because guys like him oftentimes fizzle out as training camp progresses. Titans fans especially should know this after the Xavier Restrepo experience, who saw his hype lessen over time and did not make the roster, despite being Cam Ward's teammate and friend.
The Titans and their fans are rightfully eager to see what they have in Montgomery, but in terms of NFL roster building practices, it is hard not to argue that Oliver should not get a spot instead, given what we know right now.
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