Sometimes the biggest takeaways from the preseason come from the interviews and quotes that happen on the sidelines and in the broadcasting booth. That might be the case for the Tennessee Titans thanks to some interesting comments made by general manager Mike Borgonzi during the Week 2 preseason victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
For those who weren't able to catch the broadcast, Borgonzi was talking to Charles Davis and Paul Bermeister, and the conversation shifted to the state of the roster. As the three bantered back and forth, the GM brought up just how powerful a tool the waiver wire can be for a team like the Titans.
More than a decade ago, Borgonzi was working his way up through the ranks of the Kansas City Chiefs. When they had top priority on the waiver wire, they made seven claims after cut-down day. The Titans will enter next week with the No. 1 priority on the waiver wire after cut-down day.
Titans GM will make multiple waiver claims after Tuesday's roster cut-down day
Borgonzi didn't say it was a foregone conclusion that the Titans would make that many claims, but when you analyze the roster and where the team needs to improve their depth, it makes sense. The Titans could make anywhere from three to seven waiver wire claims.
The Titans have been mentioned as a team looking for EDGE and cornerback help in free agency before the season starts. Backup quarterback could have been thrown in there as well, but the Titans signed Trevor Siemian recently, and the team might be fine with him or Brandon Allen winning that job.
You could make a compelling argument for the Titans claiming players at QB, EDGE, CB, LB, OT, DT, and TE. The roster remains in the early stages of a rebuild. A lack of depth has been evident throughout the preseason.
It might be easier to discuss the positions the Titans should feel confident in their depth. Wide receiver could use more top-end talent, but the depth isn't an issue. Safety, interior offensive line, and running back feel good from top to bottom.
A lot of the team's decisions will be based on the talent available, but it is safe to say that fans shouldn't get attached to the players that survive initial cuts. There is more change coming to the roster. Easton Freeze said this, and it checks out with everything we have seen and heard during the preseason.
"The ultimate point here is that you shouldn’t put too much weight into the initial 53. There will absolutely be some guys “kept” who are just placeholders for claims and signings. There’s also a decent chance some guys we’re surprised to see cut end up rejoining the roster before opening day. They’re going to fiddle with it for a couple of days. Don’t get totally swept up in the initial overreactions until we see how it looks once opening day rolls around."
No one knows quite what that will look like, but it is going to be chaotic, interesting, and it will most likely provide a nice boost to the team's desperately thin depth.