Undrafted rookie turning up heat on Titans veteran at OTAs

Offensive tackle has continued to be a deeply rooted blight on the Tennessee Titans’ roster over the course of recent seasons. The Titans have devoted significant resources during the past five years (to no avail) in an attempt to fix the constant volatility at the tackle position. 

In their most recent move, Tennessee signed former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. to a four-year, $82 million dollar deal in free agency. In addition to this, the coaching staff opted to move JC Latham back to his collegiate position of right tackle, keeping Moore on his natural left side.

While this move is poised to solve both starting tackle slots, Tennessee’s depth remains worryingly thin. After neglecting the opportunity to add to the position via the 2025 NFL Draft, the Titans acquired former Florida offensive tackle Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson as an undrafted free agent.

Much like a few other Titans UDFAs, Crenshaw-Dickson spent a majority of the pre-draft process being discussed as a draftable prospect before experiencing a dramatic fall on draft day. 

Assessing Tennesee's tackle depth

While the Titans added a potential swing tackle candidate in Blake Hance via free agency, his most recent playing time was on the interior. That leaves returning players Jaelyn Duncan and John Ojukwu as the remaining two bodies on the depth chart (both of whom had less than ideal outings in 2024).

Tennessee’s dangerously barren offensive tackle room leaves UDFAs such as Crenshaw-Dickson with one of, if not the easiest path to making the final 53-man roster.

Why Crenshaw-Dickson slipped through the cracks of the NFL Draft

In an eerily similar situation to fellow Titans UDFA Xavier Restrepo, Crenshaw-Dickson suffered from a disastrous set of athletic testing numbers. Even with him producing solid tape against a daunting schedule of top-end talent across the 2024 season, the league often regards athleticism above all (especially at offensive tackle).

Measuring in at 6-foot-7 and 316 pounds, Crenshaw-Dickson ran a brutal 5.33-second 40-yard dash (with a 1.87 10-yard split). Paired with a lackluster three-cone, broad jump and vertical jump, his draft stock tanked. 

What Crenshaw-Dickson adds to the tackle room

Despite these dramatically disappointing testing numbers, Crenshaw-Dickson’s film tells a different story. The agility testing would indicate an offensive tackle with range issues, but he regularly held his own against a plethora of athletic speed rushers.

In Crenshaw-Dickson's last season at Florida, he ran a gauntlet of NFL level pass rushers including James Pearce Jr., Joshua Josephs, Mykel Williams, Saivion Jones, Bradyn Swinson, Jared Ivy and Princely Umanmielen, and came out relatively unscathed. 

What Crenshaw-Dickson lacks in top-end athleticism, he makes up for in power. The combination of play strength, his ability to win the leverage battle (even at 6-foot-7) and his crushing power on down blocks make him a force in the run game. 

As a pass blocker, Crenshaw-Dickson flashes technically advanced hand usage and an impressive anchor. While his pocket range and foot speed are not as much of an issue as his testing would indicate, he is still a limited athlete and can give up the corner to NFL caliber speed. Even though his athleticism may cap his ceiling, he has a clear path to making the Titans’ 53-man roster, filling the role for a much-needed swing tackle behind Moore Jr. and Latham.

Continuing their theme of taking chances on athletically limited UDFAs, Tennessee’s new front office aims to take low-risk, high-reward shots on players of a high pre-draft pedigree.