With Tennessee Titans mandatory minicamp in the books, it’s time to take a look at another 53-man roster projection to see if anything has changed since the last time we did one prior to the three-day event.
And, as a matter of fact, we do have a few changes from our last iteration after what we saw at mandatory minicamp last week, with one coming on each side of the ball.
The victims of the new additions are defensive lineman Jayden Peevy and tight end Kevin Rader, both of whom made the cut in our previous projection.
Just to be clear: neither Rader nor Peevy did anything wrong to get booted and both could very well make the cut when it’s all said and done. There were simply a few players who stood out more in minicamp to take their spots.
One thing we’ll be keeping an eye on is the situation with DeAndre Hopkins, who the Titans met with on Sunday. Of course, his addition would boot someone from this projection.
Without further ado, our latest 53-man projection. New additions have an asterisk next to their name, and we’ve provided a write-up for those players and others where needed, as well as any related stories.
QB Ryan Tannehill
QB Malik Willis
QB Will Levis
RB Derrick Henry
RB Hassan Haskins
RB Tyjae Spears
RB Jonathan Ward*
If we’re basing this 53-man roster projection partly on what we saw at minicamp, Ward deserves some consideration after standing out during the three-day event in the eyes of Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt.
I’ve mentioned Ward in these observation pieces numerous times, because he keeps showing up.
I’m not totally convinced the Titans will carry a fourth back but Ward could find a spot as a special teamer. Also, he could temporarily take the spot of a player who starts the season on the PUP list, something Dillon Radunz is a candidate to do.
WR Treylon Burks
WR Kyle Philips
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
WR Chris Moore
WR Racey McMath
WR Colton Dowell
TE Chigoziem Okonkwo
TE Trevon Wesco
TE Josh Whyle
LT Andre Dillard
LG Peter Skoronski
C Aaron Brewer
RG Daniel Brunskill
RT Nicholas Petit-Frere
OG/C Corey Levin
OG/OT Jamarco Jones
OT Jaelyn Duncan
OT John Ojukwu
OG/OT Dillon Radunz (PUP - doesn't count toward 53)
After head coach Mike Vrabel stated that Radunz (torn ACL) wouldn’t be ready for the start of training camp, it only made me feel more confident in my prediction that he’ll start the season on the PUP list.
If so, Radunz will not count toward the initial 53-man group and will have to miss the first four games. That said, I don’t believe he’s anywhere near a lock to make this team when healthy.
DL Jeffery Simmons
DL Denico Autry
DL Teair Tart
DL Naquan Jones
DL Sam Okuayinonu
DL Jaleel Johnson*
The Titans inked Johnson last month and he managed to make a nice play on Day 2, per Wyatt:
Defensive lineman Jaleel Jackson, signed last month, provided pressure on one rush that likely would’ve resulted in a sack.
Now, that’s not to say one good play gets him a roster spot, but the Titans are lacking good depth options upfront, giving the veteran a solid chance to make the cut.
LB Azeez Al-Shaair
LB Monty Rice
LB Luke Gifford
LB Jack Gibbens
OLB Harold Landry
OLB Arden Key
OLB Rashad Weaver
OLB Caleb Murphy
CB Kristian Fulton
CB Roger McCreary
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
CB Tre Avery
CB Caleb Farley
S Kevin Byard
S Amani Hooker
DB Elijah Molden
I have Molden listed as a “DB” because I think he’ll work at both cornerback and safety this year, with the potential he transitions to the latter full time at some point.
DB Chris Jackson
In my last 53-man projection I had Jackson as kind of a thrown-in because of the lackluster options I had to work with behind the starters, but he did manage to show up a bit during Day 2 of mandatory minicamp.
Via Jim Wyatt:
Defensive back Chris Jackson had perhaps his best day this offseason, and his day included some good coverage on Burks in a red zone period.
Jackson gives Tennessee a solid special teamer, on top of someone who can play both cornerback and safety if needed.
DB Josh Thompson
S Tyreque Jones
I’ve been riding with Jones since my last projection and I feel even better about it after the Boise State product and UDFA received a shoutout from teammate Amani Hooker.
#Titans' Hooker: Mentions being impressed by work of UDFA Ty Jones (Safety) so far this offseason. One of many players with little experience battling for roster spots behind starters.
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) June 8, 2023
K Caleb Shudak
I had Shudak winning the job the last time we did this, and I’m sticking with him after he seemingly had a stronger week at mandatory minicamp than his competition, UDFA Trey Wolff.
Via Wyatt:
Caleb is back and kicking again. It was interesting to see kicker Trey Wolff get most of the work for a stretch there, but Caleb kicked on Wednesday and Thursday of this week’s minicamp. I’ve been charting the field goals in the open periods, and Shudak is 14-of-15, while Wolff, who signed as an undrafted free agent from Texas Tech earlier this offseason, is 29-of-32 during the open periods. Both of those guys have kicked well so far.
The ball came off Caleb Shudak’s foot better and with a more consistent trajectory than it did with Trey Wolff yesterday, I thought.
Different trajectories are fine but I didn’t feel as if Wolff’s variations were necessarily intentional Tuesday. #Titans #Titans
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) June 7, 2023
P Ryan Stonehouse
LS Morgan Cox
