Tennessee Titans 2022 undrafted free-agent signing and defensive lineman Jayden Peevy entered training camp as seemingly just another guy on the roster bubble.
But Peevy, who spent most of last season on the practice squad, has managed to stand out just a bit more than most this offseason, with the first sign of that coming when he was named among the team’s offseason award winners.
Another sign of Peevy making major progress came on Thursday, when defensive line coach Terrell Williams noted that the Texas A&M product has made a “huge improvement” this year.
“I’ve seen the foot quickness. I’ve seen the use of his hands, the pad level,” Williams said, per Tyler Rowland of AllTitans. “All of those things have improved. From where he was last year in training camp to where he is today, it’s been a huge improvement.
“Some that is just growth. Sometimes you bring a rookie in, whether they are a first-round pick or an undrafted free agent, just year to year learning how to work at this pro level is just different.”
While a great endorsement for Peevy, that wasn’t the most interesting thing the Titans’ defensive line coach said about the 2022 undrafted free agent.
When asked about the prospect of guys like Peevy and Naquan Jones playing behind the team’s projected starters in Denico Autry, Teair Tart and Jeffery Simmons, Williams said that isn’t exactly an automatic, and he invoked Peevy’s name in particular.
“Well, I’ll say this, there ain’t no guarantees they’re going to be playing behind anybody,” Williams said. “With what some of those guys are doing, in particular Peevy, has made a big jump. He’s worked hard and done what we’ve asked him to do. So, we’ll see how it turns out, that’s what training camp is for, but because someone started for us or played for us last year doesn’t mean they’re going to have that same spot. You got to earn it everyday and that’s how we function around here.”
Of course, that might just be coach speak and/or Williams trying to light a fire under one or more of his guys upfront, but at the very least that’s something to put into our back pocket for now.
Williams hasn’t been the only Titans coach to heap praise on Peevy recently.
Before practice on Tuesday, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said the 23-year-old’s development has been “tremendous”, something he at least partly credits to the defensive lineman dropping some weight.
“Peevy has taken advantage of it (playing with pads),” Bowen said, per John Glennon of Nashville Post. “His development through the spring, coming in this first week of camp, has been tremendous, something that’s got to continue.
“We need him to be a good player, to develop into a good player for us. I think the drop in weight has been incredibly important for him and his production, his ability to move.”
The Titans are no strangers to finding diamonds in the rough along the defensive line, with Teair Tart being a shining example of that.
It remains to be seen if Peevy will have that kind of success, but he certainly seems to be on the right track and is now someone to watch, not only for a roster spot, but for a significant role, also.
