The Tennessee Titans are going to have an interesting training camp later this month, as the team will have competitions at several different positions, with six in particular being the most important to watch.
As the start of training camp approaches on July 28, let’s take a look at each of the biggest training camp competitions set to take place and which players will emerge as the winners.
Right tackle
The Titans are set to have a new starting right tackle in 2020 after Jack Conklin departed the team in free agency and signed with the Cleveland Browns.
After drafting Isaiah Wilson in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, general manager Jon Robinson made it clear that the rookie would battle it out with Dennis Kelly for the starting job.
Wilson will enter training camp at a disadvantage in this particular competition for a few reasons.
Not only did he not have the benefit of a mini-camp in June, he also doesn’t have experience in the Titans’ offense that Kelly has, nor does he have the trust of his coaches yet.
Kelly, who proved to be a viable starter in place of an injured Conklin in 2018, should come away with the job.
Prediction: Kelly wins the starting job.
Slot cornerback
The Titans have a void to fill at the slot cornerback position going into 2020 after the team decided not to bring Logan Ryan back.
One potential option is to deploy 2020 second-round pick Kristian Fulton there, as the team made it clear they’d want to look at him in the slot before drafting him.
While Fulton is more pro-ready than most rookie corners because he played in a top-notch conference in the SEC, and he does have experience playing both inside and out, there’s no telling how the abbreviated offseason will impact his development.
Fulton’s main competition for the nickel will likely come from 2019 fourth-round pick, Amani Hooker, who was an elite slot cornerback during his days at Iowa. However, Hooker didn’t see snaps at the position last season, so we can’t say for sure if his college success will translate to the NFL.
The Titans’ GM teased the possibility that the team could use Adoree’ Jackson in the slot on some occasions, but he’ll be used sparingly there, if at all, given his importance to the defense on the boundary.
Prediction: Hooker wins the slot CB job.
Wide receiver
While the Titans’ top three spots on the receiver depth chart are locked in with A.J. Brown, Corey Davis and Adam Humphries, beyond that there are some question marks, especially after the departure of Tajae Sharpe.
The Titans have a slew of receivers who will battle for the last wide receiver spots on the roster, including Kalif Raymond, Cameron Batson, Cody Hollister, Rashard Davis and Trevion Thompson.
Undrafted free agents such as Mason Kinsey, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kristian Wilkerson and Kyle Williams will also be in the mix.
In 2019, the Titans carried six receivers into the season, so it’s possible that happens again in 2020.
Raymond is as close to a lock as you can get after proving to be an impact player despite limited touches, and the coaching staff is also familiar with Batson. Adding to that, both receivers can contribute in the return game.
If Raymond and Batson both make the roster, that leaves one more spot. Of the non-rookies, give the edge to Hollister thanks to his seeing a few games of action last season. Of the UDFAs, Kinsey is the one who intrigues me the most thanks to his impressive college production.
Prediction: Raymond (WR4), Batson (WR5) and Kinsey (WR6) all make the roster.
Backup quarterback
With the Titans having Super Bowl aspirations in 2020, it would be a shame if those hopes were thwarted because of an injury to Ryan Tannehill that forces him to miss one or more games. It’s important that the Titans do everything possible to ensure that doesn’t happen.
As of right now, there isn’t much experience behind Tennessee’s starter. Only Logan Woodside and 2020 seventh-round pick Cole McDonald are on the roster, and neither of them has ever taken a regular season snap.
Rest assured, the Titans are going to add a veteran quarterback to the mix, with Blake Bortles and Matt Moore being the best options on the market. Bortles is the better fit, though, as his skill set more closely mirrors that of Tannehill’s.
In the event that the Titans don’t add a veteran, this competition between Woodside and McDonald will be intriguing. From the jump, Woodside has the edge.
The Toldeo product already has familiarity with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense and both Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel have expressed confidence in him in the past.
McDonald is also raw and will need time to develop — particularly with his throwing motion — and the lack of a mini-camp might cause him to take longer to do so.
What the Hawaii product does have going for him is the fact that he has a superior skill set. McDonald’s arm strength, size and athleticism no doubt gives him a higher ceiling than Woodside, who doesn’t have any qualities that jump off the page at you.
Prediction: Titans sign Bortles as backup QB, Woodside gets cut, McDonald goes to practice squad.
Defensive line
The Titans’ defensive line has a big question mark going into camp now that Jurrell Casey is no longer with the team.
Tennessee has to decide who is going to play the majority of snaps alongside Jeffery Simmons and DaQuan Jones, and the team will have to choose from 2019 UDFA Isaiah Mack, veteran Jack Crawford and 2020 fifth-round pick, Larrell Murchison.
The biggest issue for the Titans upfront in 2019 was the lack of a pass-rush, so whichever of those three players can show the chops to make the necessary impact in that area will have the best shot to garner the most snaps.
Mack showed flashes of being a solid pass-rusher in limited action during his rookie campaign and Crawford showed he could make a dent in getting to the quarterback when given a chance to start after totaling six sacks in 2018.
The wild card is Murchison. The rookie is well-known for his effort and was a good interior pass-rusher at NC State, both qualities that could earn him playing time in his first season.
Prediction: Mack wins the job, Crawford and Murchison play sparingly.
Kicker
With the Titans coming off a season in which their field goal unit was in shambles, the competition at kicker is going to be one of the most important to watch.
Greg Joseph, who finished the 2019 campaign as the Titans’ starting kicker, will compete for the starting job with UDFA kicker, Tucker McCann.
While Joseph doesn’t have a ton of experience (21 career field goal attempts), he does have the edge in that department over the rookie, and the team has more familiarity with the Johannesburg, South Africa native, who has received praise from punter Brett Kern in the past.
Whether or not those two are the only options at kicker the Titans bring to camp remains to be seen, but Tennessee would be wise to add a veteran to the mix to increase the team’s chances of finding the right man for the job.
Prediction: Joseph beats out McCann and a veteran kicker for the starting job.
