The Tennessee Titans have made many additions to their offseason roster in recent weeks, with the team adding six players via the 2023 NFL draft and a slew of undrafted free agents afterwards, per reports.
Those additions came on the heels of the Titans being fairly quiet in free agency, where the team had to navigate a difficult salary cap situation in order to try and improve the team.
Through it all, the Titans have failed to adequately address the wide receiver position, something we spoke about at length both during and after the draft. We’ve also touched on the team’s current depth chart at the position in a separate article, which you can check out here.
This time around, we’re going to take a look at the entire depth chart on offense, from quarterback to the offensive line, and we’ll provide a little analysis for each position as we go. Bear in mind, the Titans have yet to release an unofficial depth chart, so this is my own concoction.
Quarterback
Quarterbacks:
- Ryan Tannehill
- Malik Willis
- Will Levis
UDFAs: Mo Hasan
This was an easy one, as head coach Mike Vrabel specifically said this was the current pecking order at quarterback, although he did leave it open for things to change.
Tannehill is the favorite to start for sure, but I’m not ready to count out Levis. I think Willis will have to do extraordinary things in camp for him to win the starting job, but I refuse to totally count him out, either.
One way or the other, I do not see the Titans carrying three quarterbacks, so look for Willis or Tannehill to be moved prior to the start of the season. As for Hasan, his best-case scenario is a spot on the practice squad.
Running back
Running backs:
- Derrick Henry
- Hassan Haskins
- Tyjae Spears
- Julius Chestnut
- Jonathan Ward
UDFAs: Charles McClelland
Barring his being traded before the season, Henry is set to once again lead this backfield, with guys like Haskins, Spears and quite possibly Julius Chestnut battling for the scraps behind him.
Haskins is the favorite to get the majority of those scraps, but Spears is more of the mold of Dontrell Hilliard, who served as the third-down, change-of-pace back the past two years.
Chances are whoever can prove to be a better blocker between Haskins and Spears will get more work, but I expect Tennessee to incorporate Spears in some form or fashion regardless.
With Henry, Haskins and Spears being roster locks, guys like Chestnut, Ward and McClelland will need Tennessee to carry a fourth to make the cut.
The good news for them is the Titans did carry four backs on their initial 53-man roster in 2022. If that happens again, Chestnut is far and away the favorite to land the final spot.
Wide receivers
Wide receivers:
- Treylon Burks
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
- Kyle Philips
- Chris Moore
- Racey McMath
- Colton Dowell
- Mason Kinsey
- Reggie Roberson Jr.
UDFAs: Jacob Copeland, Kearis Jackson, Tre’Shaun Harrison
The wide receiver position is wide open for the Titans after they failed to adequately address what was one of their biggest needs going into the offseason.
There’s still time for an addition or two, of course, but the options out there are not good.
You can pencil in the top four on this list (Burks, NWI, Philips, Moore) for roster spots. Unfortunately, NWI is currently slated to be the No. 2 lining up across from Burks, with Philips figuring to be the main slot receiver.
Moore should be the top reserve, McMath should be viewed as a favorite to land a spot and serve as the deep threat, and Dowell’s status as a seventh-round pick gives him the leg up over the others listed.
That said, neither Dowell nor McMath are roster locks.
Of all positions on offense, wide receiver is most primed to see a UDFA make the cut. Our Shaun Calderon listed Copeland and Jackson as two undrafted rookies to keep an eye on.
Kinsey and Roberson both have a chance, but just like the UDFAs they should be considered on the outside looking in from the jump, as Tennessee figures to carry five or six at the position (they carried five to start 2022).
Hopefully Tennessee adds another player here who shakes things up even more, but I’m not holding my breath for such an addition.
Tight ends
Tight ends
- Chig Okonkwo
- Trevon Wesco
- Josh Whyle
- Kevin Rader
- Justin Rigg
- Thomas Odukoya
UDFAs: The Titans did not ink any UDFA tight ends but did reportedly invite Jahleel Billingsley out of Texas to rookie minicamp. He’ll be fortunate just to make it through the week, let alone make the roster.
There is zero debating who sits atop this depth chart, as Okonkwo isn’t only the team’s best tight end, he’s one of the Titans’ best playmakers period.
Along with Chig, you can lock in Wesco, who will be the blocking specialist of this group, and Whyle, who should start out as the No. 3 but could move up if he proves to be both an effective blocker and pass-catcher.
If the Titans carry a fourth (they carried three into 2022), Rader, who was on the roster last year, should be viewed as the favorite, but he’s no lock and will be competing against Rigg and Odukoya.
Offensive linemen
Starters: Andre Dillard (LT), Peter Skoronski (LG), Aaron Brewer (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Nicholas Petit-Frere (RT)
Backups: Jamarco Jones (G/T), Corey Levin (G/C), Dillon Radunz (G/T), Andrew Rupcich (T), Jaelyn Duncan (T), Jordan Roos (G), John Leglue (T), Zack Johnson (T)
UDFAs: OT John Ojukwu
As far as the starters are concerned, I’m pretty confident this is how things will shake out.
Brewer recently confirmed what we all assumed once the Titans placed the $4.3 million tender on him earlier this offseason: the plan is for him to play center. Levin will be in the mix, but he’ll have to do a lot to unseat Brewer.
As things stand now, I would pencil in Jones as the primary backup at both guard and tackle, although Duncan and Rupcich will challenge for the latter role. Levin will be in the mix for the primary backup guard role, but he’ll be the first man off the bench at center for sure.
If I had to guess, the five listed starters, Jones and Levin are all roster locks, leaving two spots up for grabs if the Titans carry nine offensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster like they did in 2022.
Duncan, Radunz and Rupcich should be viewed as the favorites for those final two spots. Also, keep an eye on Ojukwu, who some experts believe should’ve been selected in the draft.
If Radunz starts out on the PUP list while he continues to recover from a torn ACL, he won’t count against the 53, which would obviously make it easier for the others to make the cut.
Whether he does or not, I don’t think Radunz is a roster lock this year.
