Tennessee Titans 53-Man Roster Projections: Final Predictions With 7 Receivers and No Kicker
The Tennessee Titans have completed training camp and the preseason. They will now be tasked with cutting down their roster from 91 players to 53 players. Those cuts have already begun, but there were no surprises.
With some expected players cut, but still 85 players remaining, let's take a look at our final roster projection of the 2023 preseason.
Quarterback(3) - Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis, Will Levis
This is simple really. Rookie Will Levis hasn't shown enough to beat out Malik Willis and Willis has developed further than expected. With uncertainty at the spot in the future, both young passers need to be rostered.
Running Back(3) - Derrick Henry, Tyjae Spears, Julius Chestnut
It was tough to leave off Hassan Haskins. Haskins may not be a talented running back, but he is dynamic on special teams and that goes underrated by the casual fan. Haskins had the second-most special teams tackles for the Titans in 2022 and even returned kicks. However, he has been injured for most of camp and has legal issues to boot. The Titans can find special teams value elsewhere.
Wide Receiver(7) - DeAndre Hopkins, Treylon Burks, Chris Moore, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Colten Dowell, Kearis Jackson, Kyle Philips*
I think the Titans do some crafty roster movement here. Philips has a knee injury that could keep him out up to six weeks. With Philips' injury history, it would make sense for the Titans to be overly cautious.
What I expect them to do is put Philips on the initial 53-man roster and then place him on injured reserve. Philips would be out a minimum of four games, but it would give the Titans a chance to bring him back this season. They will need to waive Jackson or Dowell and hope to get them back if they only keep six.
Tight End(4) - Chig Okonkwo, Trevon Wesco, Josh Whyle, Kevin Rader
One of the young standouts of the preseason was international pathway player Thomas Odukoya. Odukoya is a large human with a ton of power and it showed up in run blocking during the preseason. However, Odukoya's status as an international pathway player gives the Titans special abilities with his roster status, like being able to have 91 players in camp because Odukoya doesn't count as one of the 90 allowed.
The Titans can have 17, instead of the allowed 16, players on their practice squad if they have an international pathway player as well. They can also bring Odukoya up on gamedays when they need him. Rader provides more value as a fullback. It is possible those two flip at some point during the season though.
Offensive Line(9) - Andre Dillard, Peter Skoronski, Aaron Brewer, Daniel Brunskill, Chris Hubbard, Jaelyn Duncan, Corey Levin, Justin Murray, Xavier Newman-Johnson
Remember, Nicholas Petit-Frere will not count towards the roster while suspended and Dillon Radunz remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list. The Titans had terrible offensive line play last season and will want as much depth as possible.
The starters are locked in, but Jaelyn Duncan is a project they can't let go, Corey Levin is their best interior backup, Justin Murray has been a standout in the preseason and could start at right tackle soon and Xavier Newman-Johnson is a young project they shouldn't give up on as well.
Offensive Player Count - 26
Defensive Line(6) - Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry, Teair Tart, Jayden Peevy, Michael Dwumfour, Kyle Peko
The Titans play a physical brand of football that requires numbers in the trenches. With that, I have them taking a direct backup for each of the three defensive line spots. Jayden Peevy behind Denico Autry, Kyle Peko behind Teair Tart and Michael Dwumfour behind Jeffery Simmons.
Edge Rushers(4) - Harold Landry, Arden Key, Rashad Weaver, Caleb Murphy
The Titans go light here, but one thing to remember is Autry can play on the edge as well, giving them five capable edges. The truth is the Titans just don't have a lot of depth here and there is no reason to keep more than four. Murphy needs to make it after having an incredible preseason rushing the passer with four sacks in three games.
Linebackers(5) - Azeez Al-Shaair, Jack Gibbens, Chance Campbell, Ben Niemann, Luke Gifford
Monty Rice has been injured and inconsistent. The Titans have good depth at linebacker. With both of those together, Rice doesn't make the cut. Campbell plays with the intensity and speed of Rice, Niemann has a ton of experience and Gifford is a dynamo on special teams. Giving all of them a more compelling case than Rice.
Cornerback(5) - Kristian Fulton, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Roger McCreary, Tre Avery, Eric Garror
This was tough, but what it comes down to is making sure you have a backup at each spot. The Titans have four corners here who we know can play on the outside in Kristian Fulton, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Roger McCreary and Tre Avery. However, they only have one slot corner option in McCreary.
Garror fills that backup slot corner role and he has proven in the preseason he can play with the physicality needed to man that spot. Garror also returned kicks and punts giving him additional value to the roster there.
Safeties(5) - Kevin Byard, Amani Hooker, Elijah Molden, Mike Brown, Josh Thompson
Mike Brown has impressed in the preseason with his tenacity, always willing to come downhill and make a hit. He also has been backing up Elijah Molden as the Titans' dime linebacker on passing downs. Brown should make it.
Josh Thompson is the discussion. Could the Titans use this roster spot to keep an extra linebacker or edge rusher? Possible, but Thompson is a "Core Four" special teams player that can work on punt and kickoff return along with kickoff and punt coverage units. Vrabel wants him around.
Defensive Player Count - 25
Special Teams(2) - Ryan Stonehouse(P), Morgan Cox(LS)
The Titans will look to take someone off another team for kicker. Unless they use a waiver claim, that won't happen until at least Wednesday evening. The Titans should just not have a kicker on the initial 53, so they can keep seven wide receivers. After the 53 is set, they can move Philips to injured reserve and then pick up their kicker later in the week.
Related stories on Titans football
- TITANS RIP PATRIOTS: Despite a pair of interceptions, Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis bounced back nicely Friday night, leading the Titans on two long scoring drives to beat the New England Patriots 23-7 at Nissan Stadium. He had two touchdown passes, and the Tennessee defense allowed only 112 yards in their final preseason game. CLICK HERE
- WHAT MIKE VRABEL SAID: Here is the full transcript from Titans coach Mike Vrabel's postgame press conference on Friday night. CLICK HERE
- TITANS DRIVE CHART: The Tennessee Titans capped off their 2023 preseason with a win against the New England Patriots. Here is a drive-by-drive recap of everything that happened on offense. CLICK HERE
