Tennessee Titans Roster Locks on Defense as OTAs Begin

The Tennessee Titans will spend the summer trying to create their best 53-man roster, but a majority of the roster spots are basically already taken. Here are the roster locks on defense.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans' organized team activities(OTAs) begin this week and the battle for roster spots is underway, but how many roster spots are even available? In this two part series, we will go position by position through each side of the ball and ask the question of who is a lock to make the roster already. Let's look at the defense. We looked at the offense in part one. 

Defensive Line

Locks: Teair Tart, Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry

The Titans defensive line was a major strength last season. Boosted by free agent finds like Demarcus Walker and Mario Edwards, the Titans were able to field a solid group despite injuries and zero high-priced additions. They will need some of that same magic this year because the interior defensive line group is suspect after the first three players.

Regardless, we know these three will be on the team come fall. Tart hasn't signed his restricted-free agent tender yet, but he has little options outside of sitting out the season. Simmons just got a huge deal from the team and is locked in for the foreseeable future. Autry may be getting older, but he was still a major contributor when healthy.

Edge Rushers

Locks: Harold Landry, Arden Key, Rashad Weaver

The Titans' edge group is in a good place overall. Landry is coming back from injury finally and, if healthy, is a key player. Weaver had 5.5 sacks last season in what you could consider his rookie season after missing 15 games in his actual rookie year with a broken leg. Key was added after a great season in Jacksonville as a rotational edge rusher. 

The Titans may need some more depth, but that battle will happen in the summer. Right now, the Titans should know they have a rotation of these three players and feel pretty good about it. Add in some Autry at times and it is a nice foursome.

Linebackers

Locks: Azeez Al-Shaair, Monty Rice

Linebacker is one of the most uncertain spots on the roster. Rice has the most tenure with the team and is in line to start. Al-Shaair was brought in as a free agent and is expected to be out in the starting lineup. Neither are locks to be starters though even if they appear to be locks for the roster.

Outside of those two is a ton of questions. Ben Niemann was brought in to provide depth, but has never been a roster lock-type of player. Luke Gifford was also brought in in free agency, but could be competing with Niemann for the same role. Jack Gibbens and Chance Campbell are both heading into their second year, but neither have any role set in stone.

Cornerbacks

Locks: Kristian Fulton, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Roger McCreary, Caleb Farley

Fulton, Murphy-Bunting and McCreary should be this team's top three corners. They should get the bulk of the reps, if healthy. Behind those three is a battle of redemption. Two players heading into their third season will try to prove they can stay healthy.

We are, of course, discussing Caleb Farley and Elijah Molden. Farley having lock status is purely financial. The Titans would lose money on the cap by cutting Farley, not gain. The juice isn't worth that squeeze. The Titans are better off getting one more look at Farley and see what they might get with new defensive back coach Chris Harris in the building.

Safety 

Locks: Kevin Byard, Amani Hooker

This was the easiest position of them all. The Titans have nothing outside of Hooker and Byard. If they don't make some serious additions with veterans in the summer they are one injury away from disaster. 

Special Teams

Locks: Ryan Stonehouse, Morgan Cox

Stonehouse had an incredible rookie season for a punter. He made the pro bowl and got some of his memorabilia in the Hall of Fame for his record-breaking distance punting. He is a sure thing. Cox is still a pro-bowl level long snapper and should be on the Titans as long as he wants to be.