Titans Roster Reset: QB room gets crowded after 2023 NFL Draft

The Tennessee Titans' 2023 draft was used to set up the team's future on the offensive side of the ball. The Titans took all offense this weekend, but it somehow still took them 228 picks to finally address the wide receiver room despite the clear need for additional weapons. Instead, Tennessee selected a reliable offensive tackle […]

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Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis
George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK

The Tennessee Titans' 2023 draft was used to set up the team's future on the offensive side of the ball. The Titans took all offense this weekend, but it somehow still took them 228 picks to finally address the wide receiver room despite the clear need for additional weapons.

Instead, Tennessee selected a reliable offensive tackle in Peter Skoronski, their post-Tannehill starting quarterback in Will Levis, and an elusive running back in Tyjae Spears in the first three rounds.

The Titans got really good value on some really good players this weekend, but did they address their needs well enough to actually compete in 2023? Or is this the Titans getting an early start on setting up for 2024 and beyond?

Here's a look at an updated Tennessee Titans roster. Note: Single asterisks (*) represent 2023 draft picks and double asterisks (**) represent undrafted free agents.

Quarterbacks

  • Will Levis*
  • Ryan Tannehill
  • Malik Willis

Just last year, the Titans used a third-round pick on Malik Willis with hopes that he would be the successor to Ryan Tannehill. After a rough rookie season for Willis and the selection of Will Levis in the second round, it now would seem like the Titans have little faith in his ability to be their next guy.

Levis has explosive arm talent and physical tools that make him a dangerous playmaker and creator. His experience under center and success in play action should transfer well to the Titans' system.  

According to Mike Vrabel, Levis will enter camp as QB3 on the Titans' depth chart with Tannehill in place as the starter.


Running backs

  • Julius Chestnut
  • Charles McClelland**
  • Hassan Haskins
  • Derrick Henry
  • Tyjae Spears*
  • Jonathan Ward

Titans third-round pick Tyjae Spears is an elusive runner than can get around the edge, put his foot in the ground, and make a man miss. His ACL injury history is concerning, but his tape at Tulane last year is nothing short of dominant. 

I'll be really interested in seeing how the Titans manage their backfield with Spears now in the picture. 2022 fourth-round pick Hassan Haskins impressed me in his limited opportunities last year and Derrick Henry is entering the final year of his contract.


Wide receivers

  • Treylon Burks
  • Jacob Copeland**
  • Colton Dowell*
  • Tre'Shaun Harrison**
  • Kearis Jackson**
  • Mason Kinsey
  • Racey McMath
  • Chris Moore
  • Kyle Philips
  • Reggie Roberson
  • Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

There's not a Titans fans alive that isn't frustrated with the team's continued neglect of the wide receiver position. After entering the 2023 draft with a clear need for pass catchers and vertical weapons, the only wide receiver drafted by the Titans was seventh-round pick Colton Dowell out of UT Martin.

Free agency and the draft are now in the rearview and the situation doesn't look any less dire than it was four months ago.


Tight ends

  • Thomas Odukoya
  • Chigoziem Okonkwo
  • Kevin Rader
  • Justin Rigg
  • Trevon Wesco
  • Josh Whyle*

Tennessee added versatile tight end Josh Whyle in the fifth-round to be a nice 12 personnel compliment to Chig Okonkwo.

Last season, we saw the Titans' offense feature three tight ends with Okonkwo being the vertical threat, Geoff Swaim as the run blocker, and Austin Hooper somewhere in between. In 2023, it will be Trevon Wesco and Whyle in those roles to compliment Chig.


Offensive linemen

  • C Aaron Brewer
  • G Daniel Brunskill
  • OT Andre Dillard
  • OT Jaelyn Duncan*
  • G Zack Johnson
  • G Jamarco Jones
  • OT John Leglue
  • G Corey Levin
  • G Xavier Newman-Johnson
  • OT John Ojukwu**
  • OT Nicholas Petit-Frere
  • G/OT Dillon Radunz
  • G Jordan Roos
  • OT Andrew Rupcich
  • OT Peter Skoronski*

Peter Skoronski will be an instant starter on the Titans' offensive line, but where he plays is still up in the air. Skoronski was solely a left tackle at Northwestern, but he has the versatility and skillset to bump inside to left guard should the Titans need him to do so.

Skoronski and Andre Dillard will compete for the Titans' left tackle job in training camp with one of the two starting at guard. Aaron Brewer, Daniel Brunskill, and Nicholas Petit-Frere round out the starting five.

Nicholas Petit-Frere
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere (78) waits for the snap during the first half against the New York Giants at Nissan Stadium.Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive linemen

  • Curtis Brooks
  • Shakel Brown**
  • Naquan Jones
  • TK Mclendon**
  • Jayden Peevy
  • Tyler Shelvin
  • Jeffery Simmons
  • Teair Tart

With it being an offense only draft, Tennessee's only rookie additions to the defensive line will come as undrafted free agents. That said, I'm sure Titans fans everywhere are relieved to see Jeffery Simmons and Teair Tart still on this list. 


Edge defenders

  • Denico Autry
  • Arden Key
  • Harold Landry
  • Zach McCloud
  • Caleb Murphy**
  • Sam Okuayinonu
  • Thomas Rush**
  • Rashad Weaver

Between Denico Autry, Rashad Weaver, Harold Landry, and new free agent singing Arden Key, there really was no need for the Titans to address the edge in the draft. Thomas Rush, however, was one of the more highly sought after undrafted free agents on Saturday night, and the Titans put up $150,000 guaranteed to land him.


Linebackers

  • Azeez Al-Shaair
  • Chance Campbell
  • Jack Gibbens
  • Luke Gifford
  • Ben Niemann
  • Monty Rice

It's out with the old and in with the new for the Titans at linebacker this season. David Long Jr., Zach Cunningham, and Dylan Cole are gone and Tennessee made three free agent acquisitions to offset those losses.

Azeez Al-Shaair and Monty Rice currently project to be Tennessee's starters at the position. 


Cornerbacks

  • Tre Avery
  • Caleb Farley
  • Kristian Fulton
  • Chris Jackson
  • Steven Jones Jr.**
  • Roger McCreary
  • Elijah Molden
  • Sean Murphy-Bunting
  • Josh Thompson

While it would not have surprised me to see the Titans draft a cornerback this weekend, Mike Vrabel and Ran Carthon chose to stick with their group. Between Roger McCreary, Kristian Fulton, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Elijah Molden, the Titans have their 2023 starters in place.

Now they just need to make sure they can stay healthy and keep the group on the field.

Elijah Molden
Tennessee Titans cornerback Elijah Molden (24) intercepts the ball for a touchdown in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Safeties

  • Mike Brown
  • Kevin Byard
  • Shyheim Carter
  • Tyreque Jones**
  • Amani Hooker

Tyreque Jones is an intriguing name to watch as camp gets underway, but in terms of starters, safety might be the Titans' most solid position group. Barring a trade or major injury, Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker have things locked down deep.


Special teams

  • LS Morgan Cox
  • K Caleb Shudak
  • P Ryan Stonehouse
  • K Trey Wolff**

Morgan Cox and Ryan Stonehouse are shoo-in starters for the Titans on special teams after the great seasons they each had in 2022, but the kicking battle is going to be very interesting. 

With Randy Bullock released, the Titans signed Texas Tech kicker Trey Wolff to an undrafted free agent contract. As of now, Wolff will compete with second-year kicker Caleb Shudak for the Titans' job.