Xavier Restrepo is the most talked-about UDFA in the NFL. He’s getting more run than many drafted rookie receivers, even on the Titans own team. His college stardom at Miami, and the fact that he was reunited with his good friend Cam Ward on the Tennessee Titans makes him a very attractive story.

But the media and fan plaudits don’t exactly match his roster standing, at least not yet. In reality, he’s at best a slightly better than 50/50 shot to make the Titans final 53-man roster. Here are the three ways he can defy the odds and make the cut:

Be Undeniable

There’s a reason why Xavier Restrepo was a borderline Day 2 prospect on a lot of intelligent draft analysts’ boards: his tape warranted that discussion. Ultimately, his size and athletic testing—albeit performed under questionable circumstances—had him fall all the way into the undrafted pool for NFL decision makers. But he’s received a contract that’s unusually high for most UDFA’s, and it’s for good reason. There is still some belief in the league that he’s an exception.

Players that look like him on paper don’t often work out. He’s limited as a slot-only option. He’s built differently, with noticeably thick legs that don’t excel in the quickness category that many slot guys do (think Kyle Philips). But his college tape is undeniably good. He was a winner for many years at Miami. He knows the position, and he has a mystifying knack for getting open. And he has an invaluable connection with Cam Ward. If those things translate to the next level, and he looks like an undeniable professional ball player once the pads come on in August, nothing else will matter. It’s as simple as it gets, but it’s true: Restrepo could simply outplay his teammates to the point that his coaches have no choice but to keep him.

Carve Out A Special Teams Role

This is the easiest, most straightforward, and most controllable thing Restrepo can do to ensure he makes the final 53. As far as we know, the Titans have wide open roles at both return positions. WR James Proche is the perceived “favorite” who needs to be unseated by somebody with better actual receiving upside than him. And fellow rookie Chimere Dike is expected to get run as a returner throughout the summer as well. But Restrepo will be given a chance to prove he’s a reliable option with some actual returning ability, something the Titans haven’t had in a very long time.

If he can carve out a role there—the only way I think he can realistically add any value on special teams—then he feels like a no-brainer inclusion on the 53.

Dike Or Lockett Opens The Door

Finally, Restrepo’s narrow path to making the roster could be made wider by his teammates. As I discussed in more detail in my breakdown of the receiver race at large, I expect Chimere Dike to be the Titans first choice as their starting slot. That requires him to take the steps they’re projecting him to take this summer, which he’s on track to do so far. They see a valuable “big slot” skillset he can bring to the table, which differs a bit from how he was used in college.

If this is the case, I think it turns things into a competition between Tyler Lockett and Restrepo for the primary backup slot-only option. Both don’t have much positional versatility, and I don’t see the Titans keeping both if their roles overlap.

That doesn’t paint a very encouraging picture for Restrepo. But if either Dike or Lockett falters—perhaps Dike doesn’t progress as quickly as they hope he does, or Lockett’s age begins to catch up to him in some way—the door begins to widen for the most talked-about UDFA in the entire league.

Titans Heated Receiver Competition Ranked Ahead Of Mandatory Minicamp: Van Jefferson a lock, Lockett is not, Restrepo’s path

Who will the Titans final receiver core be?

Cam Ward’s ‘a football savant’ according to national analyst who explains biggest way the Titans QB will change his new team

Ward will be different than Levis in at least one way