Titans Training Camp takes that would change the way you look at this roster if two weeks of practice is all we need to see

The Titans will have finished two full weeks of Training camp this upcoming Tuesday. They’ve worked in shorts, done a week in pads, and are gearing up for a preseason road trip beginning Wednesday night. They leave Nashville and head for Tampa and then Atlanta, joining the Bucs and Falcons for joint practices before their first two preseason games against them.

Training Camp is a long, drawn-out fact finding mission. It’s about player development and roster building for those in charge of actually making and building the roster. And for those of us watching on, it’s about seeing who has what it takes to make the team.

I put out my pre-training camp 53-man roster projection in July linked here, and while I’m not quite ready to amend it for a mid-camp update, I do want to talk about some trends. So in this piece, I’ll do just that. Here are the things I’d be changing my mind about if all that mattered was the first two weeks of Titans Training Camp:

The Race To Be The Final Wide Receiver

Heading into camp, it sure seemed like there was just one WR seat up for grabs and rookie UDFA Xavier Restrepo was the favorite for the job. Ridley, Lockett, Dike, Ayomanor, Jefferson, and Oliver are all locks for the team. Restrepo’s college profile and connection with Cam Ward seemed to make him a strong choice for WR7. He was a very popular target during OTA’s as well, solidifying that opinion. But these past two weeks, there has been no denying James Proche. He’s been the most productive receiver on the team in 11-on-11 drills. He’s looked definitively better than Restrepo. And he brings the added bonus of being the best proven return man on the roster. Being able to justify him as an actual receiver, and getting his return services as a bonus, makes him a very attractive roster keeper. Restrepo suddenly has a lot of ground to make up if he wants to win this job.

James Williams Is Your Starting Linebacker

It’s been the James Williams show ever since camp began. Alongside LB Cody Barton, the established primary backer in this room, Williams came into the summer in an apparent competition with the likes of Cedric Gray and Anfernee Orji. But so far, his coaches have treated him like their undisputed preference. It makes sense, considering his impressive length, coverage ability as a former safety, and decisive downhill trigger. Defensive Coordinator Dennard Wilson remarked this week on how much Williams has grown up between Year 1 and Year 2 in the NFL. Unless something drastic happens in the next month, I don’t see how he isn’t your starter alongside Barton in Week 1.

Femi Oladejo Is Ahead Of Schedule

I’ve maintained very cautious, patient expectations for 2nd Round rookie Femi Oladejo this year. And I’ve been preaching that others should do the same, so as to not be disappointed by the prospect I view as a great 2-3 year investment. He’s had very little time-on-task at EDGE, transitioning to his natural position just 10 games before finishing his college career. And at times early in this process, he’s looked like he doesn’t have a ton of confidence or diversity in his move set. Every good EDGE has to attack with a plan.

But on the whole, now that that pads have come on, he’s acquitted himself better than I expected at this point. There’s a small glimmer of hope for him to become a rookie impact in a way I wasn’t expecting before. How he continues to progress the rest of this month will determine if that glimmer grows, or is quickly snuffed out. I’m still very wary of buying in just yet… but he’s making me think about it.

Kevin Winston Jr. Can Win A Job Soon

It’s not that I wasn’t already bullish on Winston Jr. coming into camp, because I absolutely was. I believe with all of my heart that this young man is a 1st Round prospect had he not been robbed of his final year in college by a very early ACL tear. I’d bet he has the best chance of anybody in this draft class to have a long career as a good (or better than good) NFL safety. The thing that was holding me back from having loftier rookie year expectations was simply the veteran muscle in front of him. Xavier Woods and Amani Hooker are good, reliable, established NFL safeties. They’re absolutely starters in this league. But watching Winston these past two weeks… man. Hold me back. He’s just such a satisfying athlete to watch go to work. His length, fluid athleticism, downhill mentality, and tackling soundness are top-notch traits. If he doesn’t falter in the next month, I’ll be wondering just how early he comes for a starting job this year.