The Tennessee Titans have Mandatory Minicamp this week, during which we’ll get our best look yet at the state of this retooled roster and it’s various new additions. It’s the last bit of football we’ll see from these guys before summer break, when they’ll be off until late July. So let’s take a look at where I think things stand today in a way-too-early 53-man roster projection:

Quarterbacks

1. Cam Ward
2. Brandon Allen

Although a third emergency QB has been allowed for a couple of seasons now and is all anybody talks about when projecting quarterback cuts, there is no reason for this team to keep more than two passers. I still expect Will Levis to be traded before the regular season arrives, and Brandon Allen appears to be the coaching staff’s preference over Tim Boyle. Ward will be the be-all and end-all at QB for Tennessee this year, and if he goes down—God forbid—Brandon Allen should serve as an appropriately insufficient backup.

Remember friends, backup QBs are supremely underrated on good teams and usually overrated on bad ones.

Cuts: Tim Boyle

Wide Receivers

1. Calvin Ridley
2. Van Jefferson
3. Elic Ayomanor
4. Chimere Dike
5. Tyler Lockett
6. Bryce Oliver
7. Xavier Restrepo

I wrote at greater lengths my thoughts on the Titans WR race in a standalone article you can read here. Basically, I see 4 locks on this team. Throw in Tyler Lockett, who I think is more “likely” than he is a “lock”, and you’ve got the first five names on this list. In the three-man race between Oliver, Restrepo, and James Proche, I think Proche ends up the odd man out. This would be what’s best for the team, frankly, because a cut Proche means somebody with more offensive upside took the mantle at returner as well.

One final note: I think the Titans absolutely keep 7 receivers this year. There are enough interesting players in this room to justify it, and more importantly, they don’t have more than 3 RBs and 3 TEs that need to be on this team.

Cuts: Colton Dowell, Jha’Quan Jackson, Mason Kinsey, TJ Sheffield, Treylon Burks, James Proche

Running Backs

1. Tony Pollard
2. Tyjae Spears
3. Kalel Mulling

No drama to speak of in the running back room. The Titans set out to find a change-of-pace, dirty work back to pair with Pollard and Spears this offseason. They found their guy in rookie Kalel Mullings.

Cuts: Julius Chestnut, Tyrion Davis-Price

Tight Ends

1. Chig Okonkwo
2. Gunnar Helm
3. Josh Whyle

There’s very little of intrigue in the tight end room to speak of either. These three are about as locked-in as you can be at this point in the offseason, and Odukoya and DMR feel destined for the practice squad. Tennessee ended up keeping 5 tight ends on the initial roster last year. I don’t expect they’ll make that decision again.

Cuts: Thomas Odukoya, David Martin-Robinson

Offensive Tackles

1. JC Latham
2. Dan Moore
3. Blake Hance
4. Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson

It’s high time the Titans got some new blood in the mix at swing tackle. Latham and Moore are locked in as your starters, and I think free agent pickup Blake Hance will be your primary swing option. I’m projecting UDFA Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson to make the cut too. He ran through the SEC pass rush gauntlet very admirably last season, and he’s in the mold of guys Bill Callahan has really loved in the past. He’s one of the top UDFAs to watch this summer.

Cuts: Jaelyn Duncan, John Ojukwu

Guards

1. Peter Skoronski
2. Kevin Zeitler
3. Jackson Slater
4. Olisaemeka Udoh

Skoronski and Zeitler are your starters at guard, and rookie draft pick Jackson Slater is on the one-year development track to hopefully take over at RG in 2026. Beyond them, I’m projecting Udoh to be the 4th to make the cut. He was a free agent signing that Tennessee made for a reason. They hope he provides decent depth on the inside.

Cuts: Andrew Rupcich, Chandler Brewer

Centers

1. Lloyd Cushenberry
2. Sam Mustipher

Cushenberry is still on the path to full recovery from his Achilles tear last season, so backup center could be a tenuous decision. Whoever is in line behind him may need to start some this season, perhaps even Week 1. It’s dangerous to assume Cushenberry will definitely be back and in form on time. I think Sam Mustipher is most likely to be their guy, though I won’t be surprised if longtime Titan and known-quantity Corey Levin is who they tap either.

Cuts: Corey Levin, Brenden Jaimes

Defensive Linemen

1. Jeffery Simmons
2. T'Vondre Sweat
3. Sebastian Joseph-Day
4. Keondre Coburn
5. James Lynch

This list is very chalky, as it includes no newcomers from last year’s group. But frankly, the interior DL was one of the only redeemable things about the Titans last year. They had star power and the drop off when they rotated in their depth pieces was manageable. Tennessee would love for one of the rookie options they brought in to prove worthy of a role, though, so to the stable of UDFA’s in this room I say: prove me wrong!

Cuts: Cam Horsley, Devonte O'Malley, Philip Blidi, Isaiah Raikes, Carlos Watkins

Edge Rushers

1. Dre'Mont Jones
2. Femi Oladejo
3. Arden Key
4. Jaylen Harrell
5. Lorenzo Carter

This list was a bit scary to look at just putting it in writing like this. It cannot be overstated how badly the Titans need Oladejo and Jones to play to their potential in 2025. Arden Key is at his best in a rotational DPR role, and Harrell and Carter need to take a leap before I call them particularly useful depth. I don’t yet see a reason to keep more than these five.

Cuts: Ali Gaye, Titus Leo, Desmond Evans

Inside Linebackers

1. Cody Barton
2. Cedric Gray
3. James Williams
4. Otis Reese
5. David Gbenda

The tiers of competition at inside linebacker already seem pretty clear. Barton is a lock starter. In the lead to play alongside him are the two 2024 draft picks, Gray and Williams. Otis Reese is the lone veteran with a shot at taking that job, and UDFA former longhorn David Gbenda is the dark horse candidate who could really pop when the pads come on. This will be an exciting race to watch.

Cuts: Curtis Jacobs, Amani Burney, Anfernee Orji

Cornerbacks

1. L'Jarius Sneed
2. Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
3. Roger McCreary
4. Marcus Harris
5. Darrell Baker Jr.
6. Jermari Harris

Sneed, Brownlee, and McCreary are the starters for this team. Behind them, the assumption is that draft pick Marcus Harris will be in the mix. Darrell Baker Jr. is the veteran I think who will have the best camp after some promising play in 2024. And UDFA Jermari Harris is the top undrafted player I have my eye on this summer. I think he has steal potential.

Cuts: Amani Oruwariye, Gabe Jeudy-Lally, Clarence Lewis, Jalen Kimber, Davion Ross

Safeties

1. Amani Hooker
2. Xavier Woods
3. Kevin Winston Jr.
4. Mike Brown

Safety is a relatively easy decision at the moment. Hooker and Woods will start to begin the year. The hope is that 3rd round pick Kevin Winston Jr. will emerge as a fantastic rotational option and potentially surpass one of them for a starting role. And Mike Brown has been the depth player Tennessee seems most comfortable relying on recently.

Cuts: Julius Wood, Kendell Brooks, Mark Perry, Jerrin Thompson

Specialists

1. P Johnny Hekker
2. K Joey Slye
3. LS Morgan Cox

No surprises here, as there’s no competition at any of these spots. That completes the 53-man roster! 3 specialists, 25 on defense, and 25 on offense. Let’s revisit this in August and see how much has changed…

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