NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The backend of the Titans initial 53-man roster is loaded with surprises.
A four-man draft class, shrunken by draft-pick trades, created room and several players who were productive in preseason games – running backs Akrum Wadley and Dalyn Dawkins, defensive end Julius Warmsley, inside linebacker Robert Spillane -- lost out.
In are Sharif Finch), an undrafted outside linebacker from Temple; Aaron Stinnie, an undrafted guard from James Madison; Matt Dickerson, an undrafted defensive end from UCLA; And Cameron Batson (17), an undrafted receiver from Texas Tech.
Those four cost the Titans a mere $70,000 in guaranteed money when they lured them to Tennessee. Finch got $42,000 to sign, Dickerson $15,000, Batson $8,000 and Stinnie $5,000.
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Also on the roster right now is tight end Antony Firkser, a Harvard product who got his first look from the Jets and then spent time on the Chiefs practice squad last year.
None of them are guaranteed to be on the roster for the opener, or even through Sunday.
Waiver claims are due by 11 a.m. CT Sunday, and about an hour later they will be completed. For any player the Titans claim and are awarded, they have to cut someone.
#Titans cuts. pic.twitter.com/zubCsyID3a
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) September 1, 2018
Finch (56) made a big splash in the preseason, showing off a variety of pass rush moves. He was hurt in the third game and didn’t play in the preseason finale, along with 38 other Titans. He wore a sleeve on his left arm that included an elbow pad. With Derrick Morgan (knee) and Harold Landry (ankle) recovering from injuries, Finch could see time on defense early in the season.
Stinnie certainly benefitted from the uncertainty with Jack Conklin The team’s starting right tackle continues to rehabilitate from a torn ACL suffered in January. The Titans anticipate he will be ready before they are six weeks into the season, so they moved him from PUP to the roster.
But they needed an eighth healthy lineman, and with Dennis Kelly as the starter during Conklin’s absence, Kevin Pamphile’s ability to play inside and out made it possible for the Titans to keep both Corey Levin, a center and guard, as well as Stinnie.
Dickerson was quieter in games than Warmsley and didn’t work as high in the rotation. But at 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds they he had likable measurable and he’s over five years younger then Warmsley is.
Batson got a good deal of preseason work as a return man. Michael Campanaro winding up on injured-reserve and Nick Williams suffering a hamstring injury in Week 3 of the preseason, injuries that may have helped keep the door open for a smaller receiver who could be in the slot if and when he plays on offense.
Firkser was productive as a receiving tight end, but the group’s blocking was not great in preseason action and that is not his forte. So they could seek an upgrade there.