NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans filled the biggest hole on their depth chart with Arizona safety Dane Cruikshank, who should be slotted as the team’s No. 3 safety once he gets involved in the system.
The Titans used one of their 30 prospects visits on Cruikshank, who picked off both Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen playing for the Wildcats. He said he made a lot of big plays and that those were only two of them.
Cruikshank is 6-foot-1, 201 pounds and ran a strong 4.41 and looks have qualities that make him versatile enough to play as a strong safety or a free safety.
(Photo courtesy Arizona.)
“Whatever they need me to play, I'll play,” he said. “I can play in the box, I can run to the post."
The Titans will list him as a “DB.”
"A versatile defensive back," Jon Robinson said. "Played a lot of positions for those guys out in Arizona. We spent a lot of time with him this spring, he’s got really good size, he’s got really good speed. He’s played outside corner, he’s played inside corner, he’s worked some at safety, plays in the kicking game. Really excited to add him."
He’s the third pick of the draft for the Titans, and the third pick that directly addresses depth-chart need.
Rashaan Evans is a starting inside linebacker, Harold Landry should be the third outside linebacker where the Titans will use several and Cruikshank could be on the first in three-safety packages and is likely to be the top backup to both Kevin Byard and Johnathan Cyprien.
Previously, special teamer Brynden Trawick and Denzel Johnson, an undrafted from 2017 who was on the practice squad, were the Titans reserves at safety.
The Titans released Da'Norris Searcy before the start of the new league year and didn't keep Curtis Riley. Searcy is in Carolina and Riley followed an old Titans position coach, Deshea Townsend, to the Giants.