NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A year after massive roster turnover, the Titans are on their way to massive roster turnover.
This is to be expected from a team trying to fight back from a six-win season with a new coach, a GM who gained final say over personnel and a roster in great need of repair.
The #Titans' roster features 24 players in their first year with the team.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) September 6, 2023
That's 45.3 percent turnover.
From the 53 players who were on the 2023 for the first week of the season plus four players who we also in the fold – Nicholas Petit-Frere (suspended), Hassan Haskins (commissioners exempt list), Caleb Farley (PUP) and Kyle Philips (Injured-reserve) 37 remain, 64.9 percent of the roster.
But I count 13 who may not be here when the team takes the field on Sept. 8 in Chicago to start
the season. Not all of them can go, because several will be fighting for spots at the same position. But undrafted rookies could steal some spots, as could post-cut pick-ups. So the turnover number will rise.
Let’s run through those players. They are not in strict order, but those I consider safer are first and less safe later.
S Mike Brown – Brown seems like a leader for a backup safety and special team spot. In the nine games he played, he was on the field for 18 percent of the defensive snaps.
S Matthew Jackson – A developmental guy who the team could see as a safety of the future. He’d be a special teams contributor for sure. He made five special teams tackles as a rookie. Do the Titans add a veteran safety? That would make it more difficult.
CB Anthony Kendall – Played in 16 games as an undrafted rookie and was in on 75 percent of the special team snaps when he was dressed. He led the team with nine special team tackles.
ILB Jack Gibbens – The old regime loved his smarts and we’re hearing similar stuff from Brian Callahan. But he’s limited athletically and the Titans have added two new starters in Kenneth Murray and Cedric Gray. I can see Otis Reese, a healthy Chance Campbell and James Williams making him expendable.
RB Hassan Haskins – Hasn’t shown enough for me to think he’ll win the third spot behind Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears though he’s got the size profile you’d like for that spot at 6-2, 228. Undrafted Dillon Johnson will head into camp as a popular pick for the spot.
OLB Caleb Murphy – An undrafted project last year who came into the league with a huge sack total at Ferris State. He’s not been mentioned by Brian Callahan. The Titans are thin at edge, but they could find alternatives in undrafted Khalid Duke from Kansas State, free agent Carl Lawson or after camp cuts around the NFL. If he doesn’t make a big leap, ideally, he’d be a practice-squad type.
RB Julius Chestnut – See Haskins, but Chestnut is 5-11, 228.
WR Kyle Philips – It will probably be hard for him to win the return job based on previous struggles. Typically looks great in the slot at practice, but they now have Tyler Boyd and draft pick Jha’Quan Jackson.
CB Tre Avery – Corner coach Chris Harris likes his grit and determination. As with Eric Garror, there is a big gap between the top four and him. QBs fared far better against him than Garror, with a 135.3 rating when throwing against him. He’ll compete with Garror, Anthony Kendall, Caleb Farley and undrafted Gabe Jeudy-Lally.
WR Kearis Jackson -- He is intriguing, but I count seven receivers who will probably rate ahead of him. Practice squad?
ST/ILB Luke Gifford – A special teamer who’s pretty much a non-factor on defense. In 11 games he played 83 percent of the special teams’ snaps and was third on the team with six special teams tackles. Outranked at ILB by Kenneth Murray, Cedric Gray, Otis Reese, Jack Gibbens, Chance Campbell and James Williams. He has a $2 million base salary and would leave behind only $250,000 in dead cap.
QB Malik Willis – We don’t know how Brian Callahan feels about three QBs on the 53. But I don’t anticipate Willis showing enough improvement to warrant a roster spot. If he’s their third, I’d have it be from the practice squad, unless they simply don’t have a 53rd player demanding a slot.
CB Caleb Farley – It would be a terrific story if he could get on track and make it. At best, it would be as the fourth outside corner behind L’Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie and Jarvis Brownlee. Avery, Garror, Kendall and Jeudy-Lally are the competition. He was just so lost last we saw him active.
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