NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans' initial 53-man roster came with surprises in shape: They kept five tight ends and four defensive linemen.
While that lined up with Brian Callahan's pledge to keep the best players and not check boxes to meet numbers, it may be impractical, particularly in terms of the the defensive line depth.
Tennessee is seventh in the waiver wire claim order, and for each claim it submits, a corresponding roster move must be included.
A run-through of what they had as of Tuesday afternoon: [Unlocked]
Quarterbacks (2): Will Levis, Mason Rudolph
The Malik Willis experiment was a failure and they got a seventh-rounder from the Packers for him. Green Bay had a terrible backup situation and it’s not going to be much better.
Running backs (3): Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Julius Chestnut
Chestnut is clearly a better running back than Hassan Haskins. Haskins is a great special teamer though, but was judged less valuable than Luke Gifford, who could have saved them $1.9 million.
Wide Receivers (6): Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd, Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Jha’Quan Jackson
The three banged-up third-in-line slot guys are all out. Kyle Philips was waived-injured with yet another hamstring issue. If he is not claimed, he reverts to the Titans until they injury settle or until he is healthy enough to be released. Mason Kinsey (pinky) and Kearis Jackson (knee bruise) didn’t play in New Orleans but were healthy enough to be cut without designation.
Tight ends (5): Josh Whyle, Chig Okonkwo, Nick Vannett, Thomas Odukoya, David Martin-Robinson
Keeping five here is a surprise, but here’s where we see what Brian Callahan was talking about with not checking boxes and keeping the best players with the final spots. Congrats to Odukoya, who not only got his international exemption removed but got on the 53. And DMR was a great undrafted find. I don’t think they can last with this shape for too, too long.
Offensive linemen (9): JC Latham, Peter Skoronski, Lloyd Cushenberry, Dillon Radunz, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Daniel Brunskill, Andrew Rupcich, Jaelyn Duncan, John Ojukwu
Duncan’s stock rose at the end and he was a favorite for one of the last two spots, the ninth was a big question mark for those of us predicting. Ojukwu had a ton of time as the starting right tackle in OTAs, minicamp and early camp before NFP returned. But then it looked like he really sunk, playing third team for a stretch. Clearly, Bill Callahan likes some ingredients. Both the Cleveland guys he helped bring in – Leroy Watson who cost the Titans' a seventh and Geron Christian – were cut.
Shopping spots on the waiver wire for #Titans:
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 27, 2024
💥OT (upgrade John Ojukwu)
💥DL (four is pretty thin)
💥OLB (is Caleb Murphy a good enough designated pass rusher as a fifth?
💥CB (four seems light)
Defensive linemen (4): Jeffery Simmons, T’Vondre Sweat, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Keandre Coburn
I foolishly kept more here because I thought there would be a higher minimum. I think there is a higher minimum that will be met shortly with waiver wire shopping or free agent scooping after that.
#Titans DL TK McLendon was put on IR and it is not a recall spot.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 27, 2024
So he is out for the season. Or, if his turf toe is less serious, he can injury settle and return to the NFL three weeks after he's healthy down the road.
Outside linebackers (5): Harold Landry, Arden Key, Jaylen Harrell, Rashad Weaver, Caleb Murphy
The back end is thin here. Weaver is a very likable guy who didn’t make plays in camp or preseason games. Murphy flashes pass-rush moves but too infrequently. Landry will hardly leave the field. Key and Harrell should do most of the work on the other side.
Inside linebackers (6): Kenneth Murray, Jack Gibbens, Luke Gifford, James Williams, Otis Reese, Cedric Gray
A lot of special teams play has to come out of this bloated group. And a move is coming soon because Ernest Jones is arriving via a trade that sends the Rams a fifth-rounder for Jones and a sixth-rounder. I would think Reese is at most risk, though Gifford’s $1.9 million doesn’t guarantee until he’s on the roster opening day.
Safeties (5): Quandre Diggs, Amani Hooker, Elijah Molden, Jamaal Adams, Mike Brown
Solid five-pack if it remains healthy, though no top-end speed. Mike Brown needs to be big on special teams. Part of him making it is probably injury concerns with Adams and maybe Molden.
Cornerbacks (4): L’Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie, Roger McCreary, Jarvis Brownlee
Sneed did very little and Awuzie was out since suffering an injury the first day of camp. I thought Gabe Jeudy-Lally’s body of work was good enough to make it though he’s strictly an outside guy.
Specialists (3): Nick Folk, Ryan Stonehouse, Morgan Cox.
Solid, spectacular and solid.
My practice squad: Outside QB, outside DL, outside RB, RB Jabari Small, WR Bryce Oliver, WR Kearis Jackson, G Cole Spencer, OT Leroy Watson, DL Isaiah Iton, DL Quinton Bohanna, CB Eric Garror, CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, CB Anthony Kendall, S Matthew Jackson, S Keaton Ellis, K Brayden Narveson,