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Turron Davenport
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans‘ rebuilding course of began with hiring new normal supervisor Mike Borgonzi in January. Borgonzi was tasked with one of the vital necessary choices in franchise historical past when he took over: determining what to do with the No. 1 choose in final month’s draft.
There was temptation to commerce the choose, however the Titans got here out publicly throughout the week of the draft and mentioned they might be retaining it — marking the primary time because the franchise relocated to Tennessee in 1997 that it could choose at No. 1.
Borgonzi and crew entered the draft with varied roster wants, however they opted to go together with Miami quarterback Cam Ward at No. 1. Earlier than his first draft as a GM, Borgonzi admitted it could be tough to fill all roster holes regardless of having eight picks.
“We’ll do as a lot as we will,” Borgonzi mentioned throughout his predraft information convention. “However we definitely have a number of wants on the crew proper now.”
There are nonetheless roster questions at varied positions regardless of Tennessee managing so as to add picks by transferring down within the draft. The Titans traded their No. 35 choose to the Seattle Seahawks in change for picks 52 and 82 within the second and third rounds. The Titans additionally traded down within the fourth spherical, sending picks 141 and 178 to the Baltimore Ravens in change for picks 136 and 183.
The Titans used the draft to fill three of the largest wants by choosing Ward, exterior linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo (cross rusher), and receivers Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. Tennessee additionally boosted its receivers room by signing veteran cross catcher Tyler Lockett to a one-year, $4 million contract.
Titans coach Brian Callahan feels Lockett can be a powerful veteran presence for Ward. However he additionally likes the competitors the latest additions carry to the receivers room. As for the remainder of the roster, Callahan mentioned he is hopeful some youthful gamers will step up.
“I believe we now have some younger gamers within the secondary that we’re searching for some jumps,” Callahan mentioned Thursday. “Bought some younger linebackers that we have to step up too. After which clearly anytime you may add extra depth at both entrance, offensive line or line of defense — these are at all times issues we’ll be searching for.”
Here is a have a look at a few of the remaining questions in regards to the Titans’ roster as they get into Section 2 of organized crew actions this week:
Who steps up at inside linebacker?
The Titans signed free agent Cody Barton to offer the within linebacker place a veteran within the room. Barton posted over 100 tackles in every of the final three seasons with the Denver Broncos, Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks, respectively. He can be one of many starters.
The opposite inside backer place will come right down to a contest amongst a gaggle of younger gamers seeking to break by means of. Third-year linebacker Otis Reese IV can be in a battle with 2024 draft picks Cedric Grey and James Williams. Collectively, the younger trio performed 244 defensive snaps final season with 109 of them coming from Williams.
That quantity might want to enhance dramatically this yr.
Is the present group of cross catchers sufficient to assist Ward?
Lockett definitely brings some cache to the group and presents the unit’s solely confirmed participant apart from Calvin Ridley, who will stay on the Z spot on the perimeter.
Lockett will possible occupy the slot place. Ridley, Lockett and Treylon Burks are the one receivers on the roster to have posted a 100-yard receiving sport within the NFL. Burks is recovering from a torn ACL final November and will not be able to return when the Titans take the sphere for coaching camp in July.
However Callahan likes the flexibility of the rookie receivers. Ayomanor is an enormous goal who confirmed flashes as a downfield menace and will assist fill the X place vacated by Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who signed with the Miami Dolphins this offseason. Second-year receiver Bryce Oliver earned his means onto the roster and noticed offensive snaps late final season. Oliver can be within the combine.
And remember about undrafted free agent Xavier Restrepo, who completed his profession because the all-time chief in receptions (200), receiving yards (2,844) and touchdowns (21) at Miami. He is coming off his lone season with Ward at quarterback, the place he caught 11 touchdowns.
Did the Titans deal with cross rusher sufficiently?
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid talked about Oladejo as one of many cross rushers who might make a right away affect after a strong exhibiting throughout practices on the Senior Bowl in January. Oladejo has proven traits to hurry the passer, however he’s comparatively inexperienced as an out of doors linebacker. He performed most of his school profession at inside linebacker earlier than transferring to exterior backer halfway by means of his senior season.
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Oluwafemi Oladejo’s NFL draft profile
Take a look at some stats and data from draft prospect Oluwafemi Oladejo of UCLA.
“Size, energy, velocity — these had been a few of the issues that we noticed off the sting,” assistant normal supervisor Dave Ziegler mentioned of Oladejo. “His effort, tenacity, all these issues are what we favored.”
Releasing exterior linebacker Harold Landry III leaves a void, although. Landry had 31.5 sacks during the last three seasons, and the Titans presently do not have a participant who has recorded double digits in sacks in a season. The skin cross rusher rotation will encompass veterans Arden Key, Ali Gaye and Jaylen Harrell; free-agent additions Dre’Mont Jones and Lorenzo Carter and Oladejo.
The Titans do have the posh of getting added strain from the inside of the road with Professional Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and 2024 second-round choose T’Vondre Sweat.
