The Titans will open training camp in three weeks, with players scheduled to report on July 23rd. Tennessee’s core roster is primarily set in stone, but a few intriguing battles need sorting. Who are the entrants, and what are their chances of winning the competition to make the 53? Which positions are the five most crucial training camp battles that need to be watched by the staff and fans alike?
Five Training Camp Battles to Watch
Right Tackle
The Contenders
1. Nicholas Petit-Frere
2. Leroy Watson
3. Jaelyn Duncan
4. John Ojukwu
Four men enter, and two or (three if Bill Callahan is feeling frisky) leave the premises as members of the 2024 Tennessee Titans. Tennessee’s offensive tackle situation was, in 21st-century parlance, not great. NPF is the most heralded of the bunch but isn’t even the best candidate to claim the job. There’s a solid chance that Watson will earn the full-time gig because of his prior experience in Cleveland under Callahan’s system. Duncan was thrown into the fire as a raw rookie lineman last season, and it showed. Ojukwu enters with some promise this offseason. Who will take control of the bookend position protecting Will Levis? Will GM Ran Carthon look to the free agency market to bring in some help?
Running Back 3
The Contenders
1. Julius Chestnut
2. Hassan Haskins
3. Dillon Johnson
4. Jabari Small
At this juncture, it’s a four-horse race to determine the third and possibly fourth running backs behind Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. Haskins has survived multiple cutdowns despite some legal issues in the past and is a valuable piece on special teams. Unlike the costars, Dillon Johnson profiles as a bigger runner who can make hay between the tackles. Small is the more explosive of the bunch and could make the roster as a dual-threat type of hitter. Chestnut is a veteran of many Titans rosters and continually fights for a place on the senior squad. The franchise could also explore the market as camp cuts and veteran free agency slowly take shape.
EDGE 3
The Contenders
1. Jaylen Harrell
2. Rashad Weaver
3. Caleb Murphy
4. Khalid Duke
5. Thomas Rush
Tennessee must find that third EDGE rusher to complement starters Arden Key and Harold Landry and keep them fresh. They have some options that are either too green or have proven to be inconsistent. Harrell comes in with some momentum as a sound pass rusher from the defending champion Wolverines. He was a late seventh-round selection in 2024. Weaver has been the primary third option for several seasons but has shown a knack for inconsistency. Murphy earned various amounts of praise as an undrafted rookie in the last draft cycle, as has Thomas Rush, but has yet to prove it during the regular season. Duke was an undrafted free agent signing this past draft with an excellent skill set. It could be worth monitoring if the franchise goes in another direction via camp cuts and veteran-free agency. However they do it, the Titans need some desperate help at the position.
This need makes the EDGE3 battle one of the bigger things to watch for as training camp begins.
Inside Linebacker 3 + 4
The Contenders
1. Cedric Gray
2. Otis Reese IV
3. James Williams
4. Luke Gifford
5. Chance Campbell
6. JoJo Domann
7. Garrett Wallow
While it isn’t penciled in yet, Jack Gibbens has likely locked in a starting spot next to Kenneth Murray, leaving a raft of players fighting for backup reps. Cedric Gray is the chief among them, a celebrated fourth-round rookie with the instincts and athleticism to start eventually. According to PFF, Reese IV did well last season in spot duty, sporting a 76.9 overall defensive grade in just 90 snaps. Williams was drafted in the seventh round as a special teams ace and converted from safety, so he’ll likely take some time to get going. Gifford is primarily known for his special teams, and Campbell hasn’t proven anything in his tenure. Domain and Wallow are holdovers from the previous regimes as last-minute injury additions from years prior.
Cornerback 4 and Beyond
The Contenders
1. Caleb Farley
2. Tre Avery
3. Jarvis Brownlee, Jr
4. Anthony Kendall
5. Eric Garror
6. Tay Gowan
7. Gabe Jeudy-Lally
8. Robert Javier
The former first-round selection is seemingly on his last hurrah as a Titan after battling tragedy and injury throughout his career. He’s among the leading horses to win the honor of CB4 due to his first-round status and the new staff’s willingness to see what he has left. Avery, Garror, and Kendall all have had live-game action, some of it horrendous, much to the chagrin of Titans’ fans. Brownlee is a fifth-round rookie out of Louisville who had a solid offseason process after an inconsistent collegiate career. GJL and Javier made a few plays during the OTAs and minicamps to get themselves on the radar. They must continue the good run of form to compete for a roster spot. The backup cornerback spots behind the Awuzie, Sneed, and McCreary law firm will be an exciting battle to monitor.
Main Image: Mark Zaleski – USA Today Sports
