Programming note: I’m back. Posts TBD, probably focusing on the rookies or big free agents, likely every day this week, though Thursday and the start of training camp will bring my annual guaranteed to be wrong 53-man roster prediction. Positional analyses are slated to begin next Monday, August 3 with the quarterbacks; like Thursday’s post, that’s as set in stone as almost any of my blogging around here.
A.k.a. the annual exercise in which Glass-Mostly-Empty Tom anticipatorily crushes the nascent dreams of unheralded aspiring NFLers.
Admittedly Glass-Mostly-Empty though I may be, this pessimism has generally been merited when it comes to the Titans and those players they signed after going unselected in that year’s rookie draft. As I like to harp on, the only non-draft pick to make the team his first year and earn a multi-year role in the past eight seasons has been long snapper Beau Brinkley. Not since Ahmard Hall went unselected in the 2006 supplemental draft has an undrafted free agent straight out of college had a multi-year job on either offense or defense with the Tennessee Titans. I thought last year that the scheme changes on both sides of the ball (plus the general lack of offseason additions) made it more likely an undrafted free agent would make the team, but it was not to be. The continued presence of Ruston Webster at general manager, notwithstanding his public comments, and Ken Whisenhunt at head coach make me think undrafted free agents will still face a very long road to earning a roster spot on the Tennessee Titans.
I should note this post, as with all the others I do, comes with a very important disclaimer I don’t mention as often as I should: All these guys are way, way, … way, way better football players than I ever was and tougher and stronger and could probably beat me up without breaking a sweat and probably better people than me, as well. The 53-man roster is far from set in stone at this point, and it’s not out of the question one or more of these guys could impress and make the team. I’ll be watching with interest this August to see if any can surpass my expectations and make an impact. But I’m still taking the Under on 0.5 of these guys on the Week 1 roster.
Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil, OLB, Maryland-Started his college career at Seton Hill (PA), not to be confused with Seton Hall (NJ), before transferring to College Park. Missed three games his senior year with a foot injury. Lifted but did not run at the combine due to a knee injury; claimed he was clocked at 4.59 in the 40 at his pro day workout; NFL Draft Scout lists him at 4.80. There’s obviously a significant difference between those two numbers. I was kind of surprised the Titans were listing him as an OLB, as he seems like he might be a better fit for a SILB job. Haven’t seen anything that gets me excited other than the claimed 4.59.
Dezmond Johnson, OLB, Duke-Nashville native who attended Overton High School; he had a (free) pre-draft visit with the Titans and was immortalized with an interview with Mike Keith. Collegiate DE who was not asked to drop in coverage. Missed six games as a senior, but healthy now. NFL Draft Scout had him at 6’3/245 at his pro day, while Duke and the Titans list him at 260. Tried out with the Bengals before signing with the Titans a week after most of the players on this list. OLB depth chart gives him the best opportunity, whether on the roster or for a practice squad spot.
Toby Johnson, DT, Georgia-Highly-rated juco player who underwhelmed in two years in Athens, only starting four games, all as a senior. Backflipped (YouTube) at 300 pounds, which is very impressive, though he later declared he was retired from that. Torn ACL in 2012 he played through as much as one can play through that sort of thing. If I had more time and/or was getting paid for this sort of thing, I’d break down the 20 minute highlight video of him (blessedly all-22 and free of the Terrible Loud Music so common to the type). I think defensive line is about the hardest position for a UDFA to crack, but Johnson might be a candidate for a practice squad spot.
Deon Long, WR, Maryland-Robert Klemko’s MMQB story on Maryland’s pro day touched on Long as well as Cudjoe-Virgil, and contains the note that Long’s high school coach has coaches three All-Pros, Vernon and Vontae Davis plus Josh Cribbs, and Long as a high schooler was the best athlete and football player he has coached. Pretty high praise, really. Prepped at Hargrave before enrolling at West Virginia, but transferred to New Mexico before playing with the Mountaineers, then went juco, before finding his way to College Park; long profile by Jason La Canfora goes into detail on how that happened. Ran a 4.51 at 6’0/192 at the combine. Turned 24 in June, so likely closer to his peak than most college players. Where’s he fit on a cloudy receiver depth chart, behind Kendall Wright and Harry Douglas at slot/X?
Derrick Lott, DE, Tennessee-Chattanooga-Started at Georgia before transferring for more playing time. Big bodied (6’4/314) defensive lineman who was dominated against inferior foes, but turned 25 in June and may be a WYSIWYG who faces a long road to make a team with an already deep, though not that great, defensive front.
Josue Matias, G, Florida State-By general consensus the best prospect among the Titans UDFAs, generally considered a mid-round (3-5?) pick. My go-to on offensive line play, Lance Zierlein, projected him as a fifth-rounder. Reportedly flunked multiple team physicals due to a bad shoulder, which would explain the going undrafted thing. Kind of looks athletic, but tested poorly at the Combine and played like he tested. The Titans are looking for something different in their offensive linemen than what I value, so outside of some Larry Warford-esque exceptions, I’m going to have a hard time getting comfortable with my evaluations and meshing them with what they’re looking for.
Mike Meyer, K, Iowa-I don’t scout kickers. Camp leg to spare Ryan Succop. He’ll probably get a few kicks in games and hope another team gives him a shot.
Connor Neighbors, FB, LSU-Why do you bring in a fullback after drafting a fullback? Given the Titans, I can’t see them cutting Fowler to keep neighbors. Whisenhunt has not kept multiple fullbacks the last five seasons. Zierlein’s comparison was to Anthony Sherman, who began his career with Whiz’s Cardinals squad, except that Sherman is listed at 244 and Neighbors is 229, undersized for a fullback. I’m having a hard time finding a spot for him on the roster, but I’m having an even harder time figuring out (a) why the Titans wanted to sign him and (b) why he signed with the Titans.
Cody Prewitt, S, Ole Miss-Maybe the most famous player on the list, a college All-American in Oxford but a good test for the difference between NFL and college safeties. A fine college safety, but an NFL tweener. Runs more like an NFL strong safety, but is not that kind of physical player and does not have the cover skills. Doesn’t run well enough to play single high. I was really not a fan of him as a prospect. I still haven’t figured out what the Titans are doing with the safeties this year, but that exploration will come in the safeties positional analysis tentatively scheduled for about five weeks from now.
Cody Riggs, CB, Notre Dame-Spent his first four years at Florida before heading to South Bend as a graduate transfer (the rare good NCAA idea, so of course it’s under fire). The limits of size in the NFL. Listed at 5’9/187. Some teams, like Green Bay, refuse absolutely to look at corners that short. Likely limited to the slot because of that. Very good college player, competitive, but do you want to see him in coverage against a flexed out tight end or tackling a power back on the edge? He’s physical, but the NFL is a world where you need a certain size of the dog in the fight before you even get to the size of the fight in the dog. If they’re really as down on Coty Sensabaugh as Paul Kuharsky seems to think, he might have a shot.
Curtis Riley, CB, Fresno State-Two years at Fresno after going juco. Zierlein’s breakdown is the best thing I’ve seen on him; developmental cover corner who needs to learn how to play the position, which would make him a possible practice squad candidate.
Quinton Spain, G, West Virginia-The gospel according to Zierlein: “Short-area mauler with an ability to short pull and be functional on second level when asked. What could keep him from becoming a pro is a stiffness that creates severe anchor issues for him.” I see an open spot for a reserve interior lineman on the Titans, but I’d think with all the youth on the line they’d want a Chris Spencer-like veteran for that job (even if Spencer himself will not be that guy because of injury). [EDIT: Oh, yeah, Fernando Velasco is on the roster and a decent bet to be that guy.]
J.R. Tavai, OLB, USC-Good news: the Titans have basically zero OLB depth and Tavai was working with better players than you’d normally see a UDFA work with. Started on the defensive line, but dropped weight (from 270 to 249, he’s 6’2) to play on an edge rush spot. Reminds me of some of my disliked Steelers draft picks of recent years; lacks special qualities athletically of the sort I think are important for an edge rusher, but a good hustle player who was productive in college. Missed time the past three seasons with injuries. By Thursday, I’ll have more of an idea of how many OLB jobs there might be. If there are or might be five, there’s definitely a spot a UDFA could grab and Tavai would be the favorite.
Andrew Turzilli, WR, Rutgers-Rarely used deep threat who spent most of his college career in Lawrence, Kansas and therefore deserves our deepest sympathies because have you actually seen Kansas play football the last couple years and Piscataway was probably an upgrade, which is too devastating to contemplate. 6’3 and ran a 4.44 40 at his pro day. Listed at just 195 pounds, so think Justin Hunter minus some athleticism. Zierlein noted must improve ball tracking, which strengthens the comparison, though ability to make the contested catch undercuts it. Hunter’s arrest might give him a chance; that the Titans are sticking with Hunter despite it has me lowering his chances.
Lucas Vincent, DT, Missouri-Released in June. Included only for the sake of completeness.
Tevin Westbrook, TE, Florida-Like Dezmond Johnson, signed a week after the other players on the list, after a tryout at rookie minicamp. Pretty much a blocking tight end only, with just 11 career catches and one noticeable drop (YouTube), which he responded to in a standup fashion. 6’5/257, ran a 5.00 40 at his pro day per Draft Scout. Taylor Thompson’s release gives him more of an opportunity than I would have given him had I written this post back in May like I normally do.
More on these players as their play on the field I see merits.
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