The Tennessee Titans and Coach Brian Callahan have done a good job this offseason of upgrading several positional groups that underperformed last season. While the offense took most of the blame, the defense also has several holes to fill.
The defensive stats from 2024 are deceiving. The Titans finished second in the league in total defense, allowing only 311 yards per game. Special teams gaffes and short fields from turnovers were the most significant contributors to this stat. A more telling statistic is the 55 touchdowns the team allowed, second-to-last in the NFL.
The Titans’ secondary finished middle of the pack in interceptions with 11 last season and the bottom third in completion percentage, allowing 66.4% to opposing quarterbacks. Some of the problems were attributed to injuries, while others were blamed on young players. The group’s personnel has changed significantly since then, but is that enough?
Sneed had a disappointing first season with the Titans, playing only five games before being sidelined due to injuries. The team was aware of the risk, however, when they signed him.
Sneed was one of the best CBs in the league while with the Kansas City Chiefs, but he’s only been able to play 17 games in one of his five NFL seasons. Leg injuries, from the ankle up to the hip, have caused him to miss playing time over the years, but nowhere near what he missed last season with the Titans.
In addition to the injuries, Sneed is facing legal battles. On June 2, he’ll be in court for a civil lawsuit stemming from an alleged shooting on December 6, 2024. Along with the civil suit, there has been an official felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon filed, but no court date has been set for that.
The offseason program has seen Sneed participate while rehabbing his knee and quad injury. He’s expected to be a full participant once mandatory training camp officially kicks off. If the Titans’ secondary is going to improve, then they’ll need him to play all 17 games this season.
Last season, the Titans felt good about their assumed starting CBs. Starting on one side was Pro Bowler Sneed, and on the other was veteran Chidobe Awuzie. That pairing never had a chance to prove itself as both players were injured for a significant part of the season. Enter Darrell Baker Jr. and rookie fifth-round pick Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
Baker signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2022. The Georgia Southern graduate went on to play for Indianapolis for two years before landing with the Titans in 2024. He was steady, but unimpressive. Starting 2024 as the fourth CB on the depth chart, he held his own, allowing only a 53% completion rate and four touchdowns on the season.
After finishing up a solid college career at Louisville, Brownlee came into the 2024 Titans camp with a lot to prove. His stature and physical play intrigued the team enough to draft him on day three. He struggled all season with penalties resulting from his aggressive play style, but finished with 74 tackles, third-best on the team. He threw in seven tackles for a loss and one interception for a solid rookie showing.
The pressure is on both Baker and Brownlee to show improvement in their second year in Dennard Wilson’s defense. Baker can continue to add quality depth, while Brownlee should compete for the starting spot opposite Sneed. The Titans will need Brownlee’s aggressive play style and press coverage to shut down the talented receivers they’ll see this season.
The Titans signed Amani Oruwariye in the offseason, who played with the Dallas Cowboys last season. Using the word played might be a stretch, as he only saw action in one game. His best year came early in his career with the Lions, when he had six interceptions in 2021. He does fit the mold for the type of cornerback Wilson is looking for in his defense, with a 6’2” frame and physical style of play.
Gabe Jeudy-Lally spent his 2024 rookie season on and off the Titans’ practice squad. He did see action in four games, but only on special teams. He, like Oruwariye, possesses the physical attributes the Titans desire: tall and physically strong. He’ll have a leg up over the incoming rookies after playing a year in this defense.
The Titans should feel comfortable with their slot corner, Roger McCreary. Even with an off-year in 2024, he’s provided quickness and good cover skills in his three years with the team. He was banged up down the stretch (shoulder/knee), but the Titans will hope to see his form return to that of his previous two years, where he finished third on the team in tackles with 84 and 86 tackles, respectively.
Sneed, Brownlee, and McCreary provide a solid starting secondary, but, if the past is to be believed, the Titans will need a lot of help from their depth players. Sneed’s injury history, along with the team’s recent bad run of injuries overall, means they need at least a few of their rookies to play great out of the gate.
The Titans spent only one draft pick at the CB position this year. They spent the 183rd pick on Marcus Harris from Cal.
Harris’s measurables don’t shock you; they were all middling, but his physical style and press coverage ability make him a fit. He was the 31st-ranked CB in the draft, but his tackling efficiency and high football IQ could be enough to see him make an impact before the season is over.
The Titans have brought in numerous UDFAs to compete for roster spots, all of whom are around 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. Wilson knows the style of football he wants to play. If you can press, bump, and tackle efficiently, you’ve got a shot with the team.
Jermari Harris is a special teams ace, an area the Titans must improve on this year. Memphis’s Davion Ross has experience returning kicks, which could be his ticket to make this roster. Jalen Kimber had a fantastic showing at his Penn State Pro Day, following an NFL Combine snub, and excels at tackling in the box. Finally, Syracuse’s Clarence Lewis was added, but he struggles with tracking deep balls and isn’t as physical as the other options.
The Titans have brought in plenty of bodies to compete at CB this offseason. Recent history suggests they will keep only four or five on the main 53-man roster. The likely candidates are Sneed, Brownlee, McCreary, Baker, and Oruwariye, barring a standout performance from one of their other options.
Marcus Harris has a shot at grabbing a spot. The Titans thought enough of him to spend a draft pick on him, so they’d love for it to pay off. Jeudy-Lally could use the time he spent last year with the team as a catalyst if he can show improvement. On top of that, the Two-Tone Blue will need to keep a few more options on the practice squad to fight off the injury bug.
If the Titans hope to compete for the division this season, then the secondary will need to show marked improvement. They have options on paper, but who will take the opportunity in training camp and force the team to keep them? Voluntary OTAs are currently underway, so it won’t take long to find out.
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