There's about to be a whole lot more space in theTennessee Titans' locker room.
Within the next 24 hours, the Titans will trim their active roster down from 91 players to 53. Per NFL rules, teams must have their rosters trimmed to 53 players by 5 p.m. CT on Aug. 30. Players cut on Aug. 30 will be subject to waivers, which must be submitted by noon CT on Aug. 31, and all unclaimed players can be signed to practice squads shortly thereafter.
So for the final time this training camp, The Tennessean is taking a swing at projecting the 53-man roster. Divided into five groups, it goes: the locks, the guys who ought to be feeling good, the guys on the right side of the bubble, the guys on the wrong side of the bubble and the longshots.
Here's the final
Titans roster projection.
Tennessee Titans roster projections 5.0: Cut day edition
The locks (42 players)
Cam Ward, Mitchell Trubisky, Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Nick Singleton, Carnell Tate, Wan'Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, Gunnar Helm, Daniel Bellinger, David Martin-Robinson, Dan Moore Jr., Peter Skoronski, Austin Schlottmann, JC Latham, Pat Coogan, Fernando Carmona Jr., Jeffery Simmons, John Franklin-Myers, Jordan Elliott, Solomon Thomas, Jermaine Johnson II, Keldric Faulk, Jacob Martin, Femi Oladejo, Cody Barton, Cedric Gray, James Williams Sr., Anthony Hill Jr., Alontae Taylor, Cor'Dale Flott, Marcus Harris, Joshua Williams, Micah Robinson, Amani Hooker, Kevin Winston Jr., Tony Adams, Joey Slye, Tommy Townsend, Morgan Cox
It's hard to find a guy on this list who doesn't either A) feel integral to this team or B) fill a depth need at a spot where he's a clear favorite over anyone else in his room.
Guys who ought to be feeling good (5 players)
Julius Chestnut, Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, Jackson Slater, Jackie Marshall, Malik Herring
Chestnut's special teams value boosts him off the bubble. Herring feels like the coach's favorite in the competition for fifth edge defender. Crenshaw-Dickson, Slater and Marshall slide up a rung as homegrown developmental options at positions tough to replace in-season.
The right side of the bubble (6 players)
Kalel Mullings, Xavier Restrepo, Austin Deculus, Dorian Mausi, Jerrick Reed II, Erick Hallett II
Mullings' injury status could end up mucking this up for everyone, but for now, we have no other place to put him. Keeping both Deculus and Crenshaw-Dickson is an investment in the importance of loading up on tackles in a volatile league. Keeping Reed and Hallett is a continued investment in special teams, just like Mausi. And the choice to load up with Mausi, Reed, Hallett and Chestnut allows the Titans to reward Restrepo for a strong training camp with a spot on the 53.
The wrong side of the bubble (13 players)
Will Levis, Michael Carter, Bryce Oliver, K.J. Osborn, Kylen Granson, Cordell Volson, Timmy Horne, Jalyn Holmes, Truman Jones, Earnest Brown IV, Mohamoud Diabate, Keydrain Calligan, Kendell Brooks
Some surprises here that maybe get carried over to the practice squad if possible. Diabate and Volson looked like potential starters in July who've just been out-prioritized by younger, higher-upside players. Carter, Oliver and Osborn all make sense as veterans to stick on the practice squad if they're willing. Jones had a pretty awesome preseason but makes sense as a practice squad guy. And Levis... well... it's time for a fresh start for everyone.
The longshots (25 players)
Hendon Hooker, D'Ernest Johnson, Mason Kinsey, Hank Beatty, Tyren Montgomery, Courtney Jackson, Lance McCutcheon, Joel Wilson, Andre James, Rasheed Miller, Drew Moss, Aamil Wagner, Garrett Dellinger, Zachary Thomas, Khalen Saunders, Laki Tasi, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Dyontae Johnson, Mani Powell, Reid Carrico, Corey Mayfield Jr., Mario Goodrich, Jalen McMurray, Bishop Fitzgerald, Derrick Canteen
The Titans gave serious, honest looks to some of their UDFAs in the preseason finale, but it's hard to see any of them earning their way onto the 53. Some guys I wouldn't be shocked to see on the practice squad, though: Fitzgerald, McMurray, Beatty.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Projecting Tennessee Titans' 53-man roster 5.0: Our final predictions
