TRAINING CAMP PREVIEW: CORNERBACKS
In camp (11): L'Jarius Sneed, Roger McCreary, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Darrell Baker Jr., Gabe Jeudy-Lally, Jermani Harris, Marcus Harris, Jalen Kimber, Clarence Lewis, Amani Oruwariye, Davion Ross
Offseason developments: The Titans re-signed Baker back in March, and then added Oruwariye, formerly of the Cowboys, later in free agency. The Titans also drafted Marcus Harris, who played at Cal, in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. The Titans signed Jermani Harris, Jalen Kimber, Clarence Lewis and Davion Ross as undrafted free agents after the draft. During OTAs, Ross tallied an interception during one of the open periods, and Kimber flashed. The Titans released cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, and he ended up signing with the Ravens. Coach Brian Callahan hired Tony Oden as defensive pass game coordinator/cornerbacks coach.
In the spotlight: Sneed. The Titans acquired Sneed via trade last offseason but didn't get a lot of playing time or production out of the former Chiefs star. Sneed was slowed with injuries, and the team eventually shut him down. Now, the team is banking on Sneed returning to form in his second season in Tennessee. Sneed didn't practice this offseason, but he spent a lot of time at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park. When Sneed was in town and working, he was locked in, and in a good place, as he worked to get himself back to good health. The team will continue to manage Sneed, hoping for a payoff this fall. Sneed will have to prove himself once again, however, starting in camp. If he avoids the PUP list at the start, that would be a good start.
Battle to watch: McCreary, Baker et al. A lot needs to fall in place at corner for the Titans, starting with Sneed's health. But some others are also in the spotlight, including Brownlee (who we'll touch on further in the next graph), McCreary, Baker and others. McCreary is best suited for nickel, while Baker proved last year he's capable of helping in coverage. Jeudy-Lally is a smart player who has made plays during the offseasn, while Marcus Harris is a developmental player who could get thrown in the mix early. Something to keep an eye on leading up to the season: The possibility of the team adding another corner (or two?) to contend.
Keep an eye on: Brownlee. A fifth-round pick of the Titans in the 2024 NFL Draft, Brownlee finished third on the team with 74 tackles in his rookie season, with an interception, seven tackles for loss, and nine passes defensed. Brownlee's mission heading into his second season is to make more game-changing plays by getting his hands on the football more often. Brownlee looked locked in during offseason work, and he seems poised for even better things in 2025.
Next up: Safeties.
