TRAINING CAMP PREVIEW: DEFENSIVE LINE
In camp (10): DT Jeffery Simmons, NT T'Vondre Sweat, DE Sebastian Joseph-Day, DL Keondre Coburn, DT Cam Horsley, DL James Lynch, DT Philip Blidi, DT Devonte O'Malley, NT Isaiah Raikes, DL Carlos Watkins.
Offseason developments: Simmons worked on his own this offseason up until the team's mandatory minicamp, when he reported, and looked good. The Titans re-signed Joseph-Day back in March, and then the team re-signed Lynch. Watkins, formerly with the Cowboys, was signed in free agency, and the team added Horsley (Boston College), Blidi (Auburn), O'Malley (Northern Illinois), and Raikes (Auburn) as undrafted free agents after the NFL Draft. Coburn was re-signed, but TK McLendon was not tendered as an exclusive rights free agent. Marlon Davidson has not been re-signed and he remains a free agent. The Titans added Travis Smith as defensive run game coordinator this offseason, when he worked a lot with defensive line coach Tracy Rocker.
In the spotlight: Simmons. Heading into his seventh NFL season, the Titans are counting on Simmons returning to a dominating presence on the defensive line. In an effort to maximize his ability, Simmons lost roughly 20 pounds this offseason, and when he showed up for minicamp, he looked explosive. Simmons led the Titans with 42 quarterback pressures in 2024, when he also tallied five sacks and was second on the team with 76 tackles. Simmons wants to impact games even more this fall, and he'll use training camp to get primed and ready to disrupt.
Battle to watch: Raikes vs Lynch vs Coburn, et al. The Titans feel good about Simmons, Sweat and Joseph-Day on the defensive line, so the battle is under way for spots behind them. I can't help but wonder if this is an area the team could still address on the waiver wire. Raikes looked promising in the offseason, but he'll need to show up when the pads come on. Lynch and Coburn have experience with the team, and Watkins has experience in the league. A lot of guys are competing for depth spots behind the top three, and some might not currently be on the roster.
Keep an eye on: Sweat. There's no question Sweat is talented. There's no question when he's locked in and performing, he's very good. The 6-4, 366-pound Sweat is an athletic freak who could be special in the NFL. During his rookie year in 2024, Sweat showed flashes of greatness, but he was inconsistent, and he wasn't impactful in every game. With a season under his belt, Sweat knows what to expect heading into his second NFL season. But he's going to have to show up in shape, stay healthy, and be more consistent. How Sweat performs in camp could go a long way in determining how good he could be this fall.
Next up: Edge rusher.
