By MIKE ROBERTS
The NFL roster cutdown deadline is today at 6:00 p.m., meaning teams must trim their rosters to 53 players. Who will make the Tennessee Titans’ roster?
Players like Jonathan Simmons, Cam Ward, and Carnell Tate are certainly locks to make the squad. Simmons is the team’s best defender, Ward is the starting quarterback, and Tate was a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But what about those “bubble players” like running back Julius Chestnut and quarterback Hendon Hooker, who are at the bottom of the depth chart holding on for dear life? Here’s our prediction for the Titans’ 53-man roster.
Quarterback (2)
Cam Ward and Mitchell Trubisky
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, Ward (59.8%, 3,169 yards, 15 TD) is “The Man” in the QB room once again. It remains to be seen, though, whether he’ll have a big-time sophomore season in 2026. The potential is certainly there.
Drafted by the Chicago Bears with the second overall pick in 2017, Trubisky (71.4%, 313 yards, 4 TD) was supposed to become a franchise quarterback. Instead, he has turned out to be a journeyman now on his fourth team. Yet, the veteran should prove to be a solid backup for Ward.
Look for only two quarterbacks to make the Titans’ 53-man roster this year. That means former first-round pick and mayonnaise enthusiast Will Levis (63.1 %, 2,091 yards, 13 TD), who never panned out as the starting QB, and former Tennessee Volunteer Hooker will be cut.
Running Back (4)
Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Nick Singleton, Julius Chestnut
Rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of the past four seasons, Pollard (1,082 rushing yards, 5 TD) is definitely a lock to make Tennessee‘s roster. D’Ernest Johnson (14 carries, 25 rushing yards), though, looks to be on the outside looking in.
Wide Receiver (6)
Carnell Tate, Wan’Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, Chim Dike, Bryce Oliver
This offseason, the Titans went out and got Ward some help by drafting Tate and signing Robinson. They’ll join holdovers Ridley, Ayomanor, Dike, and Oliver in the team’s much-improved wide receiver room this year. Look for wideouts like Xavier Restrepo and Hank Beatty, who has emerged as an undrafted gem this summer, not to make the final roster.
Tight End (4)
Gunnar Helm, Daniel Bellinger, David Martin-Robinson, Kylen Granson
Helm (44 rec, 357 yards, 2 TD) is TE1 now. Will he put together a breakout year in Nashville?
Offensive Line (9)
Dan Moore Jr., Peter Skoronski, Austin Schlottmann, Fernando Carmona, JC Latham, Pat Coogan, Jackson Slater, Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, Cordell Volson
The line returns starters such as Moore, Skoronski, and Latham. Will the unit consistently keep the quarterback upright and establish clear running lanes this season?
Defensive Line (9)
Jeffery Simmons, Jordan Elliott, Solomon Thomas, Jackie Marshall, John Franklin-Myers, Keldric Faulk, Jermaine Johnson, Jacob Martin, Femi Oladejo
With four Pro Bowls and a 2025 First-Team All-Pro selection on his resume, defensive tackle Simmons (11 sacks, 67 tackles, 21 QB hits) is hands-down the best player on Tennessee‘s roster. He’ll join solid players like Franklin-Myers (7.5 sacks, 25 tackles, 15 QB hits), who signed with the team this offseason, and Gray (7 TFL, 4 passes defended, 1 sack) on defense this season. Meanwhile, defenders, who were recently signed like Corey Mayfield Jr., Tanoh Kpassagnon (5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hits), and Milo Eifler will not make the roster.
Linebackers (6)
Cody Barton, Cedric Gray, Anthony Hill Jr., James Williams Sr., Mohamoud Diabate, Dorian Mausi
Cornerbacks (5)
Alontae Taylor, Cor’Dale Flott, Marcus Harris, Josh Williams, Micah Robinson
The Titans spent a nice chunk of money this offseason revamping their secondary by signing free agents Taylor (2 INT, 83 tackles, 11 passes defended) and Cor’Dale Flott. Hopefully, the two newcomers can help improve the unit that finished 23rd in passing yards allowed per game a season ago.
Safeties (5)
Amani Hooker, Kevin Winston Jr., Tony Adams, Kendell Brooks, Erick Hallett II
Specialists (3)
K Joey Slye, P Tommy Townsend, LS Morgan Cox
Slye (80 % FG, 96.3 XP %) had an up-and-down 2025 campaign, but he has been perfect this preseason. The former Virginia Tech Hokie has shut down any rumors about the Titans looking to replace him. Townsend and five-time Pro Bowl long-snapper Morgan Cox are also locks for the special teams unit.