3 takeaways from new Titans depth chart heading into Week 1

The Tennessee Titans released a brand new depth chart as they prepare to take on Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday in what should be an entertaining Week 1 contest.

Training camp and preseason gave us a good reference point about young players and their development. There have been position battles aplenty, and we’re still unsure about how some things will play out on Sunday (like right tackle, for example).

Of course, all of this needs to be taken with a grain of salt, as well. No depth chart is written in pen, and players will often play based on the situation. There will be changes throughout the season.

Chester Rogers in the slot?

Following the Julio Jones trade, it seemed pretty obvious that free agent acquisition Josh Reynolds was going to start in the slot and serve as the team’s third option in the passing game. An Achilles injury slowed Reynolds down in August, and Chester Rogers started to emerge by making impressive players both as a receiver and on special teams.

In the end, it’s Rogers who’s listed at WR3 here, but we’ll see how things play out on Sunday.

Rookies are buried on the depth chart

Essentially every first-year player is listed as low as can be here and it’s not an accident. Head coach Mike Vrabel is a big believer in making young players earn their stripes.

Elijah Molden and Caleb Farley are listed behind Jackrabbit Jenkins, Chris Jackson, Kristian Fulton and Breon Borders. It’ll be interesting to see who starts in the slot between Jackson and Molden against the Cardinals. That’ll be one way to measure how accurate this depth chart truly is. Dillon Radunz is listed at right guard behind Nate Davis, and isn’t listed at right tackle at all. Racey McMath is listed behind Julio Jones and Cameron Batson. Undrafted free agent running back Mekhi Sargent is listed behind Derrick Henry, Jeremy McNichols and Khari Blasingame (FB) at RB. Rashad Weaver is listed behind Bud Dupree and Ola Adeniyi. Monty Rice is the lone exception, and is listed behind Rashaan Evans, but in front of Nick Dzubnar (who is more of a special teams ace).

It’s clear that the Titans’ rookie class won’t be handed anything this season.

David Quessenberry to start at right tackle?

Vrabel has yet to confirm who will start at right tackle on Sunday, and the depth chart is designed to give away nothing. Quessenberry is listed first, but it goes Quessenberry / Sambrailo / Lamm. The “slashes” intend to show that this three-way battle is far from over.

Still, it’s interesting that Quessenberry is technically listed “first”, if you can call it that. Additionally, when asked about the position the other day, Vrabel mentioned Quessenberry before Sambrailo and Lamm. Things appear to be still up in the air here, but my money’s on Quessenberry, at least to start the season.