The Titans are moving out of the early camp phase and into the part where the roster picture starts to sharpen. Padded practices are underway, the Blue & White Stadium Scrimmage has already come and gone, and a joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers is set for August 11 in Santa Clara, California. Two days later, on August 13, Tennessee opens its preseason against San Francisco.
That means it’s time to take stock of the rookie class, and there’s already a clear split between players gaining ground and those still trying to catch up.
Carnell Tate has been one of the biggest bright spots so far. The No. 4 overall pick came in with massive expectations, and by all signs he’s handling them.
Cam Ward has been distributing the ball to a wide group of targets, but Tate keeps showing up in the action. He made a viral touchdown catch at the first practice of camp and has remained a steady presence since then.
His momentum is trending in the right direction.
Keldric Faulk is also moving forward, even if his adjustment has been more about learning than flashing. The defensive end is getting used to Coach Saleh’s attack-style defense, a system built on instinct and aggression rather than the usual read-and-react approach. Faulk is still working through the rules and assignments, but his size and length have shown up enough for the Titans to feel good about where he is right now.
At inside linebacker, Anthony Hill Jr. is another rookie with his stock on the rise. Cedric Gray and Cody Barton seem set as the starters, and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said Hill is learning the MIKE position.
That slower path makes sense with James Williams Sr. also making standout plays at practice. Hill added to his case with two interceptions at Tuesday’s session, a strong reminder of what he can do when the ball finds him.
Not every rookie is in the same place. Fernando Carmona has worked his way up the depth chart at times, but there’s no real sign yet that he’s pushing for meaningful snaps in 2026.
The Titans’ right guard battle is centered on Jackson Slater and Cordell Volson, and Carmona looks more like a possible future option if that spot remains unsettled. If Slater or Volson don’t become the answer, Carmona could be ready to step in as a starter in 2027.
Nicholas Singleton has had moments that catch the eye. His size and athleticism stand out, and there have been flashes that make him interesting.
But Tennessee’s backfield picture is already taking shape, with Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears clearly ahead of him as the top two backs. Singleton also hurt himself with a fumble on a screen pass earlier this week, and that’s the kind of mistake that makes it harder to win trust.
Kalel Mullings is in the mix too, which only tightens the competition.
Jackie Marshall’s path looks tough as well. The rookie defensive tackle has been a quieter presence in camp, and that’s not ideal at a position where the Titans already have Jeffery Simmons, John Franklin-Myers, Solomon Thomas, and Jordan Elliott in place. Marshall is battling for a roster spot, though his draft status may still give him an edge over Jalyn Holmes and Khalen Saunders.
Pat Coogan and Jaren Kanak were also part of the rookie updates as camp continues to ramp up.
In Other News...
Raiders Have A Real Offensive Line Battle Brewing In Camp
Second-year players from the 2025 draft class are already finding out how quickly a promising rookie season can turn into a new proving ground, and the Titans have one of the more interesting cases in Elic Ayomanor. After a quiet but productive first year in Tennessee, the wideout is back in the mix for a larger role as training camp opens, with the team sorting through a few key competitions that could shape the offenses depth chart for the fall.
Ayomanors path is especially worth watching because his rookie production gave Tennessee a real glimpse of what he can offer, but camp is where he has to turn that into trust and snap share. With second-year players around the league trying to move from developmental pieces to regular contributors, the Titans will be watching closely to see whether Ayomanor can keep pushing his way into a bigger piece of the passing game. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Suddenly Have A Real Cody Barton Decision To Make
The Titans suddenly find themselves with a linebacker question they did not necessarily expect to be pressing this soon. Cody Barton arrived last offseason as a veteran presence, but Tennessees defense is also starting to see some encouraging signs from younger players, and that changes the conversation around the depth chart. With Robert Saleh now steering the scheme, fit matters just as much as experience, and Bartons style is not as clean a match on paper as it might have been a year ago.
Anthony Hill and James Williams have both given the Titans reasons to look closely at what the future could look like in that room. Barton still has value, and that makes this more than a simple keep-or-cut call, especially with his contract and potential trade market in play. For now, there has been no official move, but the fact that Tennessee is even weighing the possibility says plenty about how much the linebacker competition has shifted. [Read more 🡒]