Poor inside linebacker play was a crippling factor in the Tennessee Titans' defensive collapse in the second half of the 2024 season. First-year general manager Mike Borgonzi showed a clear disdain for last season's linebacker room when he traded Kenneth Murray Jr. just two months after his January arrival.
After Borgonzi brought in former Denver Bronco Cody Barton to take over one of the starting linebacker spots, the second spot sparked one of the most anticipated battles on the roster. As the Titans progress through the offseason, leaders for these roster battles will emerge.
The competition boils down to a three-way race between James Williams, Cedric Gray, and Otis Reese.
Why James Williams leads the pack
While none of these candidates had a large enough 2024 sample size to make a final judgment, Williams distinctly had the most impressive tape of the group. A 2024 seventh-round pick out of Miami and a first-year safety-to-linebacker convert, he didn’t take a defensive snap until Week 15.
After excelling on special teams throughout the year, Williams was finally given starting snaps in Tennessee’s game against the Bengals near the end of the season. Due to a lack of time actually playing the position, the 22-year-old has a consistent lack of instinct when defending the run. What he lacks in instincts, he more than makes up for in raw athleticism.
As a converted safety, Williams has elite range and flashed impressive ability to stack-and-shed second-level blockers. Although the sample size is limited, he looked like a starting-caliber run-fitting linebacker in his three NFL starts.
Breaking down Cedric Gray's limited tape
A 2024 fourth-round pick out of North Carolina, Gray holds the pre-draft pedigree advantage over his competitors. Due to a nagging injury throughout his rookie season, though, he had an even smaller amount of tape than Williams.
In his 48 snaps, Gray continued to show some of the same traits that made him a sought-after draft prospect. He also flashed an ability to stack-and-shed second-level blockers but had a tendency to get washed out of the play by stronger offensive linemen.
While he may not be as athletic, Gray's additional experience playing the position does give him the cerebral and instinctive advantage over Williams and other players who are similarly raw.
What does Otis Reese bring to the room?
The least likely candidate of the three, Reese was a 2023 undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss. While he has consistently been an annual special teams ace, he also has a lack of true defensive tape to grade.
Also an above-average athlete who can contribute as a run defender, Reese’s skillset doesn’t necessarily inject anything new into the linebacker rotation. He has also recently struggled with an ankle injury, which has prevented him from competing in minicamp. More likely, he will continue to stay on the roster as a significant special teams contributor.
Could Tennessee look to add outside help at linebacker?
Regardless of whether James Williams, Cedric Gray, or Otis Reese emerges as the top performer, the Titans do at least have a trio of young and promising talents at linebacker. However, a single flaw still plagues the entire position group.
Tennessee needs a linebacker who can survive in coverage.
From Cody Barton down, no player in Tennessee’s linebacker room is comfortable when playing a coverage role. Due to this, the Titans could look to add additional outside help at the position.
Come training camp, when teams are forced to trim down to their final 53-man rosters, free agency is always injected with a wave of fresh talent. If Tennessee is in the market for a new addition to the position group, look for it to be during this time frame.
While it’s sure to be a tight race between all three players, the former Hurricane safety converted linebacker seems the most promising. Both because of his athletic traits and his 2024 film (albeit limited in volume), Williams looks poised to take the leap into a full-time starting role next to Cody Barton.
