NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Here is a position-by-position look at who stays, who goes when the Tennessee Titans make their final cuts.
Quarterbacks (3): Marcus Mariota, Zach Mettenberger, Charlie Whitehurst.
Running backs (4): Bishop Sankey, David Cobb, Antonio Andrews, Dexter McCluster.
Fullback (1): Jalston Fowler.
Wide Receivers (5): Kendall Wright, Harry Douglas, Hakeem Nicks, Justin Hunter, Dorial Green-Beckham.
Tight ends (4): Delanie Walker, Anthony Fasano, Craig Stevens, Phillip Supernaw.
Offensive tackles (4): Taylor Lewan, Jeremiah Poutasi, Byron Stingily, Jamon Meredith.
Guards (3): Byron Bell, Chance Warmack, Wil Poehls.
Centers (2): Brian Schwenke, Andy Gallik.
Defensive ends (5): Jurrell Casey, DaQuan Jones, Karl Klug, Ropati Pitoitua, Mike Martin.
Defensive tackles (3): Sammie Hill, Al Woods, Angelo Blackson.
Outside linebackers (4): Brian Orakpo, Derrick Morgan, Jonathan Massaquoi, Deiontrez Mount.
Inside linebackers (3): Avery Williamson, Zach Brown, Wesley Woodyard.
Cornerbacks (5): Jason McCourty, Perrish Cox, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Coty Sensabaugh, Cody Riggs.
Safeties (4): Michael Griffin, Da'Norris Searcy, Marqueston Huff, Daimion Stafford.
Specialists: Ryan Succop. Brett Kern, Beau Brinkley.
Some thoughts:
Carrying eight defensive linemen on a 3-4 team is heavy, but the lowest-ranking guy here, probably Martin, is definitely one of the best 53 players the Titans have. And Hill is going to miss some time after recent knee surgery.
Tight end Chase Coffman is a good pass catcher who showed it against Thursday night (four catches for 59 yards) against the Vikings. I had him on the roster I did on Aug. 11. Now I have flipped him with Phillip Supernaw. In a fourth tight end the Titans need someone who can block and play special teams, and Supernaw does those things better. And he's a pretty good pass catcher, too.
Linebacker depth is an issue. I cut inside backer Zaviar Gooden, who missed all but the first game with a hamstring injury. (So he might need to be waived-injured.) But whether he sticks or not, a fourth inside backer could be an upgrade spot.
Andy Levitre cannot be a backup for $6.5 million. Even if he took a big paycut, he no longer fits what this team wants to do or be. He will be gone. Poehls has played well as a second-teamer, but he might make it onto the practice squad for a second year if he is cut. They also like two undrafted interior linemen in Josue Matias and Quinton Spain.
Sixth-rounder Mount is not a lock by any means. Nor for that matter is veteran Jonathan Massaquoi. But the Titans do not have other real backup options for outside linebacker. I think it is their No. 1 priority for adding an outsider. Or two.