06-07-2025
Titans 53-Man Roster 2025: Two free agents but only one lock, the veteran receivers you're glad you have but hope you don't need
Titans 53-Man Roster 2025: Two free agents but only one lock, the veteran receivers you're glad you have but hope you don't need originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
Let's talk about two Tennessee Titans who are a bit of an anomaly.
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This is the first WR portion of an ongoing article series, breaking down the Titans projected 53-man roster one position at a time. So far we've covered the offensive tackles, the interior offensive line, quarterbacks, Kalel Mullings' role, Tyjae Spears' most important season ever, and Tony Pollard's potential ceiling.
In this installment, let's discuss the role that the veteran receivers outside of Calvin Ridley will be playing in 2025:
Wide Receivers
Calvin Ridley
Van Jefferson
Elic Ayomanor
Chimere Dike
Tyler Lockett
Bryce Oliver
Xavier Restrepo
Cut: James Proche, Colton Dowell, Treylon Burks, Jha'Quan Jackson, Mason Kinsey, TJ Sheffield
The Veterans You're Glad You Have, But Hope You Don't Use
The Titans offense is defined by youth in 2025. They hope their 2nd-year, 7th overall draft pick JC Latham becomes their best lineman this season. And beyond him, it's the rookie show: Cam Ward, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, Gunnar Helm, and Xavier Restrepo(?) headline what should be an exciting infusion of rookie talent into the fold. But the front office went into the draft with some veteran insurance, and what they do with that help now that the youth is exciting will be telling. So what's the plan with Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson?
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Before training camp begins, I think Lockett has the higher ceiling, but Jefferson is the roster lock. This is merely a quirk of roster dynamics, so let me explain.
Tyler Lockett is a household name in NFL circles for a reason. He's put together a 10 year career as a Seattle staple, tallying 8500+ total yards and over 60 touchdowns. That's a really good career! But the reason I want to pump the brakes on the hype with him just a little bit is the very fact that he is now a Titan, not a Seahawk.
When teams move off of franchise staples like Tyler Lockett, that typically comes with a pretty good reason. Lockett was and is a Seattle legend. He spend a decade there as a receiver! That's extremely rare. And when he hit free agency this year, both the team and the fanbase sent him well wishes. They saw him off without hesitation. When that happens with somebody like him, it immediately makes me suspicious.
Yes, last year he tallied just shy of 50 catches for over 600 yards. If he does that for Tennessee this year, it would be a real success! But he's 32 years old coming off of three consecutive seasons of decline. Eventually, the end comes for everybody. So while I think he'll contribute for Tennessee in some form or fashion in 2025–perhaps even as the 2nd option in this offense for a brief period of time—I don't expect a ton from him this year.
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Then, there's Van Jefferson. I think he's a roster lock. But his role on this team will be as a role player. Yes, there's a chance he is WR3 in this offensive for a moment in time. But will it last? I seriously doubt it.
He's going to ultimately be a WR4/5/6 on this team. He's going to play a part on special teams, which is important. And he's going to be a veteran failsafe that makes you feel more secure on Sundays. That's all you should expect from him this year, and that's fine! If he comes up big in a couple big spots, that's a win for this roster.
Related: 'I'm healthy as I've ever been' — L'Jarius Sneed speaks for the first time on his rehab and mindset ahead of crucial 2025 season
Related: 'You have to assume' NFL analyst drops nugget on Titans wide receiver as a dark horse roster lock to make the team in 2025
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This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
