NASHVILLE. Tenn. -- At the end of the 2016 season, the Titans had six receivers on their roster.
If they have six on the 2017 roster, four would be locks: First-round pick Corey Davis, Last year’s top player at the position Rishard Matthews, third-round pick Taywan Taylor and last year’s other starter Tajae Sharpe.
Eric Weems is in line for the spot held Marc Mariani last year -- listed as a receiver and working with them, but a special-teamer first and used on offense only in a pinch.
The versatility of first-round pick Adoree' Jackson, a cornerback who caught 39 passes and six touchdowns in three seasons at USC, may help the Titans carry one fewer receiver.
If the group is healthy and the kids are making progress, the players with roster spots at risk will be 10th-year man Harry Douglas and 2015 seventh-rounder Tre McBride.
Douglas factored into the slot a bunch last year when Kendall Wright was unavailable. But the draft selection of Taylor was followed by a lot of conversation about how the Titans want to be quicker there. Others, like Davis, are also equipped to play there when needed or for a wrinkle.
McBride is a hard-worker, who fits the personality mold the team seeks and has some skills. But he was on the practice squad for half the season last year and only played twice after he was elevated to the roster. He was around, mostly, because they Titans were thin.
Douglas accepted a $2 million salary reduction for 2017 and is now slated to make $1.75 million. Can some veteran leadership and veteran savvy from the slot keep him on the roster? He’ll be one of the big roster questions as camp opens.
