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NASHVILLE, Tenn. --The Tennessee Titans must cut their roster to 75 by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday and to 53 by 4 p.m. ET Saturday. Here is a final 53-man roster projection: Quarterbacks (2): Marcus Mariota, Matt Cassel. Alex Tanney is a nice guy to have as a third quarterback, but there won’t be practice snaps for a third quarterback. Running backs (5): DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry, Dexter McCluster, Antonio Andrews, Jalston Fowler (FB). Murray and Henry are foundational pieces for what the Titans want to do. Coach Mike Mularkey loves McCluster, though he is hardly the game-breaker the coach makes him out to be. Andrews can play special teams, which gives him the final spot, though he’s not one of the team’s best 53 players. Kick returner should not be among his roles, however, as he’s too slow for it. Wide receivers (6): Tajae Sharpe, Rishard Matthews, Kendall Wright, Andre Johnson, Harry Douglas, Tre McBride. McBride gets my final spot, ahead of a sixth cornerback. He could deserve to be fifth on this list ahead of Douglas, who has played pretty well but is not going to contribute in the same way and is 31 years old. Still, I think the coaches are going to favor veterans they have more experience with and they feel they can trust more -- like Douglas. Tight ends (3): Delanie Walker, Anthony Fasano, Phillip Supernaw. With Craig Stevens retired, it’s not as easy to find a fourth. Jerome Cunningham or Alex Ellis could stick. If they don’t, one will be on the practice squad and the Titans could be hunting on the waiver wire for a blocking tight end. Offensive line (9): Taylor Lewan, Quinton Spain, Ben Jones, Chance Warmack, Jack Conklin, Sebastian Tretola, Brian Schwenke, Dennis Kelly, Jeremiah Poutasi. Poutasi is borderline, but last year’s third-rounder is still young and somewhat raw. Warmack isn’t under contract in 2017. Defensive line (7): Jurrell Casey, DaQuan Jones, Al Woods, Angelo Blackson, Austin Johnson, Karl Klug, Antwaun Woods. Woods is the surprise. The undrafted rookie from USC has been solid and could be too good to let go. This is the team’s deepest group with a lot of young guys on the rise. Linebackers (8): Brian Orakpo, Derrick Morgan, Avery Williamson, Wesley Woodyard, Kevin Dodd, Sean Spence, David Bass, Nate Palmer. This group proven to be deep with its preseason play. Rookie Aaron Wallace missed a lot of time with an ankle injury and heads to the practice squad. Defensive backs (10): Jason McCourty, Perrish Cox, Brice McCain, Da'Norris Searcy, Rashad Johnson, Kevin Byard, Daimion Stafford, Marqueston Huff, Antwon Blake, LeShaun Sims. Corners Cody Riggs and Kalan Reed are tough calls. I’d choose to keep Riggs over Blake, but it’s clear coaches like Blake despite his last two performances at corner. He needs to be a heck of a special team player to justify it. Huff could be caught in a numbers crunch, but is a very good special teamer. Specialists (3): PK Ryan Succop, P Brett Kern, LS Beau Brinkley. Solid all around and zero questions.
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