Tennessee Titans Offseason Position Battles: Nickel Cornerback

The Tennessee Titans lost a team leader in Cortland Finnegan. It's a good sign that they are content with their depth at nickel corner, as the only player they've added in free agency and the draft was a cornerback selected on the third day of NFL draft weekend.

The trio of Finnegan, Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner in nickel situations was one of the strengths of the defense. Finnegan lined up on the slot, and not a lot of corners who play outside can do that. Verner and McCourty have only played outside in their short careers, so a new player needs to man the position. Here are the candidates:

Chris Hawkins

Jason McCourty had a concussion early in the Buffalo game last December. Chris Hawkins played extensively in that game and against the Saints.

Hawkins spent time with the Jaguars and Ravens in 2010 before ending up on the Titans' practice squad to finish the season. He played all four years at LSU. For him to go from practice squad/training camp body to game action means he impressed the coaches. He's the front runner for the job, but not by much.

Tommie Campbell

While Hawkins is from Baton Rouge and went to college in town at LSU, Campbell traveled a longer road to the NFL. He played two seasons at the University of Pittsburgh, transferred to Edinboro and sat out more than two years, including six months as a janitor that the Pittsburgh International Airport, before playing his final season at California University of Pennsylvania.

The Titans took him in the seventh round last year due to his athleticism.

Campbell is huge for a cornerback at 6'3", 205 pounds. He's probably the second-fastest player on the team, next to Chris Johnson. Campbell played special teams all year and scored a touchdown on a kickoff reverse against the Bucs.

Jason McCourty recently gave Campbell praise for his work ethic. He's the upside candidate for the position.

Ryan Mouton

The Titans selected Mouton in the third round of the 2009 draft. Later in that same draft, they selected Jason McCourty.

Mouton was selected to start next to Cortland Finnegan.  He played extensively as a rookie and started two games. That's been the peak of his career so far.

Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner passed him on the depth chart in 2010. He spent some time as the nickel corner, and his smaller stature would make him ideal physically for the role.

After missing 2011 with an Achilles tear, Mouton needs a good training camp to make the team.

Coty Sensabaugh

Sensabaugh didn't start at Clemson until his senior year. He's an athletic guy who might have seen a draft stock boost due to his cousin Gerald starting at safety for the Dallas Cowboys.

He's athletic enough to play outside, so it's doubtful that the team would play him as a nickel cornerback unless one of the starting cornerbacks covered the slot. Sensabaugh's a player who needs at least a year of development and could see the field on special teams but not on defense.