Breaking Down Tennessee Titans' Roster After the 2015 Draft

The 2015 NFL draft is over, and the Titans are already looking like a brand-new team. Changes to the roster in the first couple of rounds are usually pretty easy to predict, because teams are looking for starters.

After the first couple of rounds, though, things start to get a little hazy.

For instance, how does drafting a running back in the fifth round affect the status of the veterans already on the team?

Minus the changing of the guard at quarterback, the Titans roster will be mostly the same next year, but it might look more different than you think, with some players likely to break into more of a starting gig.

Here's a detailed look at how the draft has affected all the positions on the squad, and what it means for the future of the players already there.

Quarterback

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The obvious big change is at this position. Last year, Jake Locker started the year at quarterback, Charlie Whitehurst finished it and Zach Mettenberger emerged as the likeliest long-term starter in the group.

There still didn't appear to be a franchise quarterback in that group, and Locker retired, so the Titans spent the second overall selection on Oregon's Marcus Mariota.

Mariota looks to be the Day 1 starter, but Mettenberger gives the Titans some insurance if Mariota gets injured or doesn't transition well.

If he gets a chance and plays well, the Titans might be able to get a decent price for him in a trade; his rookie contract lasts until 2017.

The way the position is played will change pretty fundamentally, but the Titans are definitely better at quarterback than they were before the draft.

Running Back

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The Titans beefed up running back by drafting David Cobb. Since second-rounder Bishop Sankey wasn't very impressive in his rookie season, having Cobb to push him for playing time is a good thing.

Cobb also gives the Titans the battering ram-type player that Shonn Greene is supposed to be. Greene spent a lot of time injured, so Cobb adds some insurance in that role.

That selection also might say something about Greene's status with the team.

Lache Seastrunk and Antonio Andrews, two sophomore players, will also push for playing time. Neither is a home run hitter at running back, but between them all, the Titans should be deep at the position.

They also added a fullback in Jalston Fowler, the consensus top player at the position.

Receiver and Tight End

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Receiver is probably the most talented position on the Titans roster after they added two potential starters in the draft. Dorial Green-Beckham brings a ton of risk, but he also has a level of talent that no other receiver on the team has. With his size, he'll be a matchup nightmare.

Tre McBride is a small-school prospect whom the Titans got for a steal in the seventh round. He will be a quality depth receiver and occasional contributor.

With Kendall Wright on the team already, Justin Hunter still early in his career and Hakeem Nicks and Harry Douglas on the team via free agency, the Titans are deep at the position.

When players like Douglas, McBride and Nicks are your fallback guys, you're doing all right.

The Titans didn't address the tight end position. Delanie Walker is already a killer tight end, and they added Anthony Fasano via free agency. That isn't a good sign for Craig Stevens and Taylor Thompson.

Offensive Line

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The Titans added two offensive linemen in the draft. Jeremiah Poutasi was the first selection at the position, taken in the third round of the draft.

Poutasi played tackle at Utah for two years, but many project him to be a guard at the next level. The Titans are currently calling him a tackle, so expect him to be the presumptive starter at right tackle.

If Byron Bell or Byron Stingily plays unusually well, Poutasi could always move inside to replace Andy Levitre if the need arises.

The second pick was sixth-rounder Andy Gallik, a center who should make for a quality backup. With his power-blocking style, he might end up being the secondary option for all interior positions, assuming Poutasi ends up as a tackle.

I don't expect Gallik to start over Brian Schwenke, unless his injuries are worse than previously thought.

Defensive Line

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The Titans picked one player at the defensive line position: fourth-rounder Angelo Blackson out of Auburn.

I thought Blackson was a reach and more suited to play nose tackle, but he is the kind of space-eating end Ray Horton and Dick LeBeau like.

He'll be a depth piece anyway. With Jurrell Casey starting and Ropati Pitoitua the presumptive starter across from Casey, Blackson will be third on the depth chart at best. Both Karl Klug and Mike Martin are capable of filling out the place on the roster.

Another quality starter at the position could be used, but Casey ought to keep things interesting at the position.

Blackson's job will be to get in the way and allow other players to make tackles, for the most part.

Linebackers

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The Titans tackled the outside linebacker position in free agency, keeping Derrick Morgan on and adding Brian Orakpo across from him.

However, after the starting two, depth is incredibly thin. After Kamerion Wimbley, there are seven career sacks between the next three players.

Rookie sixth-round pick Deiontrez Mount might get more playing time than he thought, especially if the injury-prone Orakpo has to miss time.

Inside linebacker was not addressed at all in the draft, but Avery Williamson emerged as a likely starter after a quality rookie season. Wesley Woodyard missed a lot of tackles, so I'd expect Zach Brown to be the favorite as a starter next to him.

It's not a strong group, and the Titans may add another player as training camps go on and other teams make cuts.

Defensive Backs

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Defensive back is another position the Titans didn't address in the draft.

However, once the draft was over, the Titans did sign safety Cody Prewitt out of Ole Miss. Prewitt had three interceptions, four tackles for loss and two defended passes in 2014, so he actually has a chance to make the roster if he can outperform backup free safety Marqueston Huff.

Of course, Michael Griffin and Da'Norris Searcy will in all likelihood start at the safety position.

Cornerback could have used a draft pick, but you can only address so many needs in the draft. The Titans will start Jason McCourty and probably Perrish Cox, but after that, neither Blidi Wreh-Wilson nor Coty Sensabaugh has proven to be a starting-worthy player.

Expect corner and safety to be favorites for additions in 2016.

Special Teams

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No changes on special teams. Despite a mediocre performance out of Ryan Succop, the Titans did not sign a new kicker.

The Titans could still sign one as an undrafted free agent, but Succop has to feel pretty good about his job knowing that the Titans didn't spend one of their three late-round picks on the position.

Brett Kern can rest easy, too, though he's been a quality punter for years, so he has less to worry about for the moment.

Long snapper Beau Brinkley doesn't look like he's getting replaced, so expect business to be much the same.

Now in the return game, the Titans definitely shook things up, taking two potential kick returners in Dorial Green-Beckham and Tre McBride.

That ought to give them more options.