Stock up, stock down for Titans after mandatory minicamp

The Tennessee Titans completed their three-day mandatory minicamp last week, which ran from June 14 through June 16. The first two practices were open to the media, giving us some insight into who shined and who didn’t.

Just in case you missed the events of those two days, you can check out our biggest takeaways from Day 1 and Day 2 here and here, respectively.

While mandatory minicamp is definitely important, the real evaluation period begins when the pads come on at training camp. Titans players will report on July 26, head coach Mike Vrabel revealed during the week.

There were some players who no doubt improved their stock ahead of training camp. Also, there was one very notable player who went in the opposite direction.

So, whose stock is on the rise and whose is on the decline? We take a look at that right now with our stock report following the team’s mandatory minicamp last week.

Stock up: TE Chigoziem Okonkwo

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

Okonkwo was arguably the biggest standout from mandatory minicamp, which was highlighted by a handful of touchdown catches from different Titans quarterbacks.

“I think I’ve progressed a ton, especially when it comes to the other things, the not-physical part of the game where you’ve got to learn, you’ve got to think, you’ve got to see fronts, you’ve got to be able to know the play because there’s different conversions on certain plays against certain coverages,” Okonkwo explained.

During the break between mandatory minicamp and training camp, Chig plans on attending Tight End University, where he hopes to pick up more knowledge from other tight ends around the NFL.

“That’s going to be a great experience for me, just getting to see literally the best tight ends in the league and to pick their brain for three days and just learn what they do, what they’re looking at in the passing game and the run game,” Okonkwo said, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “I definitely feel like that’s going to be a little quick getaway for me to learn a lot of football.”

The difference between Okonkwo being a part-time player and having a more significant role could be determined by how well he blocks. However, as of right now, he’s doing what he needs to in order to earn a big role in 2022.

Stock down: WR Treylon Burks

Syndication: The Tennessean

After Burks wasn’t unable to make it through entire practices at rookie minicamp, he was a non-participant during the two open sessions of mandatory minicamp.

We also discovered that Burks has asthma, which is at least partly to blame for his issues staying on the field.

“That’s unfortunate. Some of those things that happen were kind of out of his control,” wide receivers coach Rob Moore said, according to ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “The kid’s got asthma. Those things happen… He understands what the expectations are, but at the end of the day, it’s really him getting himself immersed in the culture of how we do things here, how we play here, which is different from every player that comes in here from college because we ask these guys to do things that a lot of teams don’t ask them to do.”

While it’s far too early to panic about Burks, he is missing important reps ahead of his first season and that could limit his playing time early on in 2022.

Stock up: WR Josh Malone

Syndication: The Tennessean

Malone was someone we had as a new addition in our latest 53-man roster projection following his strong minicamp. Admittedly, we don’t expect him to crack the 53-man roster, but he’s certainly making the case he belongs.

“Receiver Josh Malone, who played at the University of Tennessee, also ended his offseason on a solid note,” Jim Wyatt of Titans Online wrote after Day 2 of mandatory minicamp. “Malone went up high in the end zone to catch a pass from quarterback Logan Woodside on Wednesday. I wrote Malone’s name down numerous times this offseason while watching his bid to impress the coaches.”

Malone is fortunate to play at a position that has several question marks in Tennessee right now, which gives him a better chance to make the cut than most players on the roster bubble.

Stock up: DB Theo Jackson

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

As a sixth-round pick, there’s no guarantee that Jackson will even make the 53-man roster, let alone carve out a role for himself outside of special teams. However, Ben Arthur of The Tennessean sees him doing both of those things after showing out during the offseason program.

Stock up: WR Robert Woods

Syndication: The Tennessean

With A.J. Brown gone and Burks struggling to stay on the practice field, the Titans might be relying on Woods even more than we initially thought. The concern there, however, is that the veteran might not be himself in his first season back from a torn ACL.

The good news is Woods has looked very strong during drills this offseason, showing no ill-effects from the injury he sustained last November.

This is the kind of positive development Titans fans need to see at the wide receiver position. Woods returning to form would take a lot of pressure off Tennessee’s younger options behind him.

Stock up: WR Reggie Roberson

George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Like Okonkwo and Malone, Roberson found pay dirt and impressed during mandatory minicamp, but his being named a candidate for a return role by special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman was also big.

“Roberson has flashed,” Jim Wyatt of Titans Online wrote. “The former SMU receiver went up high to catch a pass from Woodside early, and he also caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Malik Willis later in a 7-on-7 period.”

Roberson, who could add a much-needed speed element, continues to be our top choice to make the roster out of Tennessee’s crop of undrafted free agent signings. Offering versatility as a returner will only help his cause further.

Stock up: RG Nate Davis

Syndication: The Tennessean

Davis looked noticeably leaner to multiple beat writers on the ground, but he also admitted he had to deal with COVID-19 twice last season, which might partly explain why he struggled in 2021.

“Getting [COVID-19] twice affects your conditioning, your strength, and even a little bit of your confidence,” Davis admitted, via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.

It also didn’t help that Davis had to play next to right tackle David Quessenberry, who gave up the most sacks in the NFL.

Davis appears very motivated going into 2022, as evidenced by his being in great shape. That, along with his COVID-19 revelation, gives us hope that better things are ahead for the right guard in what is a contract year.

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