Title: Titans Add WR T.J. Sheffield and TE Drake Dabney After Rookie Minicamp Tryouts While Waiving Two Others

The NFL’s annual rookie minicamp is a pivotal time for both hopeful players and teams, as it provides an opportunity for undrafted free agents and unsigned prospects to showcase their talents in front of coaches and decision-makers. For the Tennessee Titans, this year’s rookie minicamp has led to some notable roster moves that could impact their upcoming season. The Titans, after evaluating a mix of drafted and undrafted prospects, have decided to add wide receiver T.J. Sheffield and tight end Drake Dabney to their roster following impressive showings during their rookie minicamp tryouts. However, as part of the roster shuffle, the team also waived two players to make room for these new additions.

This decision could have ripple effects on the Titans’ plans for the 2025 season, especially in an offseason where the team is looking to sharpen its offensive weapons and refine its depth chart. This article will explore the context of the moves, the specific players involved, and what these roster changes mean for the Titans moving forward.

Rookie minicamps are one of the first official opportunities for new players to impress their respective teams after the NFL Draft or as undrafted free agents. These minicamps often serve as a proving ground for young talent to earn a spot on the team or to get the attention of scouts and coaches. For many players, it’s their last chance to prove they belong in the NFL.

Rookie minicamps usually feature a combination of drafted players, undrafted free agents, and a few other trial players who may be invited by the team. The players are evaluated on their athleticism, football IQ, and how well they integrate into the team’s system. Since the tryouts are limited in duration, the competition is fierce, and first impressions are crucial.

For teams like the Titans, who may be looking to fill specific needs or bolster depth at certain positions, these camps are an excellent opportunity to uncover hidden gems who could provide a spark to their roster. As a result, rookies and unsigned prospects alike must make the most of this brief but intense evaluation period to earn a spot on the team.

The Tennessee Titans’ decision to add wide receiver T.J. Sheffield and tight end Drake Dabney following their impressive performances at rookie minicamp speaks to their strategic approach in addressing their offensive depth. Both Sheffield and Dabney are expected to provide added competition at their respective positions, adding to the overall talent pool the Titans will be considering as they prepare for the 2025 season.

T.J. Sheffield, a wide receiver who played his college ball at the University of Iowa, is a player who fits the mold of a quick, agile receiver with a strong ability to create separation from defenders. Though Sheffield went undrafted, his performance during his college career caught the attention of NFL scouts, particularly for his speed, route running, and ability to make plays in the open field. These attributes make him an intriguing option for a team like the Titans, who have been seeking to improve their receiving corps in recent years.

At Iowa, Sheffield demonstrated an ability to make plays from the slot and outside, showcasing his versatility as a receiver. While he may not have the size of a typical NFL No. 1 receiver, Sheffield’s agility and quickness make him a dangerous player after the catch. His skill set could be particularly useful in a Titans offense looking to diversify its passing attack and provide quarterback Ryan Tannehill with more options in the short-to-intermediate passing game.

On the other hand, tight end Drake Dabney brings a different dynamic to the table. Standing at 6’3” and weighing 250 pounds, Dabney is a well-rounded player who has shown potential both as a pass catcher and as a blocker. Having played at Houston, Dabney’s abilities were showcased both as a red-zone target and a reliable asset in the run game. The Titans, who have historically relied on tight ends to help anchor their offense, could see Dabney as a valuable addition to the depth chart.

Dabney’s versatility as both a blocker and a pass-catching threat gives the Titans coaching staff flexibility in how they use him. With veteran tight end Chig Okonkwo on the roster, Dabney could provide additional competition in a position group that’s crucial to the Titans’ offensive success. Whether it’s as a secondary target in the passing game or as a key blocker in running situations, Dabney’s balanced skill set could make him a valuable asset moving forward.

The decision to waive two players in order to make room for Sheffield and Dabney reflects the team’s calculated moves to ensure the roster is optimized for both depth and potential. Though the identities of the waived players are important for understanding the roster changes, the bigger picture lies in how the Titans are evaluating their talent pool heading into the season.

While the Titans have not made official statements on the waived players, such decisions often come down to a combination of roster flexibility and player performance. It’s possible that these moves were made to clear space for Sheffield and Dabney to receive more opportunities to integrate with the team, or perhaps their tryouts revealed a lack of development or fit with the current roster.

In any case, these waivers are a part of the ongoing process teams undergo as they evaluate their talent and prepare for the regular season. Roster changes like this are common during the offseason as teams position themselves to make final cuts ahead of the start of the season.

The addition of T.J. Sheffield and Drake Dabney also highlights the Titans’ commitment to building a competitive and dynamic roster in 2025. As the team works to rebound from a series of up-and-down seasons, these decisions are part of a larger effort to bolster areas of the team that may have been lacking in recent years.

One of the most notable areas for the Titans to improve has been their wide receiver group. With veteran A.J. Brown traded away a couple of seasons ago, the team has struggled to maintain a consistent and explosive presence at the receiver position. While Treylon Burks, drafted in the first round in 2022, has shown flashes of potential, the team has yet to find the reliable complement to him in the receiving corps.

By adding T.J. Sheffield, the Titans may be aiming to add more speed and depth to this group. Sheffield, though untested at the professional level, could be a sleeper pick who provides a dynamic element to the offense. Whether he cracks the final roster or not, his presence in training camp could force other receivers to step up their game, increasing overall competition and improving the group as a whole.

In addition to the wide receiver group, the Titans have consistently made tight ends a key component of their offensive game plan. With Chig Okonkwo leading the charge at the position, the team has a solid foundation at tight end, but adding a player like Drake Dabney could provide much-needed depth. Dabney’s dual-threat abilities as both a blocker and pass catcher could be a valuable asset in multiple offensive schemes.

The addition of Dabney provides the Titans with an opportunity to run more diverse offensive sets. His ability to both catch passes in the red zone and provide solid blocking in running situations makes him a well-rounded option, potentially helping the Titans create mismatches against defenses.

As the 2025 season approaches, the Titans have a busy few months ahead of them. With the addition of Sheffield and Dabney, the team’s roster continues to take shape, but final decisions are still to be made during training camp and preseason games. These additions will be competing with veterans and other rookies for a chance to earn a roster spot, and the coaching staff will likely be looking for consistency, improvement, and game-ready talent.

Additionally, the Titans’ focus will be on refining their offensive game plan. With quarterback Ryan Tannehill entering a critical year of his career, the team needs to ensure that they have reliable weapons around him. The competition at both wide receiver and tight end positions will likely be one of the most closely watched battles during training camp.

The addition of T.J. Sheffield and Drake Dabney after their rookie minicamp tryouts represents a smart, forward-thinking move by the Tennessee Titans. By bringing in two players who offer different skill sets—Sheffield’s speed and Dabney’s versatility—the Titans have bolstered their depth chart in key areas, while also giving themselves more options as they head into the 2025 season. While waiving two other players is never easy, it’s part of the business of NFL roster management. For the Titans, the competition is heating up, and the best players will rise to the top as the season draws closer. As they continue to evaluate and build their roster, the Titans’ decisions made during this rookie minicamp could have long-lasting implications for their offensive success in the upcoming year.