5 questions about JC Latham, Tennessee Titans draft picks ahead of rookie camp

The time for testing is over. It's time for the Tennessee Titans' rookies to actually be football players.

The team opens rookie training camp on Friday, kicking off a three-day practice window for the seven NFL draft picks and a slew of undrafted free agents before the whole roster can convene for organized team activities (OTAs) on May 20.

With roster spots up for grabs, starting jobs to be won and a first-time coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator running the show, this rookie camp should offer some answers to some of the pressing questions of the Titans' offseason.

Here are five questions The Tennessean has as the Titans head into this weekend's rookie camp.

THE 99th PERCENTER: Numbers don't lie: Titans first-round pick JC Latham is unlike anyone football has seen

Where is JC Latham in his switch to left tackle?

Let's keep perspective: These are practices against fellow rookies, not game reps against Myles Garrett or Micah Parsons. But it's going to be interesting to see how comfortable and fluid JC Latham, the Titans' first-round pick, looks in his reps from the left side of the offensive line.

After all, the difficult part about transitioning from right tackle — where Latham played at Alabama — to the left side is more about feel than strength or athleticism. It can be awkward mirroring your muscle memory, but it's not as if Latham was blindsided by the idea that he might be a blindside tackle as a pro. He has had the entirety of the pre-draft process to work on his footwork as a left tackle. Now he'll finally have the chance to publicly show off his progress.

How big is T'Vondre Sweat? How's he moving?

T'Vondre Sweat, the Titans' second-round pick, told reporters he weighed 366 pounds on draft night, but his goal is to play between 350 and 355 pounds. So . . . where's he at now?

More important than Sweat's actual weight, though, is how he's moving. This weekend will be the first chance fans and media have to see Sweat run through drills and play for the length of a two-plus-hour practice. A rookie camp practice in May won't have the same stakes (or heat) as a training camp session in August or game action in September. But seeing how Sweat handles the rigor of an NFL practice is a good first step.

How will Titans approach new kickoff rules?

Sixth-round pick Jha'Quan Jackson will want to prove himself as a slot receiver target. But his most consequential role, at least as a rookie, may be returning punts and kickoffs. With the NFL enacting new kickoff rules this season, it'll be fascinating to see how Jackson is deployed in and after rookie camp.

Even more fascinating will be the formations and blocking schemes the coaches devise to protect the return man on kickoffs now that there's more of an offense-like element to the play.

Which running back(s) can make the squad?

Tennessee's Jabari Small, Washington's Dillon Johnson and Division II Barton College's Jordan Terrell join the Titans as undrafted free agents competing for a roster spot. After Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, the Titans don't have another running back who should be considered a lock to earn a spot out of camp. Can any of these three beat out Julius Chestnut or Hassan Haskins to make the team?

Which tight end(s) can make the squad?

As is true at running back, the Titans' roster is lacking at tight end. Youngsters Chig Okonkwo and Josh Whyle are the only ones who have appeared in an NFL game, and the team didn't draft any depth. That leaves undrafted signees David Martin-Robinson (Temple) and Steven Stilianos (Iowa) as the best competition for practice squad holdover Thomas Odukoya to win the third tight end spot.

Given the important roles backup tight ends tend to play on special teams, one or both of these two UDFAs have to be considered some of the likeliest candidates to make the leap from undrafted to earning a roster spot.

MOCK DRAFT ROUNDUP: 15 Tennessee Titans way-too-early 2025 mock drafts: NFL analysts move on from Will Levis

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: With Tennessee Titans rookie camp, here are five questions to consider