NASHVILLE -- If you were hoping to see the future of the Tennessee Titans offense in action on Day 1 of rookie minicamp, you had to settle for the future future.
Head coach Robert Saleh made a statement before his team even took the practice field Friday, holding all eight of the Titans' 2026 draft picks out of on-field drills as part of a carefully orchestrated recovery and ramp-up plan. Instead, it was the underdogs -- 58 tryout participants and 11 undrafted free agents -- who ran the show at Vanderbilt Health Football Center, turning the first day of minicamp into something closer to a pro day audition than a typical rookie practice.
It was unconventional. It was calculated. And it was pure Saleh.
A Deliberate Approach to Rookie Development
Saleh, now in his first season as Tennessee's head coach, has long been a proponent of easing rookies into the NFL workload. The decision to hold out the team's entire draft class -- from first-round quarterback Cam Ward through seventh-round selections -- stems from a belief that the pre-draft process, combined with the physical toll of college pro days and private workouts, leaves rookies in need of controlled rest before being thrown into padded drills.
"Eight draft picks held out of on-field drills per Robert Saleh's recovery plan" was the official word from the team, and the philosophy was evident throughout the morning. While the buzzed-about names -- Ward, wide receivers Xavier Restrepo and Carnell Tate, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., and the rest of the class -- observed from the sideline in shorts and t-shirts, the audition crew ran gassers, went through individual position drills, and competed in 7-on-7 periods.
It was a calculated risk. On one hand, players like Ward, the No. 2 overall pick, need every rep possible to build chemistry with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's system. On the other, there's a growing body of evidence across the league that rookies who are pushed too hard too fast in May are more susceptible to soft tissue injuries that can linger into training camp.
Saleh is betting the long game. And Day 1 suggested he's playing for more than just summer camp buzz.
The Undrafted Free Agents and Tryout Crew
With the draft picks watching, the spotlight fell squarely on the 69 players who actually took the field -- a mix of 11 undrafted free agents already signed to the roster and 58 tryout participants hoping to earn a contract.
Undrafted free agent Jackson Slater (G), who signed after the draft out of Sacramento State, drew attention from the offensive line coaches during individual drills. Slater, a nimble mover for a 6-foot-4 interior lineman, showed quick feet in pass protection sets and looked comfortable pulling on designed gap runs. The Titans have a crowded competition at guard behind Peter Skoronski and free-agent addition Cordell Volson, but Slater has the type of movement skills that fit Daboll's outside-zone concepts.
At receiver, tryout Tyren Montgomery -- the undrafted free agent out of a smaller program -- made the catch of the day on a deep post route, tracking a ball from backup quarterback Hendon Hooker over his shoulder and securing it through contact from a defensive back. Montgomery's size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) is a prototype the Titans value on the outside, and with Calvin Ridley and Wan'Dale Robinson locked in as starters, the competition for the final receiver spots is wide open.
At tight end, undrafted free agent Jaren Kanak, a converted linebacker from Oklahoma, showed surprising fluidity in the receiving game. Kanak ran a crisp option route that left a linebacker stumbling in coverage, then made a contested catch over the middle. The Titans carry Gunnar Helm, Daniel Bellinger, Kylen Granson, and several others in the tight end room, but Kanak's athletic profile gives him a path as a developmental H-back type.
On defense, tryout linebacker Shad Banks Jr. flashed sideline-to-sideline range during 7-on-7 periods. Banks, a small-school standout from Tennessee State playing in front of what felt like a de facto hometown crowd, diagnosed a screen pass early and closed with explosion to break up the play. The Titans linebacker corps, featuring Cody Barton and Oluwafemi Oladejo among others, has competition for depth spots, and Banks made a strong first impression.
Quarterback Room Observations
The most notable development under center was Hendon Hooker taking the majority of the first-team reps among the active quarterbacks. With Will Levis, Mitchell Trubisky, and Cam Ward all in street clothes (Levis and Trubisky are veterans, so their non-participation wasn't part of the rookie plan), Hooker got extensive work running the scout team and the base offense.
Hooker looked comfortable in Daboll's system, especially on intermediate throws over the middle. He hit undrafted tight end David Martin-Robinson on a crossing route that required timing and touch, then later threaded a pass between two zone defenders to wideout Bryce Oliver. For a player who has been largely a clipboard holder since arriving in the league, Hooker is showing the kind of command that could make the eventual quarterback competition more interesting than many expect.
Tryout quarterbacks also rotated through, but Hooker clearly separated himself as the top arm in the building Friday.
What It Means Going Forward
The Titans' unorthodox Day 1 approach shouldn't be misinterpreted as a lack of urgency. This is a franchise that went all-in during the offseason, reshaping the roster under general manager Mike Borgonzi and the coaching staff led by Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. The additions of Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, Dan Moore Jr. at tackle, and a loaded defensive line featuring Jermaine Johnson II, Malik Herring, and Keldric Faulk signal that this team expects to compete immediately.
But Saleh's decision to effectively put the draft class on ice for a day suggests a developmental philosophy that prioritizes health and mental preparation over early physical reps. It's reminiscent of how the 49ers handled rookies during Saleh's time there -- slow, methodical, and always with the long view.
By starting the tryouts and undrafted players, Saleh also sent a message: every rep is earned. The draft picks will get their turn. But the players who showed up without contracts, who ran drills under the threat of being sent home without a call, they got the first chance to make an impression.
For a team that cares deeply about competition and culture, that's not insignificant.
Looking Ahead to Day 2
The draft picks are expected to begin limited participation as early as Saturday, per the ramp-up plan, though full integration into practice likely won't happen until later in the weekend or early next week. The tryout participants will get another opportunity to make their case, with roster spots and practice squad contracts on the line.
For the Titans, Day 1 of rookie minicamp was more about process than results. It was about establishing standards, setting a pace, and -- for the 69 players who actually suited up -- making a first impression on a coaching staff that is still building its identity.
If Day 1 taught us anything, it's that Robert Saleh isn't afraid to do things his own way. And in a league obsessed with immediate returns, he's betting that taking the long road will pay off when it matters most.
The Titans will be back on the field Saturday morning. The draft picks will be watching a little less -- and competing a little more.