Three of the Titans’ newest defensive roster additions have a common thread.
Each has either played directly under Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson in the past, or played in a system similar to the one Wilson runs.
The Titans on Tuesday signed veteran inside linebacker Kyzer White, according to NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, bolstering a position that was lacking in experience beyond Cody Barton.
White, a team captain for two years in Arizona, retweeted Schultz’s news in an apparent confirmation.
ESPN reported White will initially join the team’s practice squad, where he would be available for a call-up as early as the Titans’ season opener Sunday in Denver.
A seven-year veteran, White played under Wilson in Philadelphia in 2022, when Wilson was the team’s defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach. The Eagles finished with the NFL’s top passing defense that season, reaching the Super Bowl before falling 38-35 to Kansas City.
White had 137 tackles, 2.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss last season, starting all 17 games for Arizona. He’s averaged 120 tackles in each of his last four years, and White has posted a combined seven sacks and 28 tackles for loss during that stretch.
White suffered the lowest Pro Football Focus overall defensive grade of his career last season at 48.8, which included a 73.0 grade against the run, 32.0 grade in coverage and 49.4 grade in pass rush.
He allowed 55 catches on 63 targets, per PFF, for an average of 12 yards per reception. White totaled one interception, one touchdown surrendered and three passes defensed.
The Titans have little experience at inside linebacker aside from Barton, as Cedric Gray and James Williams are entering their second seasons, and recent waiver addition Dorian Mausi has not played in an NFL regular season game.
The addition of White has similarities with two Titans additions last week.
Just after the Titans made final cuts and formed their initial 53-man roster, the team claimed cornerback Jadyn Armour-Davis and defensive end C.J. Ravenell from the Ravens.
Armour-Davis played his first three seasons in Baltimore, including 2023, when Wilson was the Ravens’ defensive backs coach. Baltimore finished first in the league with 31 takeaways that season.
Three other teams — Philadelphia, Miami and New Orleans — reportedly placed waiver claims on Armour-Davis as well. He was awarded to the Titans because they owned the No. 1 waiver position.
Ravenell played for the Ravens during his rookie season of 2024, and even though Wilson had already departed for Tennessee, Baltimore’s defensive system remained very similar.
“Obviously, two guys we acquired from the Ravens system, so there’s some similar terminology,” Wilson said Tuesday. “But we do things different, so it’s kind of getting them caught up. But these guys are working, spending a lot of time with the assistant coaches trying to get caught up on scheme, so they’re progressing in the right way.”