Wisconsin Football: Tyler Marz’s Chances of Making the Tennessee Titans Roster
By Jim Oxley
Former Wisconsin football offensive lineman Tyler Marz was an undrafted free agent signed by the Tennessee Titans. What are his chances of making the 53-man roster?
Heading into the 2016 NFL Draft, former Wisconsin football offensive tackle Tyler Marz was considered a mid-to-late-round draft prospect, but he didn’t hear his name called on draft day.
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Shortly after the draft, Marz was one of seven former Badgers to sign in undrafted free agency, joining up with the Tennessee Titans.
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A veteran of 51 games with the Wisconsin Badgers, Marz is now hoping what he learned on the field at Wisconsin will help him battle through training camp and earn a spot on the Titans’ 53-man roster.
Tennessee headed into the draft with the first overall pick, but since they already have their franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota, they decided to send away the top pick to Los Angeles for a boatload of picks in return.
Needing to protect their quarterback, the Titans traded back up in the draft to select Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin at No. 8 overall. He is penciled in to take over at right tackle opposite left tackle Taylor Lewan, who was the 11th overall pick in 2014.
The Titans didn’t spend another pick on a tackle in the draft, but head into the 2016 season with nine tackles on the roster.
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Only one of those guys – six-year vet Byron Bell, last year’s right tackle starter – has more than three years of experience.
Beyond Bell, it’s young pros and rookies looking to earn a bigger role in an offense that will apparently make running the ball a focus.
The Titans signed former Cowboys and Eagles running back DeMarco Murray in the offseason and drafted Alabama thumper and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry in the second round this year.
Tennessee looks intent on running the ball in 2016, which is good news for Tyler Marz, who’s strength is in the run game.
Marz will have his work cut out to earn a spot on the roster given the duo of high draft picks Tennessee has in tackles Conklin and Lewan as starters, but his pedigree and experience in a run-first offense lends itself to what the Titans appear to be looking to do with Murray and Henry.
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Marz should at the very least earn a spot on the practice squad, but could still find himself on the Titans 53-man roster as a backup tackle.