Rookie Profile: Cedric Gray, LB, Tennessee Titans
Welcome to the Rookie Profile: Cedric Gray, a linebacker out of UNC. He is from Charlotte, NC, and was a 3-star recruit from Ardrey Kelly High School.
Gray spent all four years of his collegiate career at the University of North Carolina. In his first season, he played in only 3 games in the Covid-19-shortened season.
He followed up with a breakout season in 2021. He played in 13 games and recorded 52 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2 interceptions.
His true breakout season was in 2022. In 14 games as a junior, he racked up a whopping 82 tackles, 1 sack and 2 interceptions. He followed that up in 2022 with a 64-tackle season, with five sacks and one interception season before declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Measurables
Draft Capital & Landing Spot
Draft Capital- Round 4 Pick 106
- The Titans selected Gray at the start of day three and were surprised that he fell that far. He could prove to be an excellent value in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Gray has loads of untapped potential but could easily blossom into a full-time player.
- He projects to be a long-term project who will likely start his rookie season as a backup. So, if you use an IDP rookie pick on him, make sure it’s a late pick, and be prepared to show some patience as he develops. Gray is not going to walk in and be a stud from day one.
Landing Spot- Tennessee Titans
- The Titans are one of the more veteran-heavy teams and their secondary is no exception. So while Gray may require some time to step out from the shadows of the veterans and earn a role of his own, he will at the very least learn some valuable knowledge in the meantime.
- Tennessee was not a great landing spot as far as immediate production is concerned, but for a player who is a more long-term project, a team full of veterans could present him with plenty of opportunities in the future.
Team Depth Chart
Expected Role: Rotational Linebacker
Depth Chart via Fantasy Pros
Fantasy Impact
Gray’s productivity, stature, and speed are advantageous, yet he thrives as a weak-side linebacker, where his ability to pursue the play shines. However, his capacity to identify and maintain his run fits may suffer from insufficient play strength and technique at the line of scrimmage.
While his instincts are moderate, Gray’s impact as a defender is heightened when he engages proactively with forceful, downhill attacks instead of being reactive. His approach to the game may not suit all strategies, but he possesses the potential to be a valuable backup if permitted to leverage his speed over brute strength.
Gray will likely have to produce as a backup to earn a larger role, but if he can earn a larger role whether through high-level play or injury, he could quickly produce at a level that is too good to take out of the Tennessee lineup.
Check out our 2024 Rookie Rankings Page for a full breakdown of this rookie class.
