Titans HC says Green-Beckham needs to earn starting job

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham could be poised for a breakout season, but he'll need to crack the starting lineup first.

Green-Beckham was selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, although he was considered by many to be a first-round talent. During his rookie season, Green-Beckham posted 32 receptions for 549 yards and four touchdowns.

While the 23-year-old seems poised for a great sophomore campaign, Titans head coach Mike Mularkey refused to award him a starting spot just yet.

"That all depends on him,” Mularkey said of Green-Beckham to Joe Rexrode of The Tennessean. "How effective is he out here, first? And then we get into these preseason games, see how much we can load him up. We also know we’ve got some other options too that will be competing with him. So it's not a for sure he’s lining up at 'X' for us on opening Sunday. They've got to earn it."

Green-Beckham is confident he'll put together an excellent season in 2016, citing greater familiarity with the offense and a better handle on his coaches' expectations for him.

"I know what I’m supposed to do and I know what these coaches want me to do, and that's something I'm feeding into. I didn't know what to expect (last year) and now I know what to expect," Green-Beckham said.

The Titans signed Rishard Matthews to compete for a starting spot alongside Kendall Wright, and the pressure is on Green-Beckham to prove his worth to the coaching staff. He'll need to fend off Justin Hunter and Harry Douglas in what's shaping up to be a compelling training camp battle.