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T'Vondre Sweat and the Titans are attacking the elephant in the room ahead of his NFL career
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee Titans second-round pick T'Vondre Sweat got his first real taste of the NFL on Friday as the team kicked off rookie minicamp.

Sweat arrives in the Music City as a highly accomplished defensive tackle prospect from the University of Texas. Sweat totaled 45 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two sacks en route to being named the Outland Trophy winner last season, which is an annual award given to the nation's best interior lineman.

There is no doubt Sweat has the talent to make a major impact alongside Jeffery Simmons in his rookie year. With that being said, much has been made about his weight before and after the draft process.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler reported that Sweat's playing weight hovered around 390 pounds during the College Football Playoff. However Sweat did weigh in at the combine at 366 pounds, which many believe is still too heavy to maximize his full potential.

No draft pick ever arrives to rookie minicamp as a finished product, so Sweat's weight isn't being looked at as a major issue, according to Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker.

"We feel like if we get this weight thing at a very comfortable weight for him and for us we've got a really good player," Rocker told reporters on Thursday.

"I have no doubt this guy can help us be a three-down player," Rocker added. "I feel good about that, but that's with time, learning the playbook, adjusting and going through the transition."

Sweat, who has been putting in work ever since his name was called in round two, got out in front of the questions surrounding his weight on Friday.

"Right now me and my nutritionists and my coaches are looking for that perfect weight for me to play at," Sweat said while adding that he doesn't know what that number will be just yet.

Although Sweat plans to trim down before the regular season, his athleticism is world class. As one of the more personable draft picks the Titans have seen in some time, Sweat made sure to let reporters know that he can still dunk a basketball.

Titans head coach Brian Callahan is keeping a watchful eye on every player at rookie minicamp, but he was particularly impressed with Sweat on Friday.

"He looked good today, I thought he moved well. You never know when guys get here what they're gonna look like and I thought he did a nice job. He looked like the guy we saw on tape which is good to see."

Sweat's development will be worth monitoring leading up to training camp, but it appears that he and the team are working in lockstep to ensure that he reaches his ceiling as a dominant force on the defensive line.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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