Categories
Tennessee Titans projected starters ranked near bottom of NFL
Tennessee Titans projected starters ranked near bottom of NFL
Sitting in this quiet period of the NFL offseason is a drag, with nothing but rehashed takes and speculation populating the media landscape.
Now, with a little over two weeks until rookies report to training camp for the Tennessee Titans, fans are counting down the days until camp begins, when they can see how all the changes from an eventful offseason come together.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTennessee made significant changes and will kick things off with a new coaching staff under Robert Saleh, an overhauled roster featuring solid veterans and intriguing rookies, and a new attitude across the organization. Unfortunately, despite all the changes, some outlets remain skeptical of the Titans heading into 2026.
Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz, and Seth Walder of ESPN break down all of the Titans' offseason moves, compare their roster to the other 31 NFL teams, and find that their projected starting lineup is still near the bottom of the league.
No. 28: Tennessee Titans
Biggest strength: Wide receiver
The Titans invested heavily here during the offseason to turn a weakness into a strength, signing Wan'Dale Robinson (one of four receivers with 90-plus catches each of the past two seasons) to a four-year, $70 million contract and selecting Carnell Tate with the fourth pick of April's draft. That duo will team up with veteran Calvin Ridley, and second-year players Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor will add solid depth. -- Clay
It is an ironic twist that Clay picked the receiver group as the team’s strength after what they surrounded Cam Ward with in 2025. The additions of Robinson and Tate are huge, and the return of a healthy Ridley is flying under the radar, but honestly, that group does not stack up against the rebuilt defensive line.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGeneral manager Mike Borgonzi and Saleh added a lot of familiar talent to the front while building around Jeffery Simmons, and the unit now has multiple proven impact players that should cause problems for opponents heading into the season.
Biggest weakness: Safety
Amani Hooker has been an every-down player in Tennessee since 2021, but he has missed 21 games because of injury during that span. Struggles in coverage last season helped opposing quarterbacks post a 58.7 QBR against the Titans, the third-worst mark in the NFL. Second-year man Kevin Winston Jr. played 297 snaps as a rookie but will now battle veteran newcomer Tony Adams for the other starting gig. -- Clay
Safety could definitely be a weakness and is an area to watch in camp, although the new system being installed by Saleh and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley should help. The Titans’ secondary was a mess in both 2024 and 2025, after injuries ravaged the unit, and often had Hooker playing with unfamiliar faces, which included Winston, who had an uneven rookie campaign and dealt with lingering injuries coming off the torn ACL that cost him most of his final year at Penn State.
Tennessee enters training camp with some depth questions behind Hooker, Winston, and Adams, and could look to add another veteran to the back end.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementX factors for 2026: CB Alontae Taylor and CB Cor'Dale Flott
Both were signed as outside free agents, and I was skeptical of both deals, but they could prove me wrong. If they (and Joshua Williams, who could be interesting depth at the position) can deliver, then the Titans' defense would start to look quite a bit more threatening. If not? Opposing quarterbacks might have several good passing games against Tennessee. -- Walder
Signing Taylor, Flott, and Williams was a bit of a surprise early in the free agency period. While there was no doubt that Borgonzi needed to add to the unit, it’s doubtful anyone expected three quick signings to fortify one of the roster's weaker units.
Nonstarter to know: Edge rusher Keldric Faulk
We know that Robert Saleh likes to rotate his defensive linemen, so the Titans' second first-round pick will get considerable playing time this season. Faulk had only two sacks last season at Auburn, but his combination of size and explosiveness suggests he can be a lot more successful at the NFL level. He's a project, though, so that success might not come right away. -- Schatz
While many say that Faulk is a project coming off a down season at Auburn, the Titans saw enough in Faulk to trade back into the first round to select him, and for good reason. Faulk has all the traits to be successful in Saleh’s system, and, looking back at his tape, he played better than his stats indicated. Many forget that, prior to the start of the 2025 college season, Faulk was widely considered a potential Top-5 pick with the pedigree to make an impact.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLooking at the projections used in this article by Clay, Walder, and Schatz, linebacker Anthony Hill would be another nonstarter to keep an eye on. Hill has all of the tools to make an impact and has flashed quite a bit during offseason workouts.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans projected starters ranked near bottom of NFL