3 Moves the Tennessee Titans Must Make this Offseason
How the Titans Can Rebuild The Right Way
As the NFL offseason officially begins for all 32 teams, we will examine what each franchise must do in free agency and the NFL Draft to emerge a better, more complete team when the 2025 season kicks off in September.
Things couldn’t have gone much worse for the Tennessee Titans in 2024.
Despite his and their best efforts, it quickly became abundantly clear that Will Levis simply does not have the traits of a franchise quarterback, the offensive line fell into shambles, and the defense wilted under the pressure of not having the kind of disruptive playmakers necessary to consistently compete.
Here’s a full breakdown of the Titans’ assets to rebuild with this offseason, and three moves that could turn the tide in Tennessee.
Tennessee Titans Salary Cap Space
The Titans begin this offseason projected to have upwards of $35.68 million in effective cap space, which is 11th most in the NFL. And, while Tennessee has 31 players set to become free agents, there’s really only a compelling argument to be made for bringing back a handful of them at contracts that would come anywhere close to the middle of market value.
Tennessee Titans Draft Picks
Tennessee is as well positioned as any team entering the draft, and will largely control the board, given that the Titans own the No. 1 overall pick. Whether new general manager Mike Borgonzi uses this opportunity to select a franchise quarterback such as Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders to remold the roster around in his image or opts to take a difference-making player at another vital position remains to be seen.
Here’s the Titans full war chest of picks:
First round, No. 1 overall
Second round, No. 35 overall
Fourth round, No. 101 overall
Fourth round, No. 118 overall (via Seattle Seahawks)
Fifth round, No. 140 overall
Fifth round, No. 166 overall (via Kansas City Chiefs)
Sixth round, No. 176 overall
Seventh round, No. 240 overall (via Green Bay Packers)
According to Turron Davenport of ESPN, the Titans are open to trading down from the No. 1 overall pick, which may be the most prudent decision they can make if they don’t happen to be in love with either of the top two prospects in this year’s class.
The Titans have won just nine games the past two seasons and have needs across the roster, which might not be solved in one offseason and might doom a rookie quarterback to never reaching his potential because the supporting cast around him isn’t nearly ready to contend.
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Three Moves the Titans Must Make For the Offseason to Be a Success
Sign Sam Darnold
The veteran evaluators that I have spoken to in three different buildings are not sold on either Sanders or Ward, and the common belief I keep hearing is that teams aren’t going to win with either quarterback in 2025. I also think there’s a very real risk of the Titans Daniel Jonesing one of these rookies, that is throwing him behind a patchwork and shoddy offensive line with few weapons, and stunting his development.
Meanwhile, head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings couldn’t be more done with Sam Darnold and seem to be finding new ways whenever they’re in front of a hot microphone to tell him to get lost. Signing a veteran like Darnold to a three-year contract gives the Titans time to continue building while trying to win on the fly in a very wide-open AFC South.
Darnold was one of the top-five quarterbacks through 14 games last season, and with low expectations— for now, in Tennessee, he could be the veteran who holds the offense together and ultimately become the bridge to a highly drafted rookie a year or two down the line, while being paid handsomely for his services.
Trade Down into the top-10 picks
The fact that we haven’t even pulled up to Prime 47 in Indianapolis where the NFL’s backroom deals are brokered and there is already reporting that the Titans are open for business tells me they’re running away from these quarterbacks.
So, with the Browns (No. 2), Giants (No. 3), Raiders (No. 6), and Jets (No. 7), all in various positions of quarterback desperation, Borganzi is in a prime position to sell off the No. 1 pick, while still coming away with a prospect such as Abdul Carter, Will Campbell, or Travis Hunter, who would be capable of making an instant impact as a foundational building block at a key position while possibly adding a first-round pick in 2026 to be positioned to move up the board to take a quarterback in what promises to be a far deeper class.
Break The Bank for RT Trenton Brown
Right tackle is easily, and far and away, the most glaring weakness across the Titans’ roster, and nothing will set a young quarterback up for success or failure more than having a solid offensive line in front of him.
Whether it’s Ward or Sanders, or a couple of years of Sam Darnold or similar-level veteran quarterback play before ultimately selecting a franchise quarterback in the coming years, priority No. 1 for the Titans needs to be shoring up the offensive line.
At whatever the cost, the Titans need to ensure Trent Brown’s next step is in Tennessee. The 31-year-old Bengals right tackle allowed just one sack last season with only five pressures surrendered, and was charged with zero quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus.
Adding Brown would be a franchise-altering move at a pivotal position, while also charting a course forward for improved quarterback play in 2025 and beyond.
I like it; Darnold at least brings a level of competency to the position and is better than the Mason Rudolph types. I wonder if a trade for Hendon Hooker might be an option? At least he’d give the locals a little something to be excited about. But only for a day three pick.
Tennessee...Tennessee... I vaguely recall; the Titmouses? The Titanics?