The Raiders’ Week 16 trip to face Tennessee might look manageable on paper, but the Titans are shaping up as a far different kind of opponent than they were a year ago.
That’s the read from Justin Melo of TitanSized, FanSided’s Titans site, who sees a team with real confidence around its new coaching setup and a much better environment for Cam Ward heading into Year 2. Tennessee landed Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in 2025, then spent the offseason trying to give him more help and a cleaner path forward.
There’s belief in Tennessee that Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll can be the right combination to get the most out of Ward. When asked about the duo, Melo said, “Lots of confidence in Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll. Titans fans believe they have the right HC and OC to unlock Cam Ward.”
The Titans also made clear they wanted to strengthen Ward’s supporting cast. Melo pointed to the addition of Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator and the arrivals of Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson at receiver as part of that push. The expectation is simple: Tennessee wants Ward to make the most of the new pieces around him.
Among the offseason moves, Melo highlighted Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson as players who could reshape the receiver room. He also called out cornerback Alontae Taylor as an important addition, describing him as “a local who will add feistiness to the CB room.”
Tate, though, sounds like the name Titans fans are most eager to watch. Melo said Tate should have a major role immediately and noted that he has already built chemistry with Ward during OTAs and minicamp.
He also pointed to Daboll’s history with Malik Nabers, saying, “Remember that Brian Daboll drafted Malik Nabers and targeted him 170 times as a rookie. Tate feels like a strong OROY candidate.”
Even with all the optimism, Tennessee still has work to do up front. The Titans have a competition going at right guard between Jackson Slater and Cordell Volson, while Austin Schlottmann is expected to start at center.
So while the Raiders get Tennessee at home in Week 16, this is not being framed as a soft landing. The Titans may be one of those late-season teams that has finally started to click.
In Other News...
Raiders Could Be Eyeing A Shocking Veteran Trade Next
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Eric Stokes is one of the names that fits that uneasy middle ground. He was re-signed this spring, but the Raiders also have a crowded group of young defensive backs, which makes him the kind of player that can draw interest if the front office decides to keep reshaping the roster. Cousins brings a different kind of intrigue, since his contract structure leaves room for the Raiders to pivot if Mendoza gets up to speed quickly, and that possibility alone keeps the quarterback situation from feeling settled just yet. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Already Have One Painful 2025 Roster Miss To Explain
The Raiders spent real energy this spring trying to uncover roster value in the undrafted free-agent market, but the early returns on that 2025 class have been rough. Several of the most notable additions never made it to the active roster, and names like Mello Dotson, Jah Joyner, Tank Booker and Jarrod Hufford have already fallen off the pro-football map or landed elsewhere after failing to stick in Las Vegas.
For a team that has spent years searching for cheap depth and hidden contributors, that kind of turnover is more than a footnote. Carter Runyon is the one UDFA from that group who has actually advanced with the Raiders, while the rest of the class has splintered into different paths, including alternative leagues for some. It leaves the front office with an uncomfortable early reminder that not every low-cost swing turns into a useful piece, even when the team thinks it has found a few. [Read more 🡒]
5 Quiet Raiders Additions Could Matter More Than Fans Think
The Raiders did not make a splashy headline-grabbing run through the offseason, but a few of their quieter additions could end up mattering just as much once camp opens. Benito Jones, Spencer Burford and Thomas Booker IV all bring different kinds of value, from veteran steadiness to interior line competition, while draft pick Hezekiah Masses and undrafted free agent Cian Slone give the roster a little more depth and a few more paths to usefulness.
Burford is the name to watch on the offensive line because there is a real opening for him to push into a bigger role, and Booker already looks like the kind of player who can help a defense without much fanfare. Masses gives Las Vegas another young defensive back to develop, and Slone is the sort of camp body who can turn into something more if he makes enough noise in the summer. None of those moves changed the leagues view of the Raiders overnight, but together they may end up looking a lot smarter than they did on the day they were announced. [Read more 🡒]