The Tennessee Titans did not waste any time reshaping the roster after cut day, and Robert Saleh’s first wave of waiver claims leaned hard toward defense.
That was the clearest theme from Sunday’s activity and Monday’s follow-up: while offensive line help looked like an obvious place to shop, Tennessee instead loaded up on defenders. The Titans have already made four additions, and the first three all came on that side of the ball.
To make room, Tennessee is confirmed to have waived linebacker Mohamoud Diabate. That move stands out.
Diabate had put together a steady camp and looked good in the preseason, enough that he seemed like a near-lock for the roster. Instead, he’s out after one day.
At the top of Tom Pelissero’s list of Titans claims is linebacker Owen Pappoe, who spent the last three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Pappoe led the red birds in special teams snaps in 2024-25, and Tennessee will almost certainly lean on him in that same phase.
He also turned in a career year in 2024 with 28 tackles and a forced fumble, then added another forced fumble this preseason. He looks like a developmental piece worth watching under Saleh.
Next up is Nazir Stackhouse, a second-year nose tackle who comes over after a quiet rookie year with the Green Bay Packers. The former Georgia Bulldog played in 13 games and finished with 12 total tackles, with 10 of those coming as assists.
Even so, he earned a roster spot last summer as an undrafted free agent, and if he had slipped through waivers, Green Bay likely would have tried to bring him back on the practice squad. Tennessee gets the shot to keep developing him instead.
Smith Jr. is also entering his second NFL season, and he arrives after a camp that seemed to be trending up with the Kansas City Chiefs. He made real progress as a backup in the secondary before leaving the Chiefs’ final preseason game on Friday, Aug. 28, with a rib injury.
That makes him a possible IR stash for the Titans, and it fits the team’s clear interest in adding help to a secondary that looked like one of Tennessee’s weaker groups all preseason. Smith still has not played in a regular-season game, and Nashville could be his first chance depending on his health.
The fourth addition, Burgess, gives Tennessee the most proven veteran of the bunch. The safety has five years in the league and played in 16 games for the New Orleans Saints this past season, recording 22 total tackles and three passes defended. He was viewed as a player New Orleans expected to keep around if no one else claimed him, but Tennessee moved first and added another depth piece to the secondary.
In Other News...
Titans Roster Could Claim A Few More Surprising Victims Soon
The Titans first 53-man roster already carried a few surprises, and it may not be the last version fans see. Tennessee trimmed down to its opening roster with some notable decisions, including veteran guard Cordell Volson and wide receiver Bryce Oliver, but the work is far from finished as the team continues to sort through the final shape of the group.
With the Titans holding the fourth waiver priority, there is still room for more movement as other clubs make their own cuts and the market opens up. Inside that churn, a few names already look vulnerable based on performance and roster needs, including Austin Deculus, Garrett Dellinger and Jerrick Reed II, which means the next wave of decisions could reshape the depth chart again before the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Finally Addressed The Backup Tackle Problem Fans Hated
The Titans spent part of their roster shuffle giving the offensive line a different look, releasing tackle Austin Deculus and signing veteran James Hudson to the 53-man roster. It was one of several moves the team made in the same sweep, alongside additions of Owen Pappoe, Terrell Burgess, Nazir Stackhouse and Melvin Smith, with Xavier Restrepo, Erick Hallett II, Mo Diabate and Jerrick Reed II waived in corresponding moves.
Hudson gives Tennessee a more familiar option at a spot fans had been unhappy about, especially given his history with offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo. The veteran has played in 60 NFL games with 19 starts, and the Titans are clearly leaning on that experience as they keep sorting out the depth behind the top tackles. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Fans Just Got A Clear Sign Of Salehs New Standard
The Titans roster decisions after the NFL cut deadline offered an early glimpse of the standard Robert Saleh is bringing to Tennessee. Releasing quarterback Will Levis while keeping undrafted wide receiver Xavier Restrepo on the initial 53-man roster underscored a camp in which performance and fit mattered more than pedigree, especially as the team continues its rebuilding process under a new regime.
Restrepos rise has been one of the more encouraging developments of the summer for Titans fans. The fan favorite made enough noise in preseason to earn his place, including a standout showing against the Chicago Bears, and his path onto the roster reflects a team willing to reward production wherever it finds it while sorting out what the next version of the Titans will look like. [Read more 🡒]