The Tennessee Titans are about to find out whether all the changes they made this offseason can hold up when the real thing starts in Week 1 against the New York Jets.
This is a team that didn’t just tweak a few spots. Tennessee changed the coaching staff, reshaped the roster and gave the defense a new look built around Jeffery Simmons and Robert Saleh’s attacking scheme. The front office also spent heavily to reinforce the secondary, with cornerback standing out as one of the biggest areas of investment.
That’s where ESPN analyst Seth Walder stepped in with a sharp forecast on one of the Titans’ new additions. He offered a bold prediction for 2026 that Alontae Taylor will “allow at least 1.4 yards per coverage snap -- solidly worse than average for a starting corner.” Walder also pointed to the price tag attached to that projection, noting the Titans gave Taylor “a three-year, $60 million deal” in free agency.
Taylor wasn’t the only corner Tennessee added, either. The Titans also invested in Cor’Dale Flott, and both players had some uneven moments during the preseason. Still, those reps came with the front playing vanilla and without much scheming, so there’s only so much that can be read into them.
Even with that, Taylor has reportedly been trending up in the final weeks of camp, and his ability to line up inside or outside should give Tennessee more flexibility. For now, though, the real answer won’t come until the games count and the Titans’ new-look defense gets put on the field.
In Other News...
Titans Enter Week 1 With One Huge Doubt Still Hanging Over Them
The Titans open their 2026 season at home against the Jets with plenty of outside skepticism still following them into Week 1. Around the league, analysts have slotted Tennessee near the bottom of power rankings, even while noting a little cautious optimism about the direction of the roster under new head coach Robert Saleh.
A big part of the conversation has centered on Cam Ward and how quickly the quarterback can settle in as the season gets rolling. Tennessee has already gone through roster cuts and added new pieces, including rookie receiver Carnell Tate, but the real question hanging over the opener is whether the pieces around Ward and the new staff can start turning that optimism into something more tangible. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Face An Early Adversity Test Before The Season Even Starts
The Titans are already dealing with a reminder that the NFL calendar rarely waits for anyone. Before Tennessee opens its 2026 season at home against the Jets, linebacker Cedric Gray has been sidelined by a concussion suffered in a UTV accident, leaving his availability tied to the leagues concussion protocol and putting an early spotlight on the teams depth.
Elic Ayomanor has talked this offseason about mental resilience and the need to handle adversity, and the timing gives that message a little more weight. Even before a snap has been played, Tennessee is being asked to navigate an early test of its composure, with the opener still ahead and one of its defenders working through the next step in his recovery. [Read more 🡒]
DeMeco Ryans Just Raised The Stakes For Houston's Week 1 Opener
Week 1 always comes with a little extra edge, and the AFC South is already feeling it before anyone has taken a snap. Around the division, Daniel Jones is still reflecting on the right Achilles injury he suffered against Jacksonville, Shane Steichen is sorting through the status of Alec Pierce and A.J. Haulcy, and Quinn Ewers is settling into his new home after a trade to the Jaguars. In Houston, DeMeco Ryans is projecting confidence in his defense and in Kayshon Bouttes readiness, which only adds to the sense that the Texans expect to set the tone early.
For Tennessee, there is a familiar storyline tucked into the opener as Jermaine Johnson gets ready to face the Jets, the team he left behind this offseason. It is the kind of matchup that naturally carries some personal weight, even if Johnson is trying not to turn it into anything bigger than a football game. With Houston already sounding intent on making a statement, the Titans will be watching how Johnson handles the moment against a former club that knows him well. [Read more 🡒]