The Tennessee Titans look almost nothing like the team that staggered through a second straight 3-14 season in 2025. Robert Saleh is in as head coach, Brian Daboll is running the offense, and general manager Mike Borgonzi has already poured a league-high $300+ million into free agency to try to turn the whole thing over.
That kind of overhaul always brings pressure, but it also creates opportunity for players sitting on expiring deals. For Tennessee, 2026 is a contract year for several notable names, and how they handle this season will go a long way toward shaping what comes next.
Tony Pollard sits at the top of that list. He’s one of only two NFL running backs to post four straight 1,000-yard seasons, with Derrick Henry the other. On a string of rough Titans teams, Pollard has still been easy to overlook, but he enters this year as the clear No. 1 ball-carrier in the offense.
Tyjae Spears is in the same backfield and in the same boat contract-wise, though his path looks different. Brian Daboll is excited to have him, and after injuries limited him over the past two seasons, Spears reportedly looked healthier and more explosive than ever at camp this year. The former Tulane standout is expected to have a meaningful role as both a runner and a receiver in Daboll’s offense as he plays out the fourth and final season of his rookie deal.
The defense has its own set of contract-year players, starting with Jermaine Johnson II. Tennessee brought him in by sending out-of-favor nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets, and no extension came with the trade, so Johnson is working through the final year of his rookie contract. A former first-round pick, he once thrived in Saleh’s system before a brutal injury in 2023, and now he’s trying to show he deserves a long-term commitment.
Solomon Thomas is another defender with a built-in connection to Saleh. The Titans acquired him earlier this offseason partly because of his familiarity with the head coach’s scheme, and they inherited the second year of the two-year, $6 million deal he had signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Thomas is also back with defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, and he believes he’s set up for the best season of his career.
The last name on the list is safety Tony Adams, who also has history with Saleh from their time with the Jets. Adams is expected to help behind starters Amani Hooker and Kevin Winston Jr., and he has already been useful in helping Titans defenders get comfortable with a new system.
In Other News...
Titans Secondary Still Has One Week 1 Concern Robert Saleh Must Fix
The Titans went into the offseason knowing their secondary needed help, and the additions of Alontae Taylor and CorDale Flott gave Robert Saleh two corners with the kind of upside that can change the feel of a defense. Taylor has flashed throughout camp, piling up three interceptions and pairing that with a strong 2025 coverage grade, while Flott has shown he can hold his own too, finishing above the NFL average even if the route there has not been perfectly clean.
The problem is that the talent has come with some coverage mistakes and penalties that can quickly turn into drive-extending plays once the games count. For Tennessee, the next step is not just getting both corners on the field, but getting them on the same page with the rest of the back end, and that puts the spotlight on Salehs ability to tighten up communication and assignments before Week 1 arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Secondary Still Has One Problem A Big Trade Could Solve
The Titans have spent the offseason trying to reshape a secondary that still looks like a work in progress, even after bringing in corners Alontae Taylor and CorDale Flott. Through preseason action, the group has yet to flash the kind of clear dominance Tennessee would like to see, which keeps the back end squarely on the radar as the regular season approaches.
One possible answer is hanging out in New England, where Christian Gonzalez is dealing with a contract dispute that could push his status into season-opening uncertainty. The Patriots have not publicly shopped him, but if the holdout stretches on, Tennessee could be among the teams that at least checks in on what a trade would take, especially if the Titans want a more proven piece to stabilize the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Titans May Already Be Setting Up Dan Moores Biggest 2026 Pressure
Dan Moore arrived in Tennessee on a four-year deal in 2025 with the expectation that he would help stabilize the Titans pass protection, but his struggles in that area have already made his long-term standing worth monitoring. For a team trying to build something more dependable up front, left tackle is too important a spot to leave unanswered for long, especially when the early returns have already raised questions.
Trevor Goosby is one name that could eventually enter the conversation if the Titans decide they need a different answer on the edge. He is seen as a developing tackle with strong athletic traits and the kind of upside that makes him an intriguing future left tackle, which is exactly why the 2026 season could matter so much for Moores hold on the job. [Read more 🡒]