The Titans made a big move at the trade deadline, and it left them with a clear problem to solve down the road.
General manager Mike Borgonzi sent veteran safety Amani Hooker and a fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a second-round selection. That deal opened up a long-term vacancy in Tennessee’s secondary, and the immediate setup is pretty plain: sophomore Kevin Winston Jr. is set to start next to Tony Adams, but Winston is still growing into the role, while Adams is on a one-year deal and profiles more as a bridge than a permanent answer.
The good news for Tennessee is that the draft capital is starting to stack up. The Titans now hold four top-64 picks in the first two rounds and also have an early third-rounder. That gives Borgonzi plenty of flexibility, and safety looks like one of the spots that has to be addressed.
If Tennessee is looking ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft, three names stand out as fits for Robert Saleh’s aggressive defense.
Cal safety Kingston Lopa has become one of the season’s biggest revelations. After having trouble locking down consistent playing time at Oregon, he entered the portal and has turned into a major riser at Cal. He’s picked off five passes this season, showing the kind of ball production the Titans lose with Hooker gone, and he’s added 39 tackles, which points to a player who can also work near the line of scrimmage.
Jaylen McClain of Ohio State is another strong option. He earned a starting job opposite top-15 pick Caleb Downs last season and has now settled in as an unquestioned starter for a second straight year.
The underrecruited defender has kept climbing, and this season he’s already posted career highs with two interceptions and five pass breakups. On film, he’s been a real difference-maker for a Buckeyes defense that has had to move on from Downs, Arvell Reese, and Sonny Styles.
Then there’s Notre Dame’s Brauntae Johnson, who came into the season with plenty of buzz before a foot injury in September required surgery. He’s nearing a return, but the missed time has been a setback.
Last season, though, Johnson showed the kind of physical, versatile play that makes him intriguing, finishing with a career-high four interceptions. Health will be a major part of his evaluation.
With a late first-round pick from the Bears and their own early second-round selection, the Titans could be in position to attack the safety spot without forcing the issue. Those picks are close enough together to give Borgonzi a real shot at landing a player like Lopa, McClain, or Johnson. Tennessee has other holes to fill, but the draft board could line up neatly for a Hooker replacement.
In Other News...
Titans Could Face One Huge WR Decision With Jeremiah Smith
The Titans are already being linked to another Ohio State receiver, and this one comes with a much bigger spotlight attached. After taking Carnell Tate, Tennessee is being mentioned as a possible fit for Jeremiah Smith in the 2027 NFL draft, a conversation that naturally starts with the state of the roster and how much more help the passing game may still need by then.
Smiths college production has only added to the intrigue, and for Tennessee the question is less about whether he would draw interest than how a move like that would reshape the receiver room. It is still a speculative exercise at this stage, but it is the kind of long-view decision that can define how a team stacks young talent and balances need against opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Were Quietly Pulled Into A Trade Deadline Running Back Story
After the NFL trade deadline, the Giants were still doing some due diligence at running back, and one of the names that surfaced in the process was Tony Pollard. New York reportedly reached out to the Titans about Pollard as part of a broader search that also included calls to Atlanta on Bijan Robinson and Baltimore on Justice Hill, a sign the market for backfield help had been active even as the deadline approached.
The Giants also tried to work out a deal for Jonathan Taylor before pulling back when the Colts pushed for a higher draft pick, leaving them to reset their plans at the position. For Tennessee, Pollards inclusion in that discussion is another reminder that his name still carries value around the league, even with Cam Skattebo expected to slide back into his primary role once he returns from a hamstring injury. [Read more 🡒]
Fernando Carmona Could Change More For Titans Than Fans Realize
Fernando Carmonas rookie season has already been interrupted by the kind of setback that can stall a young linemans development, but there is at least a path back now. The Titans right guard suffered an ankle injury that required surgery and has been on injured reserve, leaving Tennessee to keep reshuffling up front while trying to stabilize an offense that could use more help in the trenches.
Robert Saleh recently said Carmona could return to practice next week, which at least opens the door for a late-season comeback. For Tennessee, the appeal goes beyond simply getting another body back on the line. A healthy Carmona could matter in a bigger way for the offensive front and the running game, especially if the Titans are looking for more consistency and physicality as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]