The Titans spent the offseason building something that looks a lot more deliberate than desperate, and that’s why it’s drawing so much attention.
What started with landing Robert Saleh instead of Matt Nagy quickly turned into a stretch that has people around the league taking notice. NFL.com’s Matt Okada handed Tennessee an “A+” and called it his “favorite across the entire league.”
He didn’t stop there. Okada laid out the case this way:
" Tennessee’s offseason is my favorite across the entire league. It made several impactful signings, including DL John Franklin-Myers and WR Wan'Dale Robinson, and a couple of notable trades in an effort to rebuild the defense to Saleh’s image.
But the biggest wins came through the draft. The Titans made the bold decision to draft Tate instead of highly touted LB/edge Arvell Reese at fourth overall, and still picked up DE Keldric Faulk at No. 31 and LB Anthony Hill Jr. at 60.
They also secured Jeffery Simmons on a huge extension in June.
Getting Cam Ward a WR1 was my highest-priority fix for Tennessee early in the offseason, and Tate was a perfect solution. He and Robinson should form an excellent 1-2 punch for Ward. All the moves to build a defensive roster fitted to Saleh’s scheme helped round out an excellent offseason -- one which I think will have the Titans competing for the AFC South crown sooner than most expect."
That’s a strong endorsement on its own, but there’s more to the picture than what made the headline.
Tennessee also brought in cornerback Cor'Dale Flott, who has improved year after year and was a good corner for the New York Giants even while battling a former first-round pick for the job. The Titans also added Alontae Taylor, a versatile defensive back who can move around the defense and supply the kind of chaos and havoc this roster needs.
On offense, the Titans made another quiet but meaningful call by letting leading receiver Chig Okonkwo walk so they could elevate Gunnar Helm and lean into a more balanced attack built around chess-piece players who can hurt defenses in multiple ways.
The big picture is still clear: Tennessee has drafted highly in each of the last three seasons, and nobody should be expecting a full-blown run at contention in 2026. But the direction is better. The roster still has holes, just not nearly as many as it did before, and if one or two young players pop, this thing can move fast.
If that happens, the Titans could be right there with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South race.
In Other News...
Titans Tight End Battle Just Got Even Messier Than Expected
The Titans remade their tight end room this offseason after letting Chig Okonkwo walk in free agency and bringing in Daniel Bellinger, a move that fit both the roster reset and Brian Dabolls familiarity with his former player. Gunnar Helm and Bellinger are expected to be the main pieces heading into 2026, but the real intrigue is in how the rest of the depth chart sorts itself out, with several players competing for whatever spots remain.
Kylen Granson is in the mix on a one-year deal, though the limited guarantees leave him with work to do before anything feels secure. David Martin-Robinson has experience in the system and special teams value, while rookie Jaren Kanak adds another layer after making the unusual jump from linebacker to tight end at Oklahoma, where he showed some receiving upside. [Read more 🡒]
One Titans Rookie Is Already Standing Out Before Training Camp
Before training camp even opens, the Titans 2026 rookie class already looks like one of the more interesting parts of the roster build under Robert Saleh. Tennessee used the draft to add help at several spots, bringing in wide receiver Arvell Reese Tate, linebacker Anthony Hill, edge rusher Keldric Faulk, center Pat Coogan and running back Nicholas Singleton, and the early read is that this group could shape the teams depth chart sooner rather than later.
Tate is the one drawing the most immediate attention because of his early chemistry with Cam Ward, even if there are still questions about whether Tennessee reached to get him. Faulk brings the kind of upside that can change a defense over time, Coogan gives the Titans another layer of insurance in the middle, and Singleton arrives with a productive college rsum and a path to carve out a role. The bigger question is which rookie will actually matter most once the games start counting, and that answer may end up telling a lot about how quickly this class can help. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Camp Could Decide More Than Fans Want To Admit
Training camp is about to put the Titans offseason depth chart under a brighter, less forgiving light, with rookies due in one week and veterans following 12 days later. For a roster still sorting through new faces, recent injuries and a handful of open jobs, this is the stretch where the guesses stop being theoretical and start turning into real decisions. The biggest questions are not just about who starts, but which young players can force their way into the picture before the pads come on and the competition gets serious.
That is why the next few weeks matter so much for Tennessee, from the offensive line to the receiver room to the edge rotation and beyond. Some of the most interesting battles involve rookies trying to capitalize on opportunity while veterans try to hold off challengers, and the ripple effects could change more than one spot on the depth chart. By the time camp settles in, the Titans may have a much clearer idea of who fits, who is rising and which names are suddenly too hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]