Training camp is almost here, and that means it’s time to sort out where the Titans stand position by position. The roster has changed enough this offseason to make the exercise worthwhile, and a few groups look a lot stronger than they did a year ago.
At the top of the list is the defensive line, and it’s not especially close. Jeffery Simmons was already one of the best defensive tackles in the league in 2025, and Tennessee backed him up by adding rookie Keldric Faulk along with veterans Jermaine Johnson II and John Franklin-Myers.
Solomon Thomas, Jordan Elliott, and Femi Oladejo are part of the mix too, which gives this unit both high-end talent and real depth. This is the team’s best group.
Wide receiver comes next, and that alone says plenty about how much has changed. The Titans knew they had to overhaul the room, and they did it by drafting Carnell Tate and signing Wan'Dale Robinson.
Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike are still in the fold as well, and all three reportedly looked fantastic this summer. For a group that was rough last year and, honestly, in most years, this could be the deepest receiver room the Titans have ever had.
Quarterback lands third. Cam Ward showed some encouraging signs as a rookie even though the situation around him wasn’t ideal, and he was up and down this summer before settling in as the offseason program moved along.
There’s a clear sense that Ward is building toward a big second season. The backup spot also got a lift with Mitchell Trubisky, who was fantastic this summer and was easily the most consistent passer on the team.
That gives Tennessee a quarterback room in solid shape.
Running back checks in next. The Titans heard plenty of rumors at the position this offseason, but in the end they stayed with the same top two names on the depth chart.
Robert Saleh already said Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears will be the bellcows, and that’s a perfectly serviceable pairing. Rookie Nic Singleton brings some upside and should become more involved as the season goes on, while Michael Carter, Julius Chestnut, and Kalel Mullings are fighting for the last roster spot.
That battle alone tells you this room has more depth than it did a year ago.
Linebacker is another group trending upward. Cedric Gray broke out in 2025, and the Titans used a draft pick on Anthony Hill Jr. with the hope that he can follow the same path.
Cody Barton remains the veteran presence. Behind that top three, James Williams Sr., Dorian Mausi, Mo Diabate, and three undrafted free agents are all in the mix.
Last year, Williams was a lock. This year, he could be on the chopping block, which is a pretty good sign of how much better the competition has become.
Tight end sits in the middle of the pack, but there’s a chance it climbs higher by next year. Tennessee lost Chig Okonkwo, brought in Daniel Bellinger, and feels good about Gunnar Helm as the full-time starter.
If Helm turns into a quality starter, the room should be fine. Bellinger gives them a steady blocker who can still contribute as a receiver, and rookie Jaren Kanak has some interesting upside.
It’s not a deep group, but it has enough pieces to be respectable if Helm delivers.
The secondary is harder to pin down. The starting group looks workable, but the depth behind it is thin enough to push the unit down the list.
Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott should hold up at corner, and safety Kevin Winston Jr. has plenty of promise. Still, this is one area where a veteran addition would make sense before the season.
Kenny Moore or Ifeatu Melifonwu would fit that need.
The offensive line brings up the rear, and that’s no surprise given the Titans’ long-running issues there. Right now, Peter Skoronski at left guard is the only spot that can be called above average with confidence.
Dan Moore Jr. and JC Latham both need to be much better in 2026. The depth is shaky too, with no real swing tackle option on the roster and major uncertainty at right guard.
Cam Ward is going to need this group to outperform expectations.
In Other News...
Titans Just Missed A Proven Answer To Their Biggest Line Worry
The Titans center situation got a little more unsettled when Lloyd Cushenberry was released after a failed physical, forcing the team to pivot to Austin Schlottmann as the new option in the middle. With Andre James also in the roster mix, Tennessee is still sorting through the kind of interior-line stability it hoped to have settled by now, especially after losing a veteran center it had counted on.
One name that passed by in that search was Ethan Pocic, who had recently been cleared to resume football activities and looked ready to help a team in need of experience up front. Tennessee opted not to pursue him, even with that background, leaving the Titans to keep working through a position that suddenly feels far less secure than it did a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Final Roster Battle Just Got More Brutal Than Expected
The Titans are heading into the kind of late-August purge that always tightens the margins, with roughly 40 players set to be trimmed after the final preseason game as the club locks in its Week 1 roster. In that kind of squeeze, every little edge matters, and the conversation quickly turns to the bubble players who have spent camp trying to separate themselves through special teams work, positional flexibility and whatever production they could stack up in practice and exhibition reps.
Among the names worth watching are Julius Chestnut, Xavier Restrepo, Jackie Marshall, James Williams Sr. and Keydrain Calligan, each with a different path and a different obstacle in front of him. Some are fighting depth-chart gravity, others are trying to hold off more established competition, and a few have made enough of a case that the Titans may have to decide whether to reward recent momentum or lean on roster balance elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Robert Saleh Just Sent A Message Titans Players Will Love
Robert Saleh has not coached a snap for the Titans yet, but he is already giving a glimpse of the tone he plans to set when he takes over in 2026. The former Jets coach, who was dismissed in the middle of the 2024 season, has been talking publicly about a player-friendly approach that puts a premium on trust, chemistry and letting the locker room belong to the players.
One of the clearest examples is his stance on the locker room itself. Saleh said on a podcast that he and his staff do not go in there, leaving that space to the teams leaders unless things get out of hand. It is the kind of detail that tends to resonate in a building, especially for a roster that will be looking for a fresh start and a coach willing to let veterans help set the standard. [Read more 🡒]