Ranking Titans Offseason Needs: Robert Saleh needs Mike Borgonzi to get him serious talent at these positions in free agency and the draft

The Titans have a roster with a lot of holes, but which positions need the most attention this offseason?

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
Add as preferred source on Google

The Tennessee Titans have a new head coach, and now they get to move on to the more important part of their offseason: finding better players.

This is the most pivotal task GM Mike Borgonzi has on his plate in Year 2. If Cam Ward and a promising group of 2025 rookies are to be the future of this franchise, they need more help. It’s easier to list the positions the Titans don’t need much help at than to name those where they do. And while they have the most cap space in the league to use in Free Agency and a healthy war chest of draft picks to use, nobody gets everything perfect in one offseason.

So which positions demand the most attention this Spring? Here’s my rankings based on positional impact, who is currently under contract, and the number of players they need to find.

1. Cornerback

It’s easy to identify the the greatest positions of need for the Titans in 2025: CB, EDGE, and WR. What’s harder is deciding the order of importance. All are premium positions, and all need a lot of love. Ultimately, I think cornerback needs the most work.

What’s a bit funny is that in terms of individual impact, I think cornerback is easily the least significant of these three options. If given the choice between an elite, expensive (either money or draft pick) player at these positions, and I’m not even considering the CB.

So why is it the room that needs the most work? Because based on who is under contract heading into free agency, the downside risk of sticking with who you’ve got is easily the greatest in the defensive secondary. Right now the Titans would be looking at 2025 Day 3 rookie Marcus Harris and former waiver pickup Darrell Baker Jr. as their starters on the boundary. Both are useful players to have, and Harris has promise, but in 2026 you don’t really want to be relying on either as more than a CB3/CB4. So the Titans need to find at least two, ideally three starters at cornerback somewhere in free agency and the draft. That’s a lot!

2. Edge Rusher

EDGE is second on the list of needs because it’s such a hard position to meaningfully address, and the Titans have needed help here for years. It has been a below-average unit since Harold Landry tore his ACL in 2022. Arden Key and Jihad Ward are set to hit free agency, and Ward is the only one I think the Titans will try to bring back. So 2025 rookie Femi Oladejo and Jaylen Harrell would be your starters if they played a game today.

The bad news is that there is not significant help to be found in free agency this year, because there is never significant help to be found in free agency at EDGE. It is the hardest position in the sport to fix through free agency if you ask me. The good news is that the Titans have the fourth overall pick, and there are some really intriguing options at the top of the draft for them to consider. I also like some of the names likely to be on the board early in the second round. This position must be addressed in April.

3. Wide Receiver

While helping Cam Ward is at the very top of the list of the Titans’ priorities, this is the room that is in the best shape out of the top three needs. 2025 rookies Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor set the most acceptable floor of the bunch, and they’re set to take a leap in year two. And Calvin Ridley may be coming back to keep playing out his contract, though most fans have written him off at this point.

Don’t get it twisted though; this room needs some serious attention. Ward still doesn’t have an alpha to pass to, let alone anybody who can reliably beat press.

4. Tight End

Now we dig into the rest of the roster, beginning with a potential surprise: tight end. Why? Two reasons. First, 2025 rookie Gunnar Helm is the only starting option under contract in 2026. Chig Okonkwo is set to hit free agency, and it’s unclear whether the Titans will pursue a new contract with him.

Second, the modern NFL is thriving in 12 and 13-personnel at the moment. Two tight end sets rule the day, and the teams with two strong TE options as both blockers and receivers have a clear advantage over most of those who don’t. The Titans want a piece of that action, but they’ll need to find at least one more good tight end to do it.

5. Offensive Line

In fifth place is the offensive line, which only has two positions with a question mark looming. First is right guard, which was played by veteran Kevin Zeitler on a one-year deal in 2025. He could be brought back, but banking on him to play another healthy season at his age is a real gamble. The Titans want a more permanent solution. 2025 rookie Jackson Slater could be that long term starter eventually, but I’m sure they’ll want to bring in competition for the role at the very least.

The other position is center, where Lloyd Cushenberry is still under contract. After a disappointing year coming off his 2024 achilles rupture, it’s unclear if he’s safe as the starter. I lean that he is, but this could become another position of need depending on what Borgonzi and the new coaching staff decides.

6. Running Back

In terms of contracts, the Titans don’t technically need to add at this position. 2025 RB1, RB2, and RB3 are all still under contract. But is a stable comprising of Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, and Kalel Mullings satisfactory in this offense? I’m relatively certain they’d like to upgrade. That’s most likely to come in free agency in the form of somebody like Breece Hall or Kenneth Walker if he somehow leaves Seattle. But with so many other legitimate needs, this feels more like a want.

7. Quarterback

The Titans will once again be in the backup QB market. I’ve gone on record many times espousing my personal belief that backup QB is constantly underrated on good teams and overrated on bad teams, but what about a team in transition? I supported the idea of putting minimal resources into a backup QB in 2025 because it was clear this team wouldn’t be very competitive, and I was all for a “Cam plays or we tank” approach. But if this team wants to take a leap in 2026, I think finding a backup you feel good about being able to win with in a pinch is a pretty big deal.

8. Linebacker

What will Robert Saleh do with Cody Barton? He is under contract along with Cedric Gray and James Williams, so this isn’t a position the Titans need to hit hard. But after a 2025 season that left a lot to be desired by Barton, it’s unclear if Saleh will come in and push for an upgrade.

9. Safety

The Titans have three serviceable safeties under contract: Kevin Winston Jr, Amani Hooker, and Xavier Woods. Depending on if Winston takes a Year 2 leap and/or if Hooker bounces back after a shaky 2025, this could be an area for improvement too. But the floor at this position is much higher than the rest of the roster.

10. Defensive Line

The Titans have a good thing going at DL with Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat. Their depth is in question as Sebastian Joseph-Day and James Lynch hit the market in March, but this is easily the least concerning room on the roster.

Related Articles