NASHVILLE — With three consecutive last place finishes in the AFC South, the Tennessee Titans need more than just luck. Tennessee needs Cam Ward to establish himself as one of the 16 best quarterbacks in the NFL.

And that’s merely the starting point.

Titans worst-to-first would be…a first

I can say with complete confidence that the Titans will not win the AFC South in 2026.

That is not even the slight it might sound like, but simply fact. Significant injuries can always derail things for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts. That’s life in the NFL.

Tennessee, with much to prove, starts this year with the worst roster and coaching staff in the division.

2026 is still a massive opportunity to prove that coach Robert Saleh and Ward belong at the adult’s table. The Titans did not win a single AFC South game for the first time in franchise history last season. Saleh never won the division, made the playoffs or had a winning record in his previous head coaching opportunity with the New York Jets.

Tennessee is a better opportunity than Saleh had in New York. The bar, however, is extremely low.

No Titans team since the NFL realigned to eight four-team divisions in 2002 has gone from fourth place to the top in one year. Currently, Tennessee is riding the second longest streak of consecutive last place finishes in franchise history. The club ended each of its regular seasons in dead last from 1982-1986 when they were still the Houston Oilers.

Ward has the correct temperament to fix some of the team’s problems. Questions about his skill level remain open-ended before Year 2.

“He’s been good, man,” said Saleh of Ward after recent OTAs. “What’s cool about him; he kind of has a—I don’t want to say an ‘I can give two shits’ attitude. But he moves on to the next play if he makes a mistake. If something doesn’t go his way, it’s completely out of its mind and he’s on to next play which I think is a major requirement for any athlete but something he clearly has.”

The Titans return to the practice field for OTAs on Monday, June 8.

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Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.