The Titans have a lot of potential on their roster, but they need more sure things. Some of these players need to take a leap from what they were in 2025, and I have six here who I think are ready to do it:

TE Gunnar Helm

I can’t wait to find out what offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s plan is for his tight ends. In the modern NFL, there may be no more hot topic than heavy, tighten Usage to dictate terms on offense. It was one of the defining storylines of the 2025 season, led by Sean McVey in the Los Angeles Rams unique Usage. Now this off-season, it sure seems like teams around the league are trying to load up to replicate (or at least compete) in the tight end arms race. You need more than one tight end who is versatile as a blocker and receiver, end of discussion.

The Titans think they have that now with Daniel Bellinger as the TE2 to Gunnar Helm as the TE1. If Bellinger truly is here to do the dirty work for the Titans, moving around the formation and handling key blocking assignments, that should free up Gunnar Helm to graduate in his role as a receiver.

One of the most promising parts of Helm’s rookie season was the fact that he showed the ability to block inline as well as create mismatches down field. If that versatility grows, he could go from one of the most sure-handed and interesting rookies of 2025 to one of Cam Ward’s favorite targets in 2026. I wouldn’t be surprised if his production takes a significant leap.

RT JC Latham

I will continue to go to battle for JC Latham. It blows my mind that so many Titans fans not only think this guy isn’t very good, but also think he’s a guard instead of a tackle. One of those is extremely easy to put to rest; JC Latham is an NFL tackle. He can play tackle, so he’s going to play tackle. And last season, even though our eyeballs were largely diverted to other more interesting things by the end of the season, he played good NFL tackle down the stretch!

God willing, a healthy third season should allow him to get on his horse earlier in the year and prove to this fan base that he can be the bookend tackle of the future. If he continues on the trajectory that I saw from him in 2025, he can finish 2026 as a no-doubt contract extension candidate in the near future. And given the current uncertain state of this offensive line on the interior, Cam Ward and the Titans sure could use that.

RB Tyjae Spears

We talked about Tyjae Spears and this new coaching staff on the A to Z Sports morning show this week. I was surprised to learn how many Titans fans forgot just how productive he was as a rookie! This is a player that is absolutely worth keeping around and paying when he is on the field. Truly his biggest concern is the fact that for the past two seasons, he has not been reliable enough on the injury front. So unless he has a giant year in 2026, he’s likely to hit free agency next spring.

But whether he does enough to get a nice contract here or somewhere else, I still believe that a healthy season from Spears could be a surprisingly big one. When he played a full season as a rookie, battling for touches with Derrick Henry, he put up almost 850 yards of offense! He is an ideal change-of-pace back, who can run effectively on the ground and be a mismatch in the passing game. He has always been someone who, when he gets the ball in his hands in space, is one of the most dangerous players on the field. He just has not been consistent enough with getting to that point. if Brian Daboll uses him in creative ways (which I’m expecting him to do) then a healthy season from Spears could surprise some people.

S Kevin Winston Jr.

The last vision I have in my brain of Kevin Winston Jr. is from last week at OTA practice. On Thursday, this dude was tackling people. Nobody’s wearing pads, and this is spring ball. Kevin does not care. And it seems that his coaching staff does not care either. It’s just the way that he’s wired. I’m pretty sure Kevin Winston is either out there playing football, or he isn’t. I’m not sure there’s another speed. That’s just one of the many endearing things that he brings to the table. He showed nice flashes as a rookie, but his season was derailed a bit by injury. All he needs to do in my opinion is stay healthy throughout the summer and into the fall, and we’ll be talking about him as Amani Hooker’s heir apparent for the title of best safety on this team.

EDGE Jermaine Johnson

We’re going to stretch the definition of “breakout” just a bit. No, Jermaine Johnson isn’t somebody that has failed to cement himself as a legit NFL player. Before his season-ending injury two seasons ago, he was establishing himself as a very good pass rusher.

But if we’re doing breakouts based on who can have a big leap in production from year-to-year, then Johnson has to be on the list. He is a textbook example of a guy who you are getting the “year after the year after”. With a full season of buffer between now and when he suffered the leg injury, this is when you should be getting the fully restored version of Johnson as an athlete.

Robert Saleh and Mike Borgonzi are obviously expecting some version of that player, it’s why they traded such a valuable young football player in T’Vondre Sweat to acquire him. The Titans are still needing somebody to really step up in the edge room, and Johnson would be the most ideal to do so. He’s shown he can do it before, now he just has to get back to who he was becoming early in his career.

C Austin Schlottman

We’re all still just a little bit in the dark on the Titans starting center situation. I can tell you with relative certainty that that person (at least right now) is Austin Schlottman, the free agent brought in from New York. He has experience with Daboll and offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo, and he knows this system. His institutional knowledge certainly gives him an upper hand, and that part inspires confidence that he can handle the job.

It’s the actual experience and physical ability on the field that I can’t attest to one way or another. One thing’s for sure: the Titans coaching staff sure does think he can do it. They wouldn’t be operating the way that they have so far if they didn’t. But I think fans are correct to be skeptical, and I won’t be surprised if even in the best case scenario, Schlottman feels like the weak link on the offensive line. Prove me wrong, Austin! If he comes in and plays like a bona fide starting center in the NFL, it will be a big win for him, Titans leadership, and Cam Ward.