The Tennessee Titans roster construction under general manager Mike Borgonzi has reached a stage where the franchise must decide which positions still need veteran reinforcements and which should belong to developing young players. 

That conversation heated up on the A to Z Show Monday morning between Easton Freeze and I. The answer looks different depending on which side of the ball you’re look at, and even then, Easton and I don’t see eye to eye across the entire defense.

It started because CBS Sports recently matched free agent offensive tackle Taylor Decker to the Titans as an “obvious upgrade” over left tackle Dan Moore Jr. I wrote about this already, and we both completely disagree. 

Decker is not an obvious upgrade over Moore at this point. The two are closer than the national perception suggests, and replacing a starter isn’t the right move. Finding a quality swing tackle, though, is a different story. That third tackle spot matters. If a developmental player is forced into significant snaps because of an injury, the Titans could find themselves in real trouble protecting quarterback Cam Ward.

Titans defense has enough veteran infrastructure to support young growth

Austin Stanley: Tennessee invested heavily in defensive free agency this offseason. The Titans signed edge rusher John Franklin-Myers, handed big contracts to outside corners Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott, traded for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II, and veteran Solomon Thomas via trade. Obviously, Jeffery Simmons anchors the interior. 

That veteran core, paired with young drafted players like linebacker Cedric Gray, safety Kevin Winston Jr., edge rusher Keldric Faulk, and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., gives the defense a high enough floor to absorb some growing pains from younger depth pieces.

Marcus Harris is the clearest example. The second-year cornerback from Cal, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, should be the starting nickel until he proves he can’t handle the job. There’s no way to determine that without giving him real reps. He needs to play.

Behind Taylor and Flott, depth corners Micah Robinson and Keydrain Calligan should get the same opportunity, both being only 24 years old. Let them compete for the back up roles and develop rather than replacing them with a veteran who raises the floor by a fraction while blocking their growth entirely.

The Titans safety room doesn’t apply to this philosophy

Easton Freeze: Let me be clear: I like the three safeties the Titans have penciled into starting roles. Kevin Winston Jr. and Amani Hooker give Tennessee a legitimate two-high safety pairing, and new addition Tony Adams fills a different function as the box safety in Robert Saleh’s defense. Those three, in their respective roles, should be fine.

The issue is what happens when one of them goes down. And in an NFL season, somebody always goes down.

I know there are people (Austin) who will point to Kendall Brooks or Jerrick Reed as viable backup options. Respectfully, I think that’s a mistake. I do not see a player currently behind those top three safeties on the Titans roster who represents a young, high-potential swing worth developing through trial by fire. This is not a position where I’m comfortable saying, “Let the kid learn on the job.”

Could Brooks or Reed step in for a game or two without it being a massive problem? Probably. But here’s the thing about that: you’d likely have to play defense a certain way to mask their limitations, and that becomes restrictive for the rest of the unit. The longer you’re forced to rely on them, the worse the situation gets. If you’re talking six games, eight games, or the majority of a season, you’re looking at a recipe for real trouble.

What the Titans need to do

Freeze: The bottom line is the Titans need to go out and add at least one backup safety before the season who is a reliable, competent option to step in if Winston or Hooker misses time. Someone who can operate in a two-high look or a single-high look without forcing the entire defensive scheme to adjust around him. August free agency exists for exactly this kind of move. Tennessee has the financial flexibility to make it happen, and the pool of available veterans, while not overflowing with Pro Bowlers, should have at least one or two players who fit the bill.

Having a weakness at safety isn’t necessarily the end of the world for a defense. But if you’re trying to build a well-rounded group, and you have the resources to close the gap between your backups and your starters, this is the position I’d prioritize above all others. Waiting until an injury forces your hand and then scrambling mid-season is a losing proposition — by then, it’s too late. GM Mike Borgonzi has been smart and deliberate in how he’s constructed this roster. Adding a veteran safety to round out the room would be one more example of that.