Why Tennessee Titans GM Mike Borgonzi feels a heightened sense of urgency ahead of critical Year 2 for Cam Ward
Supporting Cam Ward in Year 2 means a pivot for the Titans GM
PHOENIX — General manager Mike Borgonzi does not want to build his football team through free agency. Fixing the Tennessee Titans roster requires an organic personnel approach focused primarily on the NFL Draft.
So, why is the organization that preached “draft, develop and retain” as its core mantra adding 23 new players in the last month through free agency and trades?
Call it serendipity
Of the 23 additions, 13 players have previous familiarity with new Tennessee head coach Robert Saleh or new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.
“It kind of just came together like that,” said Borgonzi at the NFL Annual Meeting. “We obviously had our free agent board set, then when the new coaching staff came in, it was familiarity with a lot of these players that we had high on the board. JFM (John Franklin-Meyers) was one of them. JFM was top of our board. It just so happened that (Robert) Saleh and (Aaron) Whitecotton had him before. Even the receivers with Wan’Dale (Robinson) and Belli (Daniel Bellinger) who we liked.”
The Titans brought in Saleh this offseason to replace Brian Callahan, who was fired six weeks into his second season on the job.
Tennessee’s last two campaigns have ended in consecutive 3-14 records. Seismic changes were needed with both the roster and the coaching staff. Borgonzi found his potential franchise quarterback by drafting Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in 2025.
Supporting Ward in Year 2 means a heightened level of urgency in personnel acquisition for Borgonzi to just field a baseline competitive team.
“Now, I think (familiarity) helps when you acquire guys who the coaching staff knows in free agency,” Borgonzi added. “That’s the biggest thing. You have your college background information on these guys, in terms of the character. Until you get into an NFL building and these guys have gone through four years of it, the coach sees them. Sees how they approach practice, how they approach game day. They’ve been with them. And plus, they’re system fits, too. So I think it kind of just happened that way. I don’t think we went out with the sense that we need to get all these guys that had played for Saleh, and played for (Brian) Daboll.”
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
