I’ve been seeing people post their mock offseasons lately, so I thought I’d try my hand. I tried to keep this as realistic as possible, but there’s no way to know what will happen between now and March. Obviously I know the Titans are more than one offseason away from being contenders, and the most important thing is drafting and developing well. But we have a lot of money to spend and a lot of positions that lack starters. I expect the Titans to be active in free agency bringing in second- and third-tier players, supplementing that with quality draft picks. I'm definitely not an expert on NFL contracts, but I tried my best to give reasonable contracts out. I used Pro Football Network for the free agency simulator and NFL Mock Draft Database for the draft simulator.
Coaching
HC: Robert Saleh, current DC of SF
OC: Brian Daboll, former HC of NYG
DC: Gus Bradley, current Assistant HC of SF
I believe Mike Borgonzi and co. when they say they’re looking for a culture guy, and that they’re not worried about offense or defense. There is no better candidate that matches that profile than Robert Saleh, who was known as a players’ coach during his time with the Jets. His resume has been boosted this year by how well the 49ers defense has played despite all of its injuries (and by how poor the Jets have looked since he left). Bringing over longtime DC Gus Bradley would be a natural move.
As far as the offense goes, I think Brian Daboll and Tennessee actually make a perfect match. Daboll is known as a QB developer, as evidenced by his work with Josh Allen and Jaxson Dart. He will probably want to work with a young, talented QB to maximize his potential and boost his own value. If the Titans offense improves in 2026, Daboll could be looking at another HC job in 2027.
(Also for the Klint Kubiak stans, I think he looks at the available jobs and decides to stay in Seattle for another year. If I had to guess right now, the other coaching changes will be Todd Monken to ATL, Jesse Minter to CLE, Mike Kafka to NYG. If Cincinnati opens up, that’s where I could see Kubiak go.)
Cuts
RB Tony Pollard (+ $5M): Tony Pollard was a good signing for the Titans, but he’s clearly lost a step this year. Tennessee can get younger, cheaper, and better in free agency.
EDGE Arden Key (void year): Arden Key has had a solid year and will probably want a bigger payday than the Titans will be willing to offer. I have the Titans re-signing Jihad Ward instead.
CB L’Jarius Sneed (post-June 1, + $12M): L’Jarius Sneed has been a massive bust since joining the Titans. Between his inability to stay healthy, on-field struggles, and off-field legal issues, the team should just cut bait.
The two players I considered cutting, but ultimately kept, are Calvin Ridley and Lloyd Cushenberry III. Ridley is definitely not the player he used to be, but he’s not horribly expensive and could be a good veteran WR/mentor for another year. It would be wise to keep the pieces around Cam Ward as intact as possible. Similarly, Cushenberry has been a slightly underwhelming free agency acquisition, but the chances of finding a significant upgrade are slim. I imagine the Titans just keep him for a year and try to draft his replacement.
Re-Signings
WR Van Jefferson (1 yr, $2M)
WR Bryce Oliver (1 yr, $1.5M)
TE Chig Okonkwo (2 yr, $20M)
DL Sebastian Joseph-Day (2 yr, $14M)
DL James Lynch (1 yr, $2M)
EDGE Jihad Ward (2 yr, $10M)
CB Darrell Baker Jr (2 yr, $4M)
K Joey Slye (1 yr, $1.5M)
P Johnny Hekker (1 yr, $1.5M)
LS Morgan Cox (1 yr, $1.5M)
Nothing too notable here. Okonkwo and Joseph-Day get nice paydays, every other resigning is just depth or veteran stability.
Extensions
LG Peter Skoronski (5th year option): Skoronski is in line for a huge payday in 2027, so the 5th year option is natural.
DT Jeffery Simmons (3 yr, $96M): The simulator I used didn’t have an option for true contract extensions, but with the way Big Jeff has played this year, I would make him the highest paid DT in the league.
Trades
QB Will Levis
I didn’t factor this into the mock draft because I have no idea who would trade for Will Levis or what the return would be. But I’m 100% confident he’s not on this team in 2026. In my opinion, the most likely scenario is that a team who misses out on a QB in the draft (maybe the Rams or Steelers) trades a 2027 day 3 pick for him in May or June.
Free Agents
QB Marcus Mariota, WSH (1 yr, $8M): Mariota may not want to leave Washington, but he would be a great mentor to Cam Ward, and the homecoming reception would be great.
RB Isiah Pacheco, KC (2 yr, $10M): Borgonzi brings in a late-round steal from Kansas City to complement Tyjae Spears. (To be totally honest, I wanted Rico Dowdle here, but the Panthers re-signed him.)
WR Calvin Austin III, PIT(2 yr, $10M): A solid veteran WR.
OG Alijah Vera-Tucker, NYJ (2 yr, $20M): If he gets past his injury concerns, AVT will be a total steal and the perfect way to fill out this offensive line.
EDGE AJ Epenesa, BUF (1 yr, $8M): A nice rotational edge rusher that I doubt Buffalo re-signs.
CB Tariq Woolen, SEA (3 yr, $45M): Seattle won’t have the money to pay both Woolen and Josh Jobe, so I bet they go for the cheaper option in Jobe. Woolen is a big, physical boundary corner that is ideally a CB2, but would be CB1 until we draft one.
CB Ja’Quan McMillan, DEN (2 yr, $6M): Jahdae Barron has taken over his role as the slot in Denver. McMillan and Marcus Harris can battle for the starting gig.
Draft Picks
Trade: TEN receives 1.05, 1.28, 2.45, 2027 1st; NYJ receives 1.01. I think some team will fall in love with Fernando Mendoza and offer a huge package to trade up for him. Here, it’s the Jets. 3 1st rounders was supposedly what the Titans were offered last year for Cam Ward, so considering the Jets have 5 over the next 2 years, this trade seems fair.
1.05: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State. Ohio State keeps pumping out NFL-ready receivers, and Carnell Tate is the next one. He projects as a true X and a great weapon for Cam Ward.
1.28: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee. The Titans finally draft a Vols player! Colton Hood looks like an NFL outside corner, which is what the Titans desperately need.
2.33: Quincy Rhodes Jr, EDGE, Arkansas. In contrast to Femi Oladejo last year, Rhodes is a high-floor edge rusher with a more limited ceiling. But that's probably what the Titans need.
2.45: AJ Harris, CB, Penn State. Two corners this early feels strange, but the Titans really need help there. Harris is a big corner that needs refinement, but could end up as a true CB1.
3.65: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson. Miller may not come out because he certainly needs to sit for a year. The Titans could let him take over for Dan Moore or JC Latham in 2027, whichever has the worse year.
4.101: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame. Overshadowed by Jeremiyah Love, Price is also a really good NFL prospect. He would fill out the rotation nicely.
5.141: Logan Jones, C, Iowa. A potential long-term Cushenberry replacement.
5.145: Suntarine Perkins, LB, Ole Miss. Always good to have LB/special teams depth.
6.181: Mikail Kamara, DL/EDGE, Indiana. Probably will play inside at the NFL level with outside versatility, sort of like we had with Denico Autry.
7.240: Gabe Burkle, TE, Iowa State. A blocking tight end.
Depth Chart
(italicized is a new player, bold is a rookie)
QB: Cam Ward | Marcus Mariota
RB: Isiah Pacheco | Tyjae Spears | Jadarian Price | Kalel Mullings
XWR: Carnell Tate | Elic Ayomanor
ZWR: Chimere Dike | Calvin Ridley | Van Jefferson
SLWR: Calvin Austin III | Bryce Oliver
TE: Gunnar Helm | Chig Okonkwo | Gabe Burkle
LT: Dan Moore Jr | Blake Miller
LG: Peter Skoronski
C: Lloyd Cushenberry III | Logan Jones
RG: Alijah Vera-Tucker | Jackson Slater
RT: JC Latham
DT1: Jeffery Simmons | James Lynch
DT2: T’Vondre Sweat
DT3: Sebastian Joseph-Day | Mikail Kamara
EDGE1: AJ Epenesa | Quincy Rhodes Jr
EDGE2: Oluwafemi Oladejo | Jihad Ward | Jaylen Harrell
LB1: Cedric Gray | James Williams Sr
LB2: Cody Barton | Suntarine Perkins
CB1: Tariq Woolen | AJ Harris
CB2: Colton Hood | Darrell Baker Jr
SLCB: Ja’Quan McMillan | Marcus Harris
FS: Amani Hooker | Kendell Brooks
SS: Kevin Winston Jr | Xavier Woods
K: Joey Slye
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Morgan Cox
Let me know how you guys would feel about this offseason! Personally I think this would set us up for a much better 2026, provided Cam Ward continues to develop. This is definitely not a playoff roster, but hopefully not a third straight first overall pick roster either.
8 comments
Brian Daboll, lol. As soon as we get prime Josh Allen, we can consider that bum
I’m not against most of this.
What i an against is trading Will and bringing Marcus home for 8mil vs Will’s 1.145mil. Obviously the plan is to have Cam start every game next year, why would we pay someone 7mil more to sit on a bench, especially when Brandon Allen is currently doing that for about the same as what Will’s getting, just resign Allen at that point..
And I know nothing of college football but only adding Calvin Austin and that guy you have us drafting at 5 isn’t enough, in my opinion. Don’t resign Van and Bryce and try to get guys a tier or two or above them.
Would be psyched if it plays out anything like this. Sold more and more on saleh the more I think about it. I think I’d rather go Tyson, Reese, or Bain at 1:05 but wouldn’t be mad at Tate. Get Mariota back in town
The only outside FA signing I like is Woolen.
Also not a fan of the HC and Coordinators.
Not a fan of Saleh
Besides Pacheco and Austin I like it. Iffy on Daboll as well, but who knows maybe he is better back at a OC role.
Solid take would like to see them go edge earlier but if the pull Saleh then ok to wait
Not a bad sim, but a few major flaws. Skoronski would be the highest paid guard in the league with a 5th year option, so it’d be silly to not just extend him anyways this offseason. They’ll probably need to make him highest paid, but give it a lengthy 4-5 years and front load it.
The haul you listed for 1st overall is also overwhelmingly unrealistic, and some of the free agents are big no no’s in the Borgonzi vision. I love Mariota but this isn’t the place for him right now. They won’t be bringing back most of the re-signs you listed either, especially not at those prices. Jihad Ward is getting paid like 1.4M right now on a one year deal at 30+ years old, so they’re definitely not giving him a 2yr 10M deal.
But I love the detailed write up and explanations even if some are off base. Fun to see aggregates of how fans feel.