Free agency brought a wave of new talent to the Tennessee Titans as the organization looks to begin a new era.
But with a change in leadership — via the January hiring of Head Coach Robert Saleh — comes a shift in personnel. Players who didn’t fit the scheme, preferred a different staff or simply wanted a change of scenery moved on from Tennessee, some by choice and others by trade.
Regardless of how they left, several contributors from last season won’t be suiting up in a Titans uniform this fall. Most of those departures came on the defensive side of the ball.
The main move was a trade with the Jets, a deal that sent T’Vondre Sweat to New York in exchange for Jermaine Johnson.
Sweat, drafted 38th overall two seasons ago, developed into a starter on the defensive line. He played in 29 games and recorded 38 tackles, three sacks, eight tackles for loss, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Tennessee also lost another key piece up front, as defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Joseph-Day appeared in all 17 games last season, totaling 22 tackles and two sacks.
Similarly, defensive end Arden Key departed after three seasons with the Titans. He made 33 starts across 45 games, recording 16.5 sacks, 94 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 38 quarterback hits. Key signed with division rival Indianapolis.
Dre’Mont Jones, who played nine games in Tennessee last season, will join Mike Vrabel in New England. The defensive lineman finished with 26 tackles, five tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
Cornerback Darrell Baker also moved on after appearing in 34 games over two seasons with the Titans. He recorded 95 total tackles and will continue his career with the Miami Dolphins.
On offense, the most notable departure was that of tight end Chig Okonkwo. Drafted out of Maryland, he played in 68 games for Tennessee, totaling 194 receptions for 2,017 yards and eight touchdowns.
Offensive lineman Corey Levin also left in free agency. Primarily a depth piece, Levin began his career with the Titans in 2017, returned in 2021 and made five starts during his time with the organization. He has signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Titans also made a change on special teams, releasing punter Johnny Hekker to sign Tommy Townsend. Hekker spent the 2025 season in Tennessee, punting 78 times with a 46.8-yard average and placing 22 kicks inside the 20-yard line. He has since signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
Roster turnover is inevitable, especially during a transition period. With so many additions on defense (read more here), these departures reflect a clear effort by Tennessee to reshape that side of the ball and build a unit better suited for its new direction and coaching staff.