Tennessee Titans’ Free Agency Activity
It was pretty clear from the start that the Tennessee Titans would be doling out a significant amount for free agents. With a new coach in place, evident gaps in the defense, and a general manager in charge, they had to spend to meet the NFL’s minimum salary cap. They’ve already inked contracts worth over $250 million, with still three free agents yet to finalize their offers.
There’s no doubt that the Titans are an improved team compared to last week. Admittedly, things couldn’t have gotten much worse, but they’ve managed to enhance their lineup and provide Robert Saleh with the necessary tools to revamp the defense. However, the worry here is that the roster additions haven’t made a major impact. The team seriously needed dependable players on both sides to nurture younger talent. Yet, the outcome is a solid defensive lineman, a couple of mediocre cornerbacks, and a wide receiver prospect whose future could significantly shape the team’s direction.
Let’s talk about the positives first: John Franklin-Myers stands out. The strategy here is quite straightforward and makes perfect sense. The Titans have shifted to a 4-3 defense under Saleh, leading to the trade for Tvondre Sweat and the pickup of Jermaine Johnson, a player from Tennessee. It’s conceivable that they might also draft another piece in the early rounds. Franklin-Myers, primarily an edge rusher, has the potential to adapt to a more intricate role as a penetrating three-technique defensive tackle. Given the shortage of quality tackles available, especially at the No. 4 overall pick, it’s tough to imagine the team acquiring anyone of value through a trade. That’s why I’m quite fond of bringing in Franklin-Myers. He’s already in sync with Saleh’s approach and managed to generate pressure on more than 10% of his pass rush snaps last season—definitely impressive for a tackle. Another edge rusher in the mix should enhance the pass rush.
Despite my appreciation for JFM, I have reservations about his contract. Wan’Dale Robinson raises similar concerns. We’ve seen this one-year wonder receiver pattern in free agency before, and unfortunately, it often doesn’t pan out. You mainly have just one year’s worth of data on Robinson, and while he was productive, there wasn’t anything notably exceptional about his performance with the Giants. His average target depth of 8.5 yards isn’t what you’d hope for in a receiver for a guy like Cam Ward. Many of his catches came from broken plays. His inconsistency as a route runner makes me question whether he can truly be a No. 1 option, especially at the price the Titans paid. This scenario feels reminiscent of the Jaguars’ signing of Christian Kirk back in 2022—a player who seemed promising but faded too quickly.
The newly signed cornerbacks aren’t particularly remarkable either. Alonte Taylor is an odd choice; he’s more effective at blitzing from the secondary than actually playing cornerback. Allowing a passer rating of 108.7 on throws his way in 2025 is pretty dismal for someone supposedly playing as the No. 1 corner. Cordale Flot, on the other hand, has impressive natural ball skills but is more of a mid-tier No. 2 corner in the NFL. Together, they’re costing the Titans $103 million, which leaves me questioning the rationale behind this pairing.
Overall, I can’t quite grasp why the Titans’ front office looked at the New York Giants last year and decided to heavily invest in their former players. Four of their key free-agent signings hail from East Rutherford, which includes the rather baffling choice of tight end Daniel Bellinger. He’s secured a contract worth $8 million annually despite never exceeding 300 receiving yards in any season. There’s potential in his game, sure, but it relies heavily on hope and projected talent.
On the flip side, the signing of punter Tommy Townsend stands out as one of the better contracts from a team that has spent so freely. It represents a significant upgrade at the position and essentially acts as a support for the defense by improving field position battles.
As I’ve pointed out, this isn’t exactly a Titans issue per se; it’s just that the team clearly didn’t spend as wisely as they might have hoped. The Las Vegas Raiders found themselves in a similar financial position but managed to secure one of the top centers in the league and made key linebacker acquisitions in Nakobe Dean and Key Walker. Those moves seem to offset any doubts about the value they gave up for WR Jalen Naylor and DE Kwity Paye.
The tendency to pursue a quick solution can be observed in the Titans’ approach as well. They often release established talent prematurely in favor of chasing something unproven. It’s been done before, and while it might pay off in the long term, these attempts have not always been successful. This current batch of signings gives the Titans a better team, sure, but it doesn’t quite match the $250 million investment. Sure, that’s part and parcel of rebuilding a struggling team, but it begs the question: is overpaying for players like Tyler Linderbaum really the answer? Or is it just a gamble, hoping that players like Wan’Dale Robinson can deliver results without a hefty price tag?
