The Tennessee Titans went out and made a splash during the 2024 offseason and fell flat. After a disappointing 3-14 season, major changes have taken place and a philosophical change appears to be on the horizon.
With new general manager Mike Borgonzi coming over from Kansas City and pairing with president of football operations Chad Brinker, who spent time in Green Bay, the way the Titans are built moving forward will likely change. Both come from NFL backgrounds that show that stability and the draft are the cornerstones of success in the league.
In an interview with ESPN reporter Turron Davenport, Brinker and Borgonzi outlined the franchise’s ideology moving forward.
#Titans GM Mike Borgonzi: Draft and develop. Reward home grown talent. Build right mixture of talent and character. We want players that are big and tough that love football and impact the community.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) January 22, 2025
Those comments were echoed by Brinker during the interview when he talked about the importance of the draft and building a roster.
“It’s the draft, develop, retain, vision, philosophy that requires patience over, discipline, thought and action,” Brinker told ESPN. “It’s been proven. It’s everything that I believe. It’s what I grew up in this business. That’s all that I know.”
This is indeed the philosophy that both Green Bay and Kansas City have employed and led to tremendous consistent success for these franchises. Teams that draft well can use free agency to optimize their roster, not build it. For Titans fans, this may not readily offer them the instant gratification they seek, but it is a great way to establish long-term success.
With the offseason already underway and the staff and front office starting the college all-star circuit in the coming days, the search for the foundational pieces needed to put this philosophy in motion is rolling along. You can get your first look at the East-West Shrine Game on January 30.