Have the Titans settled on Cam Ward?
The Tennessee Titans came into free agency with needs at pretty much every position on their roster. They told us when Mike Borgonzi was hired that they were going to be a “draft and develop” organization. That meant they weren’t going to go on a spending frenzy in free agency like they did before the 2024 season. They have stuck to that plan. Their signings, with the exception of Dan Moore, have been on a very short-term basis giving them upgrades at positions for 2025 without jeopardizing the salary cap down the road.
Upgrading the offensive line
The number one thing the Titans absolutely had to do in free agency was upgrade the offensive line. They have done that. There has been a lot of talk about the Dan Moore signing, but it was something the Titans really needed to do. Moore took a step forward in 2024 and will only get better with Bill Callahan coaching him up. There is no doubt their tackle situation is better now than it was when the season ended.
They also signed Kevin Zeitler to a one-year deal. He will be the starting right guard and is a huge upgrade over Dillon Radunz. A starting line that goes Moore, Peter Skoronski, Lloyd Cushenberry, Zeitler, JC Latham from left to right should be really solid. They also added Blake Hance as a swing guy on the interior.
They will still need to add an offensive lineman or two in the draft, but the signings they have made allow them to wait until day three to do that.
Upgrading the defense
One of the needs that wasn’t talked about very much heading into free agency was safety. Amani Hooker is a really good player, but they needed to upgrade behind him. They did that when they signed Xavier Woods. He wasn’t the best safety on the market but is an upgrade and he doesn’t miss games:
Over the last 7 seasons, Xavier Woods has started every game he has played. His snap percentage for those 7 seasons:
100
100
99
97
97
96
91 https://t.co/w4N7dB5QNt— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 11, 2025
Then, in a bit of a surprise move, they signed defensive end Dre’Mont Jones from the Seattle Seahawks. He is a guy that gives them versatility on the defensive line because he can play on the line and rush off the edge.
They also added Cody Barton at inside linebacker and traded Kenneth Murray to the Dallas Cowboys. Barton isn’t great in coverage but is solid against the run.
But what about quarterback?
Yep, that is the question we are all still asking. They signed Brandon Allen to a one-year deal. That gives them a quarterback competition in camp of Allen and Will Levis. Yikes! It really does feel like all signs are pointing to them drafting Cam Ward as the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. I have been a big proponent of the trade down because they need more picks, but if they are sold that Ward is a franchise quarterback, they should absolutely just pick him and build around him.
What are the Titans’ biggest remaining needs?
Quarterback has to be at the top of the list followed by EDGE and wide receiver. They did add Van Jefferson a one-year deal, but Jefferson as your #2 is a recipe for disaster, especially if you have a rookie quarterback. The problem is their aren’t any impact receivers left in free agency, and this draft is not as deep at receiver as the last few have been.
If they do trade down – especially if it is with the New York Giants – you would assume they would draft Abdul Carter to help with the need at EDGE. They would still need to add some guys to the position later in the draft.
If they don’t trade down at 1.1, they will pretty much have to draft an EDGE guy at the top of the second round.