As the Titans inch closer to the start of the 2025 season, we are now seeing why president of football operations Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi are pleading for patience while attempting to rebuild a depleted roster.
In watching the Titans play the preseason opener in Tampa Bay and then meander their way to Georgia for two days of joint practice work with the Atlanta Falcons, it is becoming increasingly clear this roster still has major issues, much like it has for the past two seasons.
There are some improvements over last year. For instance, the offensive line seems to be much better-equipped to protect the quarterback than it has the previous few years when the likes of Dennis Daley, Andre Dillard and Nicholas Petit-Frere too often allowed the pocket to collapse. The additions of tackle Dan Moore and guard Kevin Zeitler to a young group seem to have that unit finally headed in the right direction.
But in watching games and practices, there is still an overall feel that there simply aren’t enough playmakers yet on board to pull this team out of the nosedive it has been in for the past three seasons.
Cam Ward shows promise, but other than Calvin Ridley, there is little to bank on in the way of potential game-changers on offense. Tight end Chig Okonkwo, who has been inconsistent for three years, is still probably the next best option in the passing game.
Veterans Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson hardly distinguished themselves in the joint work against the Falcons, and young targets like Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike and Gunnar Helm are going through the same growing pains as Ward.
The defense has played the two preseason games to date without Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat, allowing others the opportunity to make an impression.
Very few have. Cedric Gray had a nice game against the Falcons backups. The safety position appears to be in solid hands with Amani Hooker and Xavier Woods, while Roger McCreary and Cody Barton are steady at nickelback and inside linebacker, respectively.
But outside of Simmons – and especially at edge rusher and cornerback – the Titans don’t have the needed game-changers to lift this unit out of overall mediocrity.
That was painfully obvious watching Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijon Robinson stack play after play in the two days of work against the Falcons.
What the Titans have to hope for is that some of the many question marks can in time become positives, while the front office continues to try to add pieces and the coaching staff works to build the right culture.