Titans ignite free agency with massive spending spree, aiming to rebound from losing seasons and impress critics.
The best way for the Tennessee Titans to turn things around? Spend a ton of money in free agency.
At least that's how General Manager Mike Borgonzi saw it.
After going 3-14 in the last two seasons, the Titans spent roughly $270 million in free agency. The biggest moves were receiver Wan'Dale Robinson ($78 million), defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers ($63 million), and corners Alontae Taylor ($60 million) and Cor'Dale Flott ($45 million).
There were even some trades made outside of free agency. The Titans traded T'Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets for Jermaine Johnson. The Titans also traded with the Dallas Cowboys for Solomon Thomas.
However, in the past, these kinds of spending sprees haven't worked out for Tennessee. Not too long ago, former General Manager Ran Carthon spent a vast amount of money in free agency, bringing in Lloyd Cushenberry, Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard and L'Jarius Sneed.
Cushenberry and Sneed have since been released, and Ridley played in seven games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury. Pollard is really the only one who has lived up to his contract after back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.
The Titans haven't necessarily gotten everyone's approval for the moves they made in free agency. ESPN's Bill Barnwell called the Titans one of his losers of free agency.
Another ESPN media member actually liked what Borgonzi and company have done with the team so far. Field Yates stated that the Titans were the most improved team in the NFL after the offseason roster turnover that happened in Music City.
"The Titans. There is an old axiom to not confuse activity with achievement, but dollars count in free agency, and I believe that the Titans are much further along than they were before free agency," Yates said. "Coach Robert Saleh is reunited with three front-seven members from his Jets tenure, led by Franklin-Myers. Saleh's defenses during his time in New York were often excellent, so I expect this defense to attack right away."
Going all out in free agency is nothing new in recent NFL history. The Washington Commanders and New England Patriots did something very similar.
The Commanders won four games in 2023. Then, they spent the most money in free agency and drafted quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels lived up to his Heisman pedigree and helped lead the team to the NFC Championship Game in 2024.
The Patriots were in the same boat in 2024. New England ended that season with a 4-13 record, then brought in former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
After spending a monstrous amount of money on free agents, the team had a quick turnaround and went to the Super Bowl. Although they lost to the Seattle Seahawks, the Patriots are in a much better spot than they were in 2024.
The Titans are just following the blueprint that teams before them have. Whether they will have the same level of success depends on how that talent does on the field in 2026.