NFL Analyst Picks Best, Worst Moves From Titans This Offseason

The Tennessee Titans desperately needed change after finishing at 3-14 for the second season in a row. 

The Titans let go of some deadweight, releasing center Lloyd Cushenberry, cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and safety Xavier Woods. 

Cushenberry and Sneed were two of the questionable contracts handed out by former General Manager Ran Carthon. 

Cushenberry played in 23 games over the last two years, and Sneed was on the field for 12, as both dealt with multiple injuries during their time with the franchise. Woods spent just one year with the team, but still wasn't able to play a full season due to injury. 

The Titans padded both the offense and defense, with the biggest acquisitions being Wan'Dale Robinson, John Franklin-Myers, Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott. 

Tennessee added Carnell Tate, Keldric Faulk, Anthony Hill Jr., Fernando Carmona, Nicholas Singleton, Jackie Marshall, Pat Coogan and Jaren Kanak through the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Even though they've yet to see the field, this Titans team is in a better place than it was one year ago. ESPN's Bill Barnwell weighed in on his favorite moves the team made this offseason. 

Starting with his favorite, he really liked the decision to bring in Flott. He believes Flott's expertise in man coverage will do the Titans some good.

He even compared him to Pat Surtain II and Devon Witherspoon. 

"On defense, though, my favorite signing for the Titans probably was Flott," Barnwell said. "A starter for most of his four years with the Giants, Flott gave up an 86.2 passer rating in coverage, a very solid number given that he was in man coverage nearly 41% over that time, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Flott allowed minus-0.08 EPA per coverage snap over that span, which is right around where stars such as Pat Surtain II (minus-0.12) and Devon Witherspoon (minus-0.04) were last season. Flott is not quite on their level, but I like his chances of exceeding expectations under coach Robert Saleh, who has done great work with cornerbacks in his stops with the 49ers and Jets. Flott also doesn't turn 25 until August, meaning he probably still has some growth before reaching his peak."

Then, there were the dislikes. 

Barnwell wasn't a fan of the moves the Titans made on offense for Robinson, tight end Daniel Bellinger, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and center Austin Schlottmann.

He believed Tennessee overpaid for players like Bellinger, Trubisky and Schlottmann, who have been inconsistent at their previous stops. 

"What the Titans did this offseason on offense is more subtly worrisome," Barnwell said. "Signing Wan'Dale Robinson was one thing, but to hand new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll some familiar faces, they gave blocking tight end Daniel Bellinger a three-year, $24 million pact and backup Giants center Austin Schlottmann a two-year, $7 million contract while installing the journeyman as the likely starter. And Daboll reunited with a former Bills charge in backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who signed for two years and $10.5 million." 

With Schlottmann, he didn't have a lot of starts while with the Giants. However, when he was on the field, he was productive. 

Schlottmann started four games for Brian Daboll at the Giants, allowing zero sacks, three quarterback pressures, a 70.8 PFF grade, and was flagged just three times for penalties. 

He is expected to start at center, but can at least be a viable backup if he loses his job to Coogan, who Borgonzi says has the potential to start as a rookie.  

Bellinger is going to retain his role as a blocking tight end, with Gunnar Helm's expertise clearly being as a receiving option for Cam Ward. 

At the end of the day, with Trubisky, he is more suited as a backup. While the Titans did pay him $10.5 million, the value of a reliable backup is underrated. He has experience as a starter from earlier in his career with the Chicago Bears, the value of which can never be overstated. 

The Titans are unproven, but they definitely moved the needle this offseason.