Latest news with #Borgonzi
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Titans president awkwardly scoffed at puzzling Super Bowl roster question
Didn't expect this question at the #Titans presser today… With No. 1 overall pick quarterback Cam Ward in the fold, the Tennessee Titans might have a bright future. For now, though, they're obviously in the early stages of a rebuild, as anyone closely paying attention can see. In fact, they're not really being all that subtle about their intentions on establishing a quality organizational foundation for a little while before they're prepared to contend again. Someone did not pass along this memo to a reporter who attended the Titans' opening press conference of training camp on Tuesday. To close media availability, someone asked Titans president Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi whether the Tennessee team that would hit the practice field in the coming weeks was good enough to ... compete for Super Bowl 60??? Naturally, the Titans are nowhere close to playing for a Lombardi Trophy. Let's not kid ourselves. And to their credit, they're not lying to themselves. They know this fact very well. They're not operating on that sort of timeline. Not in the least. But that didn't stop Brinker from scoffing at the mere hint of Super Bowl contention any time soon. Judging by Borgonzi's frozen reaction next to him, it's probably safe to assume both gentlemen did not expect to hear a question concerned with such lofty expectations for a still-developing roster that earned last year's top draft selection: It's not often you see such candidness from NFL front office people. People in Brinker's and Borgonzi's positions usually like to keep things close to the vest for a good reason. That's what makes Brinker's momentary slip here so amusing. Being asked about this Titans roster competing for a Super Bowl was so surprising that Brinker couldn't help but show his full hand for once, even for a few seconds. In case it wasn't already clear, the Titans are rebuilding. They're trying to develop a young quarterback. Any other 2025 goals are ancillary, a bonus, and likely highly unrealistic. When was the last time the Titans competed for a Super Bowl? It wasn't that long ago, now that you ask! The peak of the Mike Vrabel era saw the Titans make a run all the way to the 2020 AFC title game, where they eventually lost to Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs. At one point in the game, the Titans even held a double-digit lead before the Chiefs stormed back to take full control in a resounding victory. This version of Tennessee would make the playoffs a couple more times in ensuing seasons, but it couldn't get out of the first round on either occasion.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Titans Should Avoid Trading for All-Pro Edge Rusher
Titans Should Avoid Trading for All-Pro Edge Rusher originally appeared on Athlon Sports. While the season continues to get closer and closer, the rumor mill continues to get hotter and hotter. With one particular player, T.J. Watt, things are getting a little warmer after a recent update. Advertisement The talented pass rusher is seeking an extension from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and currently, neither side can compromise on a deal. If things get bad enough to necessitate a move, one team that has been mentioned is the Tennessee Titans. USA Today's Cody Woodruff listed Tennessee as a potential landing spot. The proposal included the Titans sending a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for Watt. Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt (90).Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images This trade would give the Titans an elite pass-rusher, replacing Harold Landy, whom they released this offseason. Landry subsequently signed with the New England Patriots and former Titans coach Mike Vrabel. Advertisement While acquiring a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year sounds like a positive, it is not likely to be something that happens. New general manager Mike Borgonzi has already stated at his introductory press conference in January how he wanted to build the Titans' roster, and it did not involve trading picks for star players: "My vision as a team builder is to draft and develop," Borgonzi said. "We want to build a foundation of home-grown talent and reward those players that meet our standards. " This is not to say that Borgonzi won't make any trades during his time as general manager of the Titans, but he also wants to draft pieces to the puzzle and not just trade for them. Otherwise, this would leave the Titans bereft of draft picks to replenish the roster. Another reason this trade would not happen is that Watt would likely want to join a more immediate contender. The Titans are not exactly in a position to contend for a title right now, or maybe not even the postseason. Advertisement Watt will want to get a lucrative extension, but he is definitely not a young player anymore. He would more likely want to join a team where he's a key piece in their title-winning efforts than a rebuilding team. All in all, a trade to the Titans sounds like a good idea from the outside looking in. But it isn't something that would be ideal from Borgonzi's perspective on how to build the roster, nor what Watt is looking for, outside of money. Related: Titans' L'Jarius Sneed Provides Health Update Ahead of Training Camp Related: Former NFL Quarterback Suggests Two Vet WRs for Titans to Add This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
01-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee Titans select 'defensive menace' in Matt Miller's 2026 NFL mock draft
The Tennessee Titans made some serious changes in 2024, beginning with firing Ran Carthon and hiring Mike Borgonzi as the new general manager. Borgonzi has been busy this offseason trying to rebuild a fractured team. While it seems he has made good decisions, we won't really know until the team hits the field this fall, but all indications are that this Titans team is improved. The one thing Borgonzi hasn't done, though, is bring in a true edge rusher. Perhaps this is why ESPN's Matt Miller projects that the Titans will change that in his latest 2026 NFL mock draft. T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson* Tennessee has long needed a premier edge rusher, and Parker is definitely that. Not only did the 6-foot-3, 265-pound junior have 11 sacks last season, but he also forced six fumbles. He would be an ideal fit in the Titans' 3-4 base defense thanks to his ability to play in space and rush from multiple alignments. His quickness off the corner is the best in the class when watching last season's tape. While the Titans could use offensive help, Parker is the defensive menace they desire. Currently, the Titans are projected to have the third pick in the 2026 NFL draft. This is subject to change, of course, as these projections are based on simulations of what a team might do in a given season. Remember that the Washington Commanders weren't expected to have more than a handful of wins in 2024, and they went to the NFC Championship behind Jayden Daniels. No, Cam Ward is not Jayden Daniels, nor does anyone expect him to be. The point is that the Titans' draft position has yet to be determined. However, they do need an edge rusher, and Parker certainly fits the bill for a first-round pick, so it's not unfathomable that this could happen.
USA Today
15-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee Titans' supporting cast ranked among NFL's worst
Tennessee Titans' supporting cast ranked among NFL's worst Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Bogonzi was tasked with rebuilding an organization that has struggled to remain relevant. Since moving to Tennessee from Houston, the Titans have made 10 postseason appearances, including a Super Bowl appearance in 1999 when they lost to the St. Louis Rams. Borgonzi is the next guy tabbed to take this franchise to the next level, but first, the rebuild. To that end, the Titans made many impactful moves during the offseason. They bolstered the offensive line during free agency and added other offensive weapons through the 2025 NFL draft. One of those weapons is Cam Ward, the rookie standout from Miami who is expected to start for the Titans in Week 1. But how did Borgonzi do with Ward's supporting cast? FOX Sports ranks the Titans' supporting cast near the bottom of the league at 29th overall. It feels like a big deal that Cam Ward is going to start his NFL career behind an offensive line that should give him a chance. Maybe the Titans overpaid for a couple pieces there, but it still looks like it's going to be a much better unit than what you'd expect from the team picking first in the draft. Calvin Ridley is still a solid enough receiver, and Tony Pollard still managed 1,000 yards on last year's terrible team. The options behind them aren't as exciting, but you've got to admit this isn't an awful starting point. It's interesting that with such a low ranking, there wasn't much negative to say about the Titans' offensive weapons. There are no big names outside of Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard, but they are all very capable players. Rookies Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor, and Xavier Restrepo are already turning heads, and it wouldn't be surprising to see one or more of them take a starting spot before the season ends. Add to that the lack of talk about Tyjae Spears and what he brings to the table, that he held down the ground game while Tony Pollard battled injury in 2024. He has his own injury issues, but he's a multi-faceted player who can be used to disguise plays of all kinds. So, while FOX Sports ranks the Titans' supporting cast near the bottom of the league, it's mostly because it's an untested group in a new regime. How they perform this season will show us where things truly stand.
USA Today
14-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee Titans have two of NFL's worst contracts entering 2025
Tennessee Titans have two of NFL's worst contracts entering 2025 The Tennessee Titans had an aggressive offseason knowing they needed to build around whichever player they selected with the No. 1 overall pick. That player wound up being quarterback Cam Ward out of Miami, a move that has given some new hope to a franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs in three consecutive seasons. However, the offseason also included some questionable moves. With Mike Borgonzi taking over as the general manager for the first time in his career. When looking at the worst contracts across the NFL, the Titans were featured twice on the list from Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report. Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, with his four-year, $76.4 million deal, came in at No. 9 on the list. It's easy to understand the rationale behind the Tennessee Titans' 2024 trade to acquire cornerback L'Jairus Sneed. Good cornerbacks are hard to find, and Sneed had excelled in Steve Spagnuolo's defense with the Kansas City Chiefs. Still, it was odd to see Tennessee immediately give a 27-year-old corner who had never been to a Pro Bowl a deal worth $19.1 million annually—which has him as the league's 11th-highest-paid cornerback a year later. Borgonzi inherited that contract, so it's difficult to hold that deal against him. However, coming in at No. 3 on the list was arguably the biggest move Borgonzi made during free agency: signing Dan Moore Jr. to a four-year, $82 million deal. The Titans entered free agency knowing that they were likely to use the No. 1 overall pick on Miami quarterback Cam Ward. Therefore, aggressively addressing the offensive line was logical. However, there isn't a world in which Moore should be the league's 10th-highest-paid tackle in terms of annual salary, which he currently is. Fortunately for the Titans, they have a quarterback on a rookie contract so they can afford to overpay right now for some lesser-tiered players. With that said, there's a good chance these deals will become even more of a talking point in the future.
