Latest news with #MikeBorgonzi
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Titans Trade Idea Provides Defense With Perennial All-Pro Edge Rusher
Titans Trade Idea Provides Defense With Perennial All-Pro Edge Rusher originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tennessee Titans completely revamped their roster this offseason after a brutal three-win campaign in 2024. New general manager Mike Borgonzi took nine players in the 2025 NFL Draft and was incredibly active in free agency. Advertisement He also made it a point to get cheaper and younger at several key positions, including edge rusher. Former Pro Bowler Harold Landry III was released this offseason, and the team took Femi Oladejo from UCLA to fill the void. However, this Titans roster is far from complete, as they still have several spots on the team to improve before they are serious contenders in the AFC South. Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt (90).Dale Zanine-Imagn Images On Monday, USA Today's Cody Woodroof provided potential landing spots for disgruntled Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt. Surprisingly, the Titans made the list. "The Titans probably wouldn't be Watt's first pick from a contending standpoint, but Tennessee could back up the Brinks trucks to his driveway with a contract of his liking," Woodroof wrote. "The Titans could use Watt's star power on its defense during the quarterback Cam Ward era, as the team is missing an ace pass-rusher on the roster. Pittsburgh could feel good about trading Watt to Nashville and not worrying about having to see him in the AFC playoffs unless the Titans massively overachieve this fall. Watt could get a windfall in the process." Advertisement While acquiring Watt would certainly be a major benefit for the team's defense, it would come at a cost. Woodruff believes that it would take a second-rounder in 2026 and a third-rounder in 2027 to land him. On top of this, the team would have to fork out major cash to extend Watt, which would take up a large portion of their salary cap space. Watt is a former Defensive Player of the Year, as well as a five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. There are no official links or reports that the Titans could acquire Watt, but the team being listed as a potential trade destination could make sense for both sides. Related: Titans Urged to Sign Top Defensive Free Agent Related: Titans Make Exciting Training Camp Announcement on Wednesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Titans Urged to Sign Top Defensive Free Agent
Titans Urged to Sign Top Defensive Free Agent originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tennessee Titans revamped their roster this offseason under new general manager Mike Borgonzi. After spending 16 years in various roles with the Kansas City Chiefs, Borgonzi knew changes were needed from last year's three-win team. Advertisement That started with releasing former Pro Bowl edge rusher Harold Landry III and grabbing big-time veteran free agents like offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. and linebacker Cody Barton. Tennessee also added veteran wide receivers like Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson to be a sure set of hands for rookie quarterback Cam Ward, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Free agent LB Kyzir White (7).Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Borgonzi and head coach Brian Callahan are not done building this roster, however, as it takes time to overhaul a team that had a league-worst three wins in 2024. Titans reporter Easton Freeze noted that linebacker, in particular, is a position of concern. Advertisement ESPN's Aaron Schatz proposed a solution to this issue, as he wrote that the Titans should sign free agent linebacker Kyzir White. "The Titans don't really have a lot of inside linebackers on the roster that they can trust," Schatz wrote. "Tennessee signed Cody Barton away from Denver, but nobody else at the position played more than 10.5% of defensive snaps last season. A strong veteran to play up the middle would be a big help, and White is still out there." White is a seven-year NFL veteran who spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He has also made stops with the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles during his career. After losing Kenneth Murray this offseason from an already-weak linebacker corps, White could be the perfect fix. He has 615 career tackles, including 34 for a loss, as well as 7.5 sacks, six interceptions, 23 passes defended and two forced fumbles. Advertisement At this point in the offseason, he should not command as much money, so if the new brass feels that he fits in defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson's scheme, then this could be a homerun signing. Related: Titans Make Exciting Training Camp Announcement on Wednesday Related: Titans Reporter Reveals 3 Positions of Concern Ahead of 2025 Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Titans Reporter Explains Why Team Released All-Pro Player
Titans Reporter Explains Why Team Released All-Pro Player originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tennessee Titans have made massive changes this offseason to get rid of the stink from last year's three-win team. New general manager Mike Borgonzi has been hard at work repairing the roster, and head coach Brian Callahan has adjusted the staff. Advertisement One of the major staff changes was the addition of special teams coordinator John Fassel, a legendary coach who spent the last five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Fans were excited about pairing up 2022 All-Pro punter Ryan Stonehouse with this experienced coach. Instead, the Titans chose not to re-sign him, and Stonehouse signed with the Miami Dolphins this offseason. Former Tennessee Titans punter Ryan Stonehouse (4).Mark Konezny-Imagn Images This decision caught a lot of Titans fans by surprise. AtoZ Sports reporter Easton Freeze recently provided context on how things went down between Tennessee and Stonehouse. "I don't think it was a [John] Fassel decision so much as it was a general philosophical shift by the coaching staff," Freeze wrote. "They really want to emphasize hang time and directional punting over pure distance, and there were some frustrations at times last year with Stoney being a power/distance guy. They just didn't see it as a good fit any longer." Advertisement Tennessee certainly had several areas of the game to improve upon this offseason, and the minute details of the kicking game are often lost on most when discussing upgrades. Stonehouse also saw a decrease in his yards per punt last season, and had two kicks blocked during the 2024 campaign. The Titans replaced Stonehouse with Johnny Hekker, a 13-year veteran who has played with both the Rams and Panthers. Hekker is far removed from his days as a four-time All-Pro, but he should be able to get the job done in Tennessee this season. Fans may have a hard time adjusting to life without Stonehouse, but at least they have clarity on why things went down the way that they did. Advertisement Related: Titans Reportedly Unworried About $76 Million Star's Injury Concerns Related: Titans Make Staffing Announcement After Minicamp This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Titans Reportedly Unworried About $76 Million Star's Injury Concerns
Titans Reportedly Unworried About $76 Million Star's Injury Concerns originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tennessee Titans made several strong moves on the offensive side of the ball this offseason under new general manager Mike Borgonzi. Advertisement Tennessee's recent additions are highlighted by rookie quarterback Cam Ward, who will be tasked with turning around a Titans team that won three games in 2024. Despite the defense being a strength last year, however, several questions surround the unit ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Perhaps no concern is stronger than the one around $76 million cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and his injury, which caused him to play in just five games last season and miss the team's offseason program this year. Tennessee Titans cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38).Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Fortunately, head coach Brian Callahan and the team's coaches do not seem particularly concerned with Sneed's injury. Titans reporter Easton Freeze highlighted this sentiment in his recent mailbag. Advertisement "Internally, the message has been very consistent all offseason: they aren't very worried about [Sneed] returning to form," Freeze wrote. "They like him a lot as a leader in that room and they're expecting him back in a big way. It's kind of shocking how unconcerned they seem when I talk to them, frankly." Sneed got hurt in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts last season and never returned to the lineup. This was especially disappointing because the team signed him to a hefty extension last offseason after trading a draft pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for his talents. After recording 10 interceptions and 40 passes defended in his first four seasons with the Chiefs, Sneed did not record a single interception or pass defended in five games with the Titans. He did collect 23 tackles, including two for a loss, but expectations for his production will be much higher ahead of the 2025 season. Advertisement Fortunately, all signs are pointing toward him being healthy for training camp, and he should be ready to hit the ground running in Week 1 when the Titans take on the Denver Broncos on the road. Related: Titans Make Staffing Announcement After Minicamp Related: Titans CB L'Jarius Sneed Hit With Dreaded Label Ahead of 2025 Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Surprise Titans WR Projected to Start in Week 1
Surprise Titans WR Projected to Start in Week 1 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tennessee Titans made several changes on the offensive side of the ball this offseason under new general manager Mike Borgonzi. Advertisement Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was the biggest upgrade, but he also carries the most hype and expectations. Borgonzi also made an effort to bolster the team's pass-catching unit in free agency by adding veterans Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson before the draft. The team selected wideouts Chimere Dike from Florida and Elic Ayomanor from Stanford in the fourth round as well. Former Miami Hurricane and one of Ward's favorite college targets, Xavier Restrepo, was also signed as an undrafted free agent. Calvin Ridley is seemingly the lone holdover at wide receiver from last year's roster. Tennessee Titans WR Elic Ayomanor (5).Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images With the season now just under three months away, AtoZ Sports' Easton Freeze made predictions about when each of the Titans' rookies would make their first professional starts. At wide receiver, he made a bit of a surprise choice. Advertisement "I'm calling my shot," Freeze wrote. "I think 4th Round rookie Elic Ayomanor will be out there on the Titans opening offensive play from scrimmage in Week 1." While Ayomanor may seem like an interesting choice, considering he was selected in the fourth round, Freeze came ready with details about his strong performance throughout the team's offseason program. "He's been my guy since the draft process, and I believe in his ability to both physically and mentally get up to speed in the NFL in a hurry," Freeze continued. "He's the only true X receiver on this roster for my money, and that's where I think he's lined up to begin the year. I was really encouraged by what we've seen from him in practice so far, and look forward to his continued progress in Training Camp." During his last two college seasons at Stanford, Ayomanor caught 125 passes for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns. At 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, the rookie wideout has an NFL-ready frame and could be ready to contribute right away. Advertisement Tennessee begins the season on the road against a difficult opponent, the Denver Broncos. Denver won 10 games last season and made the playoffs in a loaded AFC, so the Titans will be challenged right off the bat. Related: Titans Reporter Explains Why Team Released All-Pro Player Related: Titans Reportedly Unworried About $76 Million Star's Injury Concerns This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
