After the Tennessee Titans' loss to the Houston Texans in Week 5, head coach Robert Saleh talked about how this isn't the time to panic, and he is correct, but not for a reason many fans will agree with.
Whether you agree or not, the Titans pushed the reset button before the 2025 season when they hired Mike Borgonzi and drafted Cam Ward. Unfortunately, they had to hit the reset button again before the 2026 season when they hired Coach Saleh.
Even though this team has been painful to watch since 2022, Saleh is correct when he says this is only Week 6 of the reset for this current regime. The Titans have 13 potential foundational pieces on this roster. Even though the results have been poor, the cupboard isn't as bare as you might think, and right now you can separate them into four distinct buckets.
Titans have 13 foundational pieces to accelerate this roster rebuild
Elite players: DT Jeffery Simmons
Looking at how much disdain those previous personnel decisions have brought on this organization, the Titans need to make sure they keep the best Titans player of this generation happy and on the roster until he decides to retire. Simmons should be in Nashville until the Titans build a statue to honor him and put his name in the rafters.
Young, proven talent: LG Peter Skoronski, RT JC Latham
A bigger bucket than the previous one, but only slightly. Currently, this group is comprised of just Skoronski and Latham. Both of the young linemen look destined for honors and recognition this year and beyond, and they are players who should be on this roster for the next 5+ years.
Heading into the season, Cedric Gray seemed like a lock for this list, but he hasn't been able to find his niche in this defense yet. That could change by the end of the year, but right now it isn't fair to put him on this list.
Young, unproven talent: WR Carnell Tate, WR Elic Ayomanor, RG Fernando Carmona, TE Gunnar Helm, EDGE Keldric Faulk, LB Anthony Hill, S Kevin Winston, CB Marcus Harris
The biggest group here, these are the guys who are worth a look. It is too early to say that any of these guys might make a Pro Bowl soon, but they all look like starters at this point. Given the small sample size, Tate and Hill are standouts, but these are all players that should be given every chance to develop throughout 2026. Having said that, almost none of these guys are impossible to upgrade over if there is an obvious, generational talent staring the Titans in the face.
Veteran floor raisers: WR Wan'Dale Robinson, DT John Franklin-Myers
This list is rounded out by guys who may never be stars, but who can get the job done and who should be on the roster for multiple seasons. Robinson is one of the better slot receivers in the NFL, but the Titans are struggling to find their identity on offense. That is making life hard for the receivers on this team. Still, when the team gets in a pinch, it is often Robinson or Tate that they turn to bail them out, and since he is only 25, the future is still bright for him.
Franklin-Myers isn't getting chances to pin his ears back and rush the passer because the Titans never have the lead, but he is still making the most of his opportunities and flashing as a run defender as well. He is an older player, but he still plays like he has years left in the tank, and he can be a leader on this defense alongside Simmons.
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