The Tennessee Titans are embarking on a new era during the 2025 NFL season. While head coach Brian Callahan remains in the saddle, for now, new general manager Mike Borgonzi made the Titans a new-look team in many ways this offseason.
Obviously, the selection of Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft should transform things in Tennessee, as they may have a franchise quarterback for the first time in quite a while. The team will likely go as far as he takes them in 2025.
But the Titans made a series of other big moves this offseason, notably the release of star edge rusher Harold Landry III. Despite his illustrious career in Tennessee, Borgonzi and Co. felt that it was best to get younger at the position and move on from his contract.
Former Titans star Harold Landry III dominates in first Patriots game
Through just one week of the 2025 NFL season, however, letting him go seems like a major mistake. He signed with the New England Patriots this offseason, and in Week 1, he absolutely tormented the Las Vegas Raiders' offensive line.
He finished with 2.5 sacks, five total tackles, including three tackles for a loss, and four quarterback hits on Sunday. Landry was the centerpiece of a Patriots defense that gave up just 20 points to a much-improved Raiders offense.
Landry recorded 31.5 sacks over his last three healthy seasons with the Titans, so despite his age and contract, the decision to release him without trying to deal him or get anything in return felt a bit strange.
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His performance in Week 1 only reopens the wound, as the Titans will need to see a lot out of players like Femi Oladejo, Dre'Mont Jones, Arden Key, Jihad Ward and Sebastian Joseph-Day to feel good about Landry's departure.
It is a long season, and the Titans still have a strong collection of players on the defensive line, but it hurts to see a former player instantly have an impact with a new team, especially another one in the AFC.
But the silver lining is that Landry and the Mike Vrabel-led Patriots had their season opener spoiled at home by Las Vegas, kicking off their tenure in New England with a loss that will surely drum up some questions from the brutal Boston press.