The Tennessee Titans revealed their strategy for the upcoming free agency period. New general manager Mike Borgonzi doesn't plan on being a big spender. Instead, the Titans vow to build the roster via the draft, while using free agency to supplement the holes they can't address through draft picks.
Borgonzi joins the Titans after a lengthy stint with the Kansas City Chiefs in their assistant general manager role. Borgonzi could lean on that familiarity with their organization to bring a few Chiefs unrestricted free agents to Nashville this summer. That's exactly what Pro Football Focus is projecting to occur.
Pro Football Focus projects Titans to sign Chiefs LB
PFF conducted an exercise that projects where the best free agent off-ball linebackers will sign this offseason. They have the Titans adding Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton to their roster.
Bobby Wagner ➡️ Raiders
— PFF (@PFF) February 4, 2025
Zack Baun ➡️ ?
Potential landing spots for the top upcoming free agent LBs:https://t.co/KYP0ZiIeyX
"The Titans brought in Kenneth Murray Jr. and Ernest Jones last offseason to head up this defense," Mason Cameron wrote. "Jones was eventually traded at the deadline and Murray struggled to his worst overall grade since 2021. Murray’s $9.9 million cap hit in 2025 – just $2.5 million in dead cap – may lead to his release. New Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi – formerly assistant general manager in Kansas City – would undoubtedly take a look at adding Bolton to pair with young breakout linebacker Jack Gibbens – who is currently a restricted free agent and recovered from a gruesome injury."
Bolton is preparing to play in Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend. Bolton is then slated to hit free agency in the offseason. The Chiefs have a ton of high-value unrestricted free agents in addition to him, including potential Titans target Trey Smith, Justin Reid, DeAndre Hopkins, and Tershawn Wharton. With a projected $11.5 million in cap space, the Chiefs can't afford to retain all of their starring players on expiring contracts.
Bolton has recorded 106 total tackles this season. It marked his third 100-plus-tackle campaign in four attempts. Bolton has enjoyed a bounce-back season after being limited to eight games last year via injury.
As mentioned in PFF's analysis, the Titans could release Kenneth Murray Jr. from his contract this offseason. Jack Gibbens is recovering from a serious season-ending injury. Cedric Gray and James Williams are also hoping to contend for playing time in 2025. Bolton would immediately become Tennessee's best linebacker.