Titans continue trend of bolstering defense with pair of post-cut additions

The Tennessee Titans claimed two defenders during Wednesday's waiver wire process. General manager Ran Carthon claimed defensive end Ali Gaye from the Houston Texans, and defensive back Julius Wood from the Dallas Cowboys. Both players will immediately join the 53 man roster.

Two corresponding moves are coming, one of which will be the waiving of Rashad Weaver, per report. Carthon's roster sat at 52 following Tuesday's transactions, purposely leaving a slot open for linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who will join his new teammates in Nashville once his trade from the Los Angeles Rams is processed and finalized. Carthon will have to release one more player in addition to Weaver to initiate room for Jones, Gaye, and Wood.

Ali Gaye, DE

NFL insider Aaron Wilson reported that the Texans preferred to get Gaye back on their practice squad, but the Titans claimed the ascending pass rusher instead. The former LSU standout went undrafted after playing college football at three programs, with two stops at the JUCO ranks included. Gaye recorded seven sacks in three seasons with the Tigers.

Gaye possesses outstanding measurables at 6-foot-6 and 263 pounds with arms longer than 34 inches. Gaye has yet to appear in a regular-season game, but he did record four tackles in this most recent preseason period. Pro Football Focus credited him with eight total quarterback pressures and a 65.6 overall defensive trade.

The Titans surprisingly kept five outside linebackers on the initial roster. Weaver will be replaced by Gaye. That means the Titans chose sophomore undrafted free agent Caleb Murphy over Weaver, a 2021 fourth-round pick.

Julius Wood, DB

Wood is an undrafted rookie defensive back from East Carolina that signed with the Cowboys following the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft. Wood was outstanding throughout the preseason, displaying instincts and ball skills. The ex Pirates standout tied for the preseason lead in interceptions with two and also forced a fumble. He was credited with 11 tackles and a coverage grade of 70.3 from PFF.

Claiming Wood indicates another move is coming at safety. The Titans have Amani Hooker, Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams, Elijah Molden, and Mike Brown on the roster. Wood would equal six safeties, which is probably one too many. Molden or Brown would be the candidates to be moved.

Elsewhere, the Titans lost two recently released players to waiver claims on Wednesday. Running back Hassan Haskins was claimed by the Los Angeles Chargers, and rookie kicker Brayden Narveson was claimed by the Packers. The Titans presumably didn't have much interest in Haskins, but they likely would have preferred to retain Narveson via the practice squad. Wishful thinking after he drilled a 59-yard field goal in the preseason.