The Tennessee Titans revealed their initial 53-man roster on Sunday. Since then, they've continued churning the backend, making five additional moves. One of the more notable cuts was veteran guard Cordell Volson.
Volson was signed to a one-year contract in free agency. The belief was that he'd compete for the starting right guard job. To go from competing to be a starter to being outright released highlights Volson's swift fall-from-grace.
Releasing Volson less than six months after signing him to a semi-notable contract highlights the decision as an indisputable mistake. Mike Borgonzi gambled on Volson being an intriguing bounce-back option. The Titans quickly moved on from the experiment.
Signing Cordell Volson proved to be a mistake for the Tennessee Titans
Volson inked a one-year contract worth $3.2 million with Tennessee. The deal contained $2 million in guarantees, meaning the Titans will absorb that figure in dead money. The Titans did gain nearly $500,000 in cap space by releasing the former North Dakota State product.
Analyzing the Titans' dead money figures for 2026, Volson's $2 million charge is sixth-largest on the team, per Over The Cap. The other five (Lloyd Cushenbery, L'Jarius Sneed, Arden Key, L'Jarius Sneed, and Will Levis) are mistake contracts Borgonzi inherited (and wiped out) from the previous regime. Volson was Borgonzi's decision.
It doesn't matter how team needs are addressed, so long as they're addressed. Sometimes you draft Trey Lance No. 3 overall and a guy you drafted 262nd overall ends up being your franchise quarterback instead. In the Titans' case, drafting Fernando Carmona could help wipe out the Volson mistake.
Carmona, a rookie fifth-round pick, emerged from the shadows throughout training camp and the preseason to win the right guard job. His unexpected rise made Volson totally expendable. And if Carmona hits, he'll fill a void Volson was initially signed to fill.
Sophomore Jackson Slater is the premier backup guard on the roster. Rookie center Pat Coogan also played guard in college, indicating he may have some versatility. Garrett Dellinger was a surprise keep on the 53-man roster. Those three became the Titans' backup interior linemen, leading to Volson's release.
The Titans hoped they had an underrated gem in Volson. His play throughout the preseason traveled in the wrong direction, and credit Borgonzi for quickly admitting and moving on from a minor offseason mistake. Hopefully Carmona plays well enough to forget the Volson era altogether.
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