One of the biggest offseason decisions the Tennessee Titans have to make surrounds the status of cornerback L'Jarius Sneed. Acquired by former general manager Ran Carthon and signed to an extension that exceeded $76 million, calling Sneed's tenure in Nashville a disappointment would be an understatement. There have been more injuries and alleged off-field legal issues than productive play.
Current Titans GM Mike Borgonzi entered free agency needing to significantly raise the floor of the cornerback position. Borgonzi attacked the position in a major way. The Titans signed a trio of cornerbacks, including one he previously drafted himself in Kansas City.
Collectively, the Titans spent $113 million on Alontae Taylor ($58 million), Cor'Dale Flott ($45 million), and Joshua Williams ($10 million), the three additions at cornerback. Borgonzi's aggressiveness at the position confirms what we've suspected all offseason long. The Titans are going to release Sneed sometime soon.
Titans' free agency movement suggests L'Jarius Sneed decision has already been made
Sneed's contract with the Titans is scheduled to trigger some guarantees on March 16. Spotrac lists $7.5 million of Sneed's upcoming salary as guaranteed for injury, per a recent Paul Kuharsky report. If deemed healthy when released, the Titans stand to save more than $11 million against the cap.
It all feels like a formality. The Titans' signaled their intentions by attacking the cornerback market so aggressively in free agency. With injury-related complications or not, Borgonzi appears hellbent on finding the exit route out of Sneed's contract (in a professional manner, of course).
All three of the Titans' new cornerbacks are guaranteed playing time in 2026. Flott and Taylor are unquestioned starters, even if the latter is viewed as a nickel corner. Williams should at least compete for playing time with sophomore Marcus Harris.
The Titans now possess four NFL-quality cornerbacks on the roster. That's without taking the returning Micah Robinson or rookies into account. All signs point to Sneed being released soon.