The Tennessee Titans have been stingy with their cap space this offseason, but Mike Borgonzi and Chad Brinker have explored almost every other avenue of adding talent to this roster in 2025.
They selected nine players in the 2025 NFL Draft before adding a healthy class of UDFAs to compete for spots in training camp. The competition didn't stop with the draft class, because the Titans have been active on the waiver wire and throughout the final wave of free agency.
So, why are the Titans so active right now? Well, the mission is clear when you take a step back and look at where this franchise is and what they can (or can't) fix immediately.
They aren't rushing a rebuild at the top of the roster. Getting Pro Bowl (or better) caliber players in the building will take time. What they can do is use this last wave of free agency and the waiver wire to create real competition for spots 43-53 on the roster.
The three most recent transactions the Titans have made are perfect examples of this because they create clear competition between a Day 3 rookie (or UDFA) and a veteran for an important, but not flashy, spot on the roster.
CB Amani Oruwariye vs CB Marcus Harris
The top three cornerback positions are set, but how many seasons have the Titans been able to play the same three cornerbacks every week for 17 games? Depth at cornerback is crucial for a defense, and there is a chance that both of these players make the roster.
Harris started his career as a walk-on with Oregon State before going to Idaho and then finally, Cal. He got better at each stop, and the hope is that he will continue his upward trajectory when he hits the NFL. Harris could back up Roger McCreary at nickel this season. If not, Oruwariye is a solid backup who has started seasons in this league in the past and offers a high floor at the position.
DT Carlos Watkins vs DT Cam Horsley
The Titans need more depth at defensive tackle, and this will be a fun battle to watch. With the top four spots almost certainly locked up, there is still room for at least one more tackle on the roster, and both of these guys could develop into quality backups.
Watkins is more of a 3-tech like Jeffery Simmons and Sebastian Joseph-Day, and Horsley is more of a nose tackle like T'Vondre Sweat and Keondre Coburn. Ideally, the Titans keep both, but if they have to choose one, then this battle could be a tight one that comes down to how well each player does in their unique role.
LB Anfernee Orji vs LB David Gbenda
I would argue that off-ball linebacker is one of the best positions to target in undrafted free agency. Guys like Ivan Pace, Robert Spillane, and Azeez Al-Shaair are just a few of the current UDFA linebackers to make a big impact in the NFL, and Gbenda was a sneaky addition by the Titans in their UDFA class.
However, his ability to make the roster will come down to how much he can add to special teams because there is a logjam at the position right now.
Orji has been a mainstay on special teams, playing 349 snaps as a specialist in 2024. If Gbenda needs some time, he could be sent to the practice squad for a year and then take another crack at a roster spot in 2026. The Titans would prefer if Gbenda came out with his hair on fire and looked like he was going to follow in the footsteps of those aforementioned UDFA linebackers.