The Tennessee Titans concluded Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Friday. On Tuesday, the team begins its two-day mandatory minicamp period. The Titans are heading into minicamp with more pressure than fans realize.
National expectations are borderline nonexistent for the Titans. Everyone expects them to slightly improve in 2026 after enduring consecutive 3-14 seasons, but that's not saying much. The Titans must display significant progress prior to opening a new stadium in 2027.
General manager Mike Borgonzi committed more than $310 million to new additions via free agency. Cam Ward is a sophomore No. 1 overall quarterback with pressure at his back. Expectations should be higher for the Titans and everyone knows it.
Tennessee Titans have higher expectations heading into 2026 minicamp
Borgonzi was rightfully absolved of blame for Tennessee's 3-14 season. He inherited an absolute mess from Ran Carthon and Brian Callahan, and Jon Robinson before them. But now heading into Year Two of the Borgonzi era, fans expect more than three victories, and he'll also be assessed for hiring his hand-picked head coach in Robert Saleh.
The Titans feel like Borgonzi's team now. He's overseen two draft classes to reset the core foundation of the rebuilding roster. Saleh is his head coach, and he's placed additional faith in the assistant staff that includes offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.
Together, it feels like Borgonzi, Saleh, and even Daboll worked together on an offseason plan to quickly reinvigorate the Titans. They spent an aforementioned league-high amount of money in free agency to acquire more than 10 veterans who previously played for Saleh or Daboll, including notable contracts for Wan'Dale Robinson, John Franklin-Myers, Cor'Dale Flott, Daniel Bellinger, and others.
The Titans' offseason investments need to provide proof of concept now. Every move was made with Ward's sophomore development in mind, though the early suggestion was that the second-year quarterback struggled at OTAs. There's an underlying need for Titans fans to see the offseason moves result in a tangible payoff.
There's excitement surrounding the 2026 Titans, rightfully so. The general belief is they'll be considerably better than their disastrous 2024 and 2025 versions. That arrives with the weight of expectations.
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