The Tennessee Titans want to be a draft and develop team. General manager Mike Borgonzi and president of football operations Chad Brinker are aligned in their vision to build the Titans through the draft. It's a multi-year plan that isn't keen on taking shortcuts via free agency.
Borgonzi and Brinker have consistently said the plan is to supplement the roster through free agency. The Titans may not spend premium dollars ala last offseason when the NFL's negotiating period opens next week. There's one position that should qualify as an exception.
The Titans are entering this offseason searching for a starting-caliber safety to play opposite Amani Hooker. Last year's initial starter was Quandre Diggs. The 32-year-old safety suffered a season-ending injury on an expiring contract. The Titans could have interest in having his leadership and experience back, but the likelier outcome sees them move on from an aging, injured asset who doesn't fit their rebuilding timeline.
The 2025 NFL Draft doesn't feature a terrific group of safety prospects. The consensus top two players are Georgia's Malaki Starks and South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori, who both may be first-round selections. The Titans obviously aren't drafting a safety in the first round, and even if Starks and/or Emmanwori are available at No. 35 overall, are the Titans drafting a safety there over an EDGE, right tackle, or wide receiver?
They shouldn't, and that's where opportunity-cost indicates the Titans can get better value at safety via free agency. Waiting until the fourth round (or later) to draft their starting safety would be a dangerous proposition. Every year, the NFL treats safeties like the non-premium position it is, leaving free agency flush with starting-caliber players, while keeping the contract agreements reasonable.
The average median salary for a top-five paid safety in the league is approximately $18.5 million per season. It's over $23 million per campaign at right tackle, and that's just right tackle, with that number rising when including left-sided players, too. Meanwhile the class of free-agent-to-be right tackles is disappointing, exemplifying why the Titans should address that position via the draft.
It's the opposite at safety, and the Titans also happen to possess notable ties to three of the top pending free agents at the position. Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland spent time with new Titans vice president and football advisor Reggie McKenzie. Assistant general manager Dave Ziegler spent nearly two seasons with Tre'von Moehrig, Pro Football Focus' 57th overall free agent. And finally, there's Justin Reid, who Borgonzi obviously knows from Kansas City.
Additional notable free-agent safeties include Camryn Bynum, Rayshawn Jenkins, and Talanoa Hufanga. The Titans need to acquire a starting safety this offseason, and both free agency and the draft indicate the more efficient way to achieve that goal is through signing a veteran. There's a good chance one of the Titans' signings next week will be at safety.