Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi has officially been in charge for two offseasons now. The team appears headed in the right direction under his leadership, with his most notable decisions being drafting Cam Ward at No. 1 overall (last offseason) and hiring Robert Saleh as his head coach (this offseason). Thus far, there has been no glaringly bad decision made under Borgonzi's watch.
Borgonzi's first draft class is now entering their second summer period in Tennessee. The initial return is promising, with draftees like Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor, Kevin Winston, Marcus Harris, and Gunnar Helm joining Ward as promising additions to the roster's new core. The most questionable pick made by Borgonzi in 2024 was his last, with sixth-round running back Kalel Mullings failing to establish himself to date.
Mullings will enter training camp on an extremely short leash. The former Michigan standout is firmly on Borgonzi's roster bubble. In fact, Mullings is facing an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster in 2026.
Titans may move on from sophomore draft pick Kalel Mullings
Mullings was drafted as a dart-throw running back with the intention of doubling as a special teams stalwart. An injury forced Mullings on injured reserve in September and he wasn't activated until November. He ended up earning just 12 offensive snaps and 137 more on special teams as a rookie.
A former linebacker, special teams may still be Mullings' most realistic pathway to the 53-man roster. He could join Bryce Oliver as a must-have player on that unit. If not, Mullings will have a difficult time cracking the running back rotation after rushing for just seven yards on three carries last season.
The Titans have Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears as their expected one-two punch in the backfield. With both Pollard and Spears on expiring contracts, Borgonzi also drafted Nicholas Singleton to serve as a potential heir apparent. Singleton was explosive and productive at Penn State, and has a far brighter outlook at running back than Mullings currently does.
Even if the Titans retain four running backs on the roster, Mullings is guaranteed nothing. The always competitive Julius Chestnut (a yearly preseason star) is also competing. So is Michael Carter, who the Titans signed as a free agent. Carter previously played for Saleh's New York Jets, meaning there's an existing relationship with the head coach.
Mullings was disappointing on offense as a rookie, though an injury limited his participation and development. He'll have to prove indispensable on special teams to increase his 53-man roster chances. Mullings could become Borgonzi's first draft pick to be released.
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