While the 2026 offseason could be a fun time for Mike Borgonzi and the Titans, it could also be the start of what could be a rebuild that could take some time before Tennessee becomes true contenders again.
They have now gone 3-14 in back-to-back seasons, but with a hopeful franchise quarterback in Cam Ward, the Titans could have a lot of fun building up the team around him.
There are very few bright spots on the Titans and fans are hoping that Borgonzi can turn Tennessee into a contender sooner rather than later. While a process could take time, we have seen 180 degree flips for the better for various franchises in recent years.
It happened with the Commanders in 2024 when Jayden Daniels led them to the NFC Championship. It’s also happening in New England with former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, who just helped the Patriots win their first playoff game since 2019.
Fans should always believe that their team can turn it around, but it’s more than likely that a process will take some time and Titans fans may not see a lot of early success.
Titans still have plenty of steps to take before becoming contenders
Nick Villano from FanSided put together a rankings of the non-playoff teams from this season and ranked them based on how close they are to contending. Out of the 18 teams that missed the playoffs, Tennessee wasn’t ranked the lowest, but certainly nowhere near the top as potential contenders.
Villano ranked the Titans #15 only head of the Raiders, Browns, and Jets. That’s not exactly something to brag about. Here's a bit on what Villano said about the Titans:
"The Titans had to put so many players on IR this season, which did hurt their chances of making a splash. It ended up working out as the Titans now have a great draft pick. The Titans also have close to $100 million in cap space to spend this offseason. This isn’t the best free agency class, but there’s enough out there to add talent, especially on the defensive side."Nick Villano, FanSided
Tennessee needs to have plenty of upgrades throughout the roster and they certainly will have the resources to do it. Whether it’s through free agency or the draft, Borgonzi has the opportunity to truly start building up a contender in Nashville.
Unless the Titans do an all-time shock next season and dominate their way into the playoffs, this process is going to take some time and fans should prepare for it.