Despite plenty of rumors and speculation that the Tennessee Titans would be big sellers at the trade deadline, most of Mike Borgonzi's trades happened weeks before, leading to an anticlimactic Tuesday.
Borgonzi and Chad Brinker only traded away defensive players, reinforcing the idea that the plan all along was to keep as much talent as possible around rookie quarterback Cam Ward to help him develop. Arden Key was the only defensive player whose name was speculated about for months, but he is still with the team for the rest of the season.
On the other side of the ball, fans were expecting to see Calvin Ridley, Chig Okonkwo, and Tony Pollard as potential trade targets for other competitive teams. However, the Titans couldn't get a deal they liked, and instead they opted to keep Ward's supporting cast intact.
Titans have critical decisions to make after NFL trade deadline misfires
It's fair to wonder if keeping Ward's supporting cast intact will matter if the Titans plan to let Okonkwo walk while potentially cutting Ridley and Pollard in two months.
After the deadline passed, ESPN insiders reported the NFL's interest in these players like this,
"The Titans had interest from teams on both tight end Chig Okonkwo and wide receiver Calvin Ridley, but they needed something significant to part with offensive playmakers for their rookie quarterback, Cam Ward. They weren't eager to trade either one for that reason."
The Titans faced a similar dilemma with Dre'Mont Jones heading into the trade deadline. Borgonzi ultimately decided to maximize his expiring contract by acquiring draft-pick compensation.
While age makes it hard for Ridley and Pollard to be part of the team's long-term plans, Borgonzi reiterated at his press conference on Wednesday that his idea of team building doesn't involve spending big in free agency. That could be aggravating for Titans fans this offseason, considering the team will likely have the most cap space in the NFL.
Assuming Borgonzi is being honest and the Titans plan to be thrifty with their $100+ million of cap space, should the team consider retaining Pollard and Ridley? Going further, should they try to re-sign Okonkwo?
Since Pollard and Ridley are already under contract and Okonkwo is the team's only young starter set to be a free agent after the season, bringing back all three is a relatively easy task. The Titans can spend the offseason structuring (or restructuring) the deals so they could still be appealing trade assets if the 2026 season goes poorly, and they could do that without creating additional short-term holes throughout the roster.
There is no value in cutting bait with Ridley, Pollard, and Okonkwo for nothing in return. The Titans are in a fruitful financial situation, and they aren't going to be big spenders in free agency. At worst, they'd be retaining some veteran leadership and starter-caliber players at thin position groups.
Additionally, the roster will be more talented if Borgonzi can replicate his success from the 2025 draft class. A better roster with improved coaching in 2026 means you could see these veterans do more when less is being put on their shoulders.
What is the alternative? Creating three holes on the roster without getting anything in exchange except money the front office won't use in free agency to improve the roster? The future seems clear if this front office is willing to adapt to its situation.