Tennessee Titans cornerback Roger McCreary is in a contract year. New general manager Mike Borgonzi inherited McCreary from two regimes ago, when Jon Robinson drafted the former Auburn corner in 2022. He's been a steady performer for a rebuilding organization that needs more talented, likeminded players.
Despite that, there's growing concern the Titans could be preparing to move on from McCreary, as opposed to signing him to an extension. They could shop for a potential partner during the trade deadline, or simply decline a chance to re-sign him at the conclusion of the season when his contract expires. McCreary's peculiar usage in Sunday's Week 5 victory over the Arizona Cardinals indicates a potential split.
McCreary played just 37 snaps against the Cardinals. It accounted for just 54% of Dennard Wilson's defensive plays. The Titans may be laying the groundwork to replace McCreary.
Titans drop massive hint about Roger McCreary's uncertain future
The Titans occasionally preferred to play three safeties, keeping McCreary on the bench. With McCreary's influence on defense flailing in recent weeks, veteran defensive back Quandre Diggs has seen his role increase. Diggs out-snapped the nickel corner 38-37 on Sunday, and has played 33-plus snaps in three consecutive weeks.
McCreary is a quality player, but it's possible his size deficiencies don't appeal to the new regime. They recently traded undersized cornerback Jarvis Brownlee to the New York Jets in a late-round pick swap that shocked the fanbase. There were other factors at bay, but Brownlee is a smaller corner as well. McCreary measured in at the NFL Combine in 2022 with historically short arms.
And then you analyze the cornerbacks this regime has acquired. Waiver claim Jalyn Armour-Davis, who has started two straight contests following the Brownlee trade, is 6-foot, 197 pounds. There's some indications that McCreary doesn't possess their preferred body type.
The Titans should re-sign McCreary. Instead, he's playing fewer snaps as they approach the trade deadline. There's no guarantee McCreary returns to the Titans in 2026.