Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi is seemingly doing a good job rebuilding the disastrous roster he inherited. In two offseasons, Borgonzi has made 17 total draft picks. Seven of them are slated to open the 2026 season as unquestioned starters for new head coach Robert Saleh.
Borgonzi is rebuilding the Titans' roster through the draft, but recent 53-man roster cuts led to difficult decisions. The Titans parted ways with more than 40 players. Somewhat lost in the mix was Borgonzi waiving one of his draft selections for the first time.
The Titans waived running back Kalel Mullings. The former Michigan standout was Borgonzi's final selection in the 2025 NFL Draft (sixth round, No. 188 overall). If anything, it highlights how successful Borgonzi's first two draft classes have been.
Kalel Mullings is the first Mike Borgonzi draft pick to be waived by the Tennessee Titans
The Titans hoped Mullings would develop into a short-yardage back and special teams ace. That did not happen for Mullings as a rookie, as he only rushed for seven yards via three carries, averaging 2.3 yards per attempt. That included a failed fourth-down carry.
Mullings played some linebacker at Michigan before making a permanent switch to running back. His defensive background had the Titans thinking he could be an outstanding coverage player on special teams. Mullings earned 137 snaps in that phase as a rookie, accounting for 29% of the Titans' special teams snaps.
Injuries also derailed both seasons for Mullings. He was sidelined for a significant portion of training camp this offseason. That limited his ability to compete for the Titans' fourth running back job behind Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears and Nicholas Singleton, and he officially lost out to fan favorite Julius Chestnut.
It's worth noting the Titans haven't totally admitted defeat on Mullings. They quickly re-signed him back to the practice squad once he officially cleared waivers. Mullings could continue getting healthy and developing on what Coach Saleh calls "the next 16," and you never know when an active-roster opportunity may arise.
The Titans are still rebuilding, but the early indications on Borgonzi's draft classes are positive. Of course, his tenure will be judged and determined by whether or not Cam Ward successfully develops into a franchise quarterback or not. Mullings is officially the first Borgonzi draft pick to get cut, proving there have been more successes than failures to date.
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