Fans were split on the Tennessee Titans' decision to trade cornerback Roger McCreary to the Los Angeles Rams earlier this week. All Mike Borgonzi could manage in that agreement was a pick-swap, improving a projected late sixth-round selection into an early fifth-rounder. Borgonzi and Chad Brinker are rebuilding the roster in their vision, and McCreary wasn't in the long-term plans.
Borgonzi and Brinker have definitely been partial to players they acquired while purging the roster of ones they inherited. McCreary joins a bunch of high-profile exits over the previous six months, including Harold Landry, Kenneth Murray, Jarvis Brownlee, and Chido Awuzie. More Titans could be traded before next week's NFL trade deadline (Nov. 4).
McCreary's departure should force the Titans' coaching staff to play Marcus Harris in his vacated nickel cornerback role. Borgonzi and Brinker selected Harris during the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He's expected to be in the starting lineup versus the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9.
Roger McCreary trade forces Titans to play rookie CB Marcus Harris
Harris routinely impressed the Titans throughout training camp and the preseason. Once the regular season began though, reality set in. Harris was considered a deep reserve backup behind L'Jarius Sneed, Brownlee, and McCreary.
Sneed is on IR. Brownlee and McCreary have been traded. The Titans are now starting waiver claims Jalyn Armour-Davis and Darrell Baker Jr. at boundary cornerback. Samuel Womack and recent roster claim Micah Robinson are also on the team. It's Harris who's the painfully obvious favorite to replace McCreary at nickel.
Borgonzi and Brinker want their young draft picks to earn playing time in a lost 1-7 campaign. Trading McCreary forces the coaching staff's hand to get Harris into the starting lineup. Harris deserves reps and opportunities to showcase whether or not he's a long-term solution.