Before the Tennessee Titans kicked off training camp, there were a few second-year players on their roster who weren't being talked about much. While the majority of those players faded, linebacker Cedric Gray is having a bounce-back season for the ages.
After the Titans signed Cody Barton in the offseason, most fans expected the other starting spot to come down to whichever second-year linebacker won the job in training camp. The early advantage went to James Williams because of his length, athleticism, and playmaking ability. However, the team gave Gray a chance with the starting defense, and the rest is history.
Gray has a see-ball, get-ball mentality similar to previous Titans linebackers like Jayon Brown and David Long; however, he is doing it at a rate that neither of them ever achieved. Nick Suss pulled up the perfect stat to give everyone a snapshot of how productive Gray has been.
Titans LB Cedric Gray has developed into a dynamic long-term solution
Today's random #Titans stat:
— Nick Suss (@nicksuss) December 15, 2025
With 16 tackles, Cedric Gray posted his 4th career game with 15+ tackles.
Here's list of every player in NFL history w/ four 15-tackle games in their first 2 seasons:
Jonathan Vilma
Patrick Willis
Luke Kuechly
Paul Worrilow
Nick Bolton
Cedric Gray
Tackles are a stat that is easily manipulated, so more pessimistic fans might be inclined to think that this is all sizzle and no steak. However, Gray isn't just padding the box score with tackles (though he was third in the NFL with 144 total tackles before missing Sunday's win over the Kansas City Chiefs with an injury; he has 85 solo tackles, six TFLs, four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and a sack. Gray has been all over the place this season, and that is something that the next coaching staff will love on film.
This Titans defense will look very different next season. Thankfully, Gray has done enough to prove that he is not one of the players that the Titans need to upgrade from in free agency or the draft.
The spine of the defense is rock solid with Jeffery Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat looking like an elite duo, Gray and Barton (sort of) patrolling the middle of the field, and Amani Hooker and Kevin Winston working in tandem at safety next season.
This development makes things very clear for Mike Borgonzi and Chad Brinker. With the spine of the defense secure, it is their job to do everything in their power to find difference makers at EDGE and cornerback. If they can do that, then the rest of the resources can be focused on supporting Cam Ward and the offense.