Titans' underdog status can't hide their Fab Five from the national spotlight

Rankings are always subjective, but Tennessee Titans fans can't be too mad at what the decision makers around the NFL have said about the roster this offseason.

ESPN recently wrapped up their annual vote where NFL coaches and executives rank the top-10 players at each position, and there were some surprises for Titans fans. Here are the final results from ESPN's position rankings.

Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was the only player who made the top 10 at his respective position, clocking in at No. 4 overall at defensive tackle. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley and offensive guard Kevin Zeitler fell into the "received votes" category. Left guard Peter Skoronski was an honorable mention, as was cornerback L'Jarius Sneed.

While national media polls and votes like this usually don't give the Titans the respect they deserve, this one passes the sniff test for the most part.

5 Titans earn national recognition via ESPNs positional rankings list

Simmons made a top-10 appearance, which gels with the offseason narrative that the Titans fan base isn't properly appreciating their best player. Even more is going to be put on his plate as a pass rusher this year after the Titans lost nearly half of their meager 2024 sack production over the offseason, but his job will get easier in run defense if T'Vondre Sweat keeps taking steps toward becoming one of the best young tackles in the game.

The trenches are a strength for this franchise, and the Titans have reasons to be excited about the future on the offensive side as well. Skoronski nearly made the top-10 this year, and offensive line expert Brandon Thorn has high grades on three of the Titans' young offensive linemen.

While Ridley probably deserved to be ranked higher, the Titans who were really snubbed by these voters were Amani Hooker and Tony Pollard. Neither were even mentioned despite Pollard, a former Pro-Bowler, having a career season as a rusher (1,079 yards), and Hooker setting career-highs in four key categories: five interceptions, nine pass deflections, four tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.

Considering this team is in the process of a rebuild, the question that Titans fans should be asking is whether the team will have more or fewer players on this list in 2026. Zeitler is the only pending free agent who made this list, but Hooker, Chig Okonkwo, and Roger McCreary are pending free agents with the potential to make this list next year, so re-signing them is crucial.

On the other hand, players like JC Latham, Sweat, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Pollard, and rookie quarterback Cam Ward could all make this list with a good season.

Titans fans should expect roughly six players to make this list in some form or fashion next season, especially if Ward can be the type of young franchise quarterback that brings the spotlight onto a small-market team like the Titans.