NFL free agency technically opens on Monday with the start of the legal tampering period. Players on expiring contracts can agree to terms verbally before officially signing contracts from Wednesday-onward. The Tennessee Titans appear slated to lose a number of players to free agency.
General manager Mike Borgonzi is tasked with rebuilding the roster. There's a new head coach in Robert Saleh, who has surrounded himself with new coordinators. Borgonzi will attempt to retain and attract free agents who fit Saleh's system for the new schemes on offense and defense.
One player who may not fit Saleh's plans is defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day. An underappreciated veteran, Joseph-Day has been a keynote contributor for two consecutive campaigns. He appears likely to sign a contract elsewhere, with Paul Kuharsky recently reporting that there is "less enthusiasm" about re-signing him.
Titans DT Sebastian Joseph-Day appears likely to leave in NFL free agency
Saleh is reshaping the defensive line. The Titans have already traded nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat for Jermaine Johnson II this offseason. Several reports indicate they may pursue defensive end John Franklin-Myers in free agency. Saleh seems likely to have more input on the Titans' free agency dealings than any other position on the roster.
Joseph-Day registered 41 tackles and two sacks for the Titans in 2025. He first joined the Titans under previous GM Ran Carthon, who signed him to a one-year contract in 2024. Satisfied with his contributions, Borgonzi re-signed him to another one-year contract last offseason. Joseph-Day was seemingly one of the few players Borgonzi was actually happy to inherit from Carthon.
Joseph-Day played a supporting role next to Jeffery Simmons. He was asked to be selfless by focusing on stopping the run first and foremost. Pro Football Focus still credited him with 19 pressures and an overall grade of 66.6.
Saleh might possess interest in hand-picking some of the defensive lineman on the roster. There's strong indication that's the case, following the Titans' decision to swap Sweat for a player Saleh previously coached in Johnson. Talented players sometimes get sacrificed when coaching changes occur, as scheme fit and personality are some of the deciding factors that play a role. It's trending towards Joseph-Day signing elsewhere in free agency.