Everyone from Mike Borgonzi to Mike McCoy to Jeffery Simmons finished the 2025 season with positive comments about what the Tennesse Titans have and where they could be next year with a good offseason.
Sometimes this idea is packaged in different terms and phrases, but most often this is referred to as the "foundation" that the team will be building around. If that buzzword is going to be repeated for the next few months, it is important to know exactly what foundation is being discussed.
The foundation isn't as simple as one collection of people; there are really three layers to it. The first layer consists of players and staff members who are guaranteed to be in the building. Then, some people aren't under contract for next season officially, but they are no-brainers to bring back. Finally, you have the premium assets that the team will be using this offseason to take a step forward under the next head coach.
Next Titans head coach will inherit a foundation to oversee a quick rebuild
Bedrock
GM: Mike Borgonzi
QB: Cam Ward
RB: Tyjae Spears
TE: Gunnar Helm
WR: Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor
OL: Peter Skoronski, J.C. Latham, and Dan Moore Jr.
DL: Jeffery Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat
LB: Cedric Gray and James Williams
S: Amani Hooker and Kevin Winston
Hiring Borgonzi was a huge win for the Titans last offseason because of what he can do, but also because his reputation and credentials are highly respected around the NFL. Having a coveted GM who did a good job in his first season is something that head coaching candidates have been talking about throughout this process.
Ward's season on the field speaks for itself, and off the field, he is already the leader of this team, so he is going to be a huge reason why the team's next head coach picks this franchise. Speaking of rookies, Dike was an All-Pro returner and solid receiver, so it is exciting to think about where he will be next year now that he will be recognized as an explosive threat heading into camp.
Helm and Ayomanor did well as rotational pieces and role players, and they will get every chance to start next year. The only way they move down the depth chart is if the Titans add an outstanding talent to their roster, which would be a win-win situation.
The offensive and defensive lines were a strength to end the season, which is very encouraging, and both units should be ready-made for more consistency in 2026.
Safety and linebacker are positions where the young guys (Gray, Williams, and Winston) should all push for starting roles in 2026, and their growth could completely change the way we view the Titans defense.
No-brainer retentions
STC: Bones Fassel
RB: Tony Pollard
TE: Chig Okonkwo
OL: Lloyd Cushenberry and Corey Levin
EDGE: Dre'Mont Jones* or Jihad Ward
While it shouldn't be mandatory for the next head coach to retain Fassel as the special teams coordinator, we doubt the Titans would deem a head coaching candidate competent if they said they didn't want to keep Fassel.
Pollard and Cushenberry have big cap hits this season, but they are better than average players, and the Titans need as many of those on the roster as they can get so that when they swing for high-impact players, a miss doesn't limit them.
Okonkwo, Levin, Jones (even after the trade), and Ward are all players who had great years with the Titans and outperformed their evaluation. Given the team's cap space and the holes on the roster, at least three of the four should be back with the team next season.
Assets to add to the foundation
Draft picks: #4, #35, #66, #101*
Cap space: League-leading $121.5 million* (once they cut Calvin Ridley and L'Jarius Sneed)
If the Titans retain the players mentioned in the previous section, then their five biggest needs are two EDGE (one star and one depth piece), WR1, and two cornerbacks.
The worst-case scenario is that the Titans make one big signing and several depth signings, but they will have the ammo to go get anyone they view as a real difference-maker. Whether they pinch pennies again or push some chips in the middle of the table to accelerate this rebuild, assume that they fill at least two of those five needs in free agency and sprinkle some depth across the roster.
Keeping expectations low, conservatively, that means that they will need to hit on three players in the draft.
Looking at last year's draft class, the Titans did most of their damage in the first and fourth rounds. As it happens, the Titans are scheduled to have the first pick in the fourth round again this year, as well as the fourth overall pick.
Can the Titans hit on three of their first four picks? Can this new coaching staff get the most out of the talent on the roster? These are the questions that will likely define whether 2026 is another rebuilding year (but better than 2024 or 2025) or if it is a year where they take a major leap like so many other teams have in recent history.
Still, the fact that this roster could only be a strong offseason away from pushing for a playoff spot is more enticing than half of the job openings in the NFL, and this foundation (specifically the GM and the quarterback) makes this a great opportunity for someone to make a name for themselves.