The Tennessee Titans are entering a 2026 season in which it is critical to take a step forward, and there is lots of optimism surrounding the team. Cam Ward is entering his second year after finishing last year strong, and so far, is showing no ill effects from the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 18.
Optimism also stems from the way Mike Borgonzi has built this team, as his offseason moves have shown that he has full belief in Robert Saleh as head coach. Borgonzi's most recent draft also drew positive reviews from across the league, and further proved how much he trusts Saleh and wants to put him in the best position possible to succeed.
One of the few things that could derail optimism around the Titans is player holdouts, which are extremely unlikely to happen, especially with the 2026 draft class already being signed. In fact, with the current state of their roster, there is a strong chance that there will be no contractual distractions any time soon.
Tennessee Titans have very few players entering contract years in 2026
Whenever a crucial core player enters a contract year and has one of their best performances during that time, it can create a tricky situation for a front office. They have to determine whether or not such a performance is sustainable, which inevitably leads to mistakes made by re-signing or not re-signing the player.
Fortunately for the Titans, their lives will be much easier in this regard heading into 2026 and beyond. They only have a select few players who will need new or revised contracts in 2027, and their plans are all but made for the vast majority of them.
Both of their running backs, Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, are free agents next offseason, and surely at least one of them will not be back in 2027. Given that the position room already has significant shortcomings as it stands, the Titans likely will do a complete overhaul before the 2027 season starts.
Peter Skoronski and Jeffery Simmons do not have expiring contracts after 2026, but definitely will not go into 2027 without new ones being inked. Luckily on that front, the overwhelming expectation is that the Titans will re-sign both, and Skoronski especially might get a record-setting deal.
Calvin Ridley also has more than just 2026 left on his contract, but given how it was restructured this offseason, he's almost certain to be released next offseason. That being said, this one should be another very easy decision for the Titans.
The only 2027 free agent around whom there will actually be uncertainty is Jermaine Johnson, but even then, it will not be a typical "contract year" situation. The Titans traded for him because of the connection he already has with Saleh, and would not have done that unless they actually thought he could be a useful player for the future.
If Johnson has a really strong 2026 campaign, it will be expected that he re-signs, and that decision could be made even before next offseason arrives. Additionally, such a strong performance would be attributed more heavily to him progressing throughout his young career, instead of him simply making it happen when actual money is on the table.
The Titans not only have so few players looking for new contracts in the near future, but they already have very few questions regarding that short list of guys. For a team still in its rebuilding phase, operating without this distraction not only is crucial from a financial standpoint, but also a mental one.
The Titans can simply go to work, gather ideas for players they have questions about, and not worry about how performances in contract years will alter their plans. Not having to worry about this is a major benefit to a young team that is still trying to recover from disastrous 2024 and 2025 seasons.
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