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Day 3 of the NFL's free agency negotiation window in 2026 is here, and the Tennessee Titans still have holes to fill and needs to address.
The Titans were one of the NFL's most active teams on Day 1, agreeing to terms with deals on players including QB Mitchell Trubisky, WR Wan'Dale Robinson, TE Daniel Bellinger, OLs Cordell Volson and Austin Schlottmann, DL John Franklin-Myers and CBs Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott. The series of moves enriched the Titans' defense with three new plug-and-play starters and gave quarterback Cam Ward a couple of new toys to play with.
That said, the Titans still need help. There's a void to be filled in the middle of the offensive line, depth concerns on the defensive line and in the secondary, and questions about the overall shape of the receiver and cornerback rooms. And none of that's mentioning arguably the Titans' biggest need, edge defender, which went unaddressed on Day 1.
Some of the biggest names in free agency are still available. This includes edge defender Trey Hendrickson, offensive tackle Rasheed Walker, quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Jauan Jennings. It also includes former Titans who officially become free agents on March 11 such as tight end Chig Okonkwo, defensive linemen Jihad Ward and Sebastian Joseph-Day and specialists Joey Slye and Johnny Hekker.
Teams can continue to negotiate deals all the way through the offseason, but no contracts can be made official until the new league year begins at 3 p.m. CT on March 11.
Follow along below throughout the week as the Tennessee Titans and the rest of the NFL navigate the early days of free agency.
NEVER MISS NEWS: Subscribe to our exclusive Talkin' Titans newsletter
ESTES: Mike Borgonzi no longer so patient with Titans' rebuild
As the NFL waits for more signings to trickle through, check out The Tennessean's sports columnist Gentry Estes's latest opinion about how free agency has gone for the Titans so far. Click here to see his thoughts on Titans GM Mike Borgonzi and the task ahead of him.
Romeo Doubs, one of the higher-ranked wide receivers on the free agent market, seems to be making his way to play for the New England Patriots per reports. For anyone who was hopeful the Titans would think about double dipping at the top of the receiver market, that's starting to feel like more of a stretch, though local kid Jauan Jennings is still available.
Here's a look at which receivers make remain unsigned into Day 2 of free agency.
Per reports from ESPN and NFL Network, the Las Vegas Raiders are trading quarterback Geno Smith to the New York Jets. What a small, full-circle league this is, for Smith to find his way back to the team that drafted him back in 2013.
Not that there was all that much speculation about the Jets picking a quarterback No. 2 in the NFL draft, but this move makes it a little bit easier for the Jets to hold off drafting a quarterback for another year with an experienced stopgap starter in the fold.
The Titans, obviously, would love for the Jets to pick a quarterback at No. 2 and create even more options and more leverage for their pick at No. 4 by pushing some of the best non-QBs down the board. But yeah, feels less and less likely that someone like Ty Simpson goes that high.
Former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson was viewed by just about everyone as a top-10 free agent available this cycle, and by some as the No. 1 player on the board. Yet, more than a day into the negotiation window, Hendrickson remains unsigned.
A report from CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones might shed light on why. Jones is reporting that the gap between what Hendrickson's camp is asking for and how teams view Hendrickson is as wide as $10 million per year apart, and that as the price for Hendrickson comes down and the market adjusts, teams that weren't initially in conversation to add him might regain some interest.
Per a report from NFL Network, the Lions are adding former Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. That's an interesting tandem between Pacheco and Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco joins Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne, Kenneth Gainwell, Rico Dowdle and Tyler Allgeier as the top tier of running backs who've been signed, leaving only Rachaad White as the starting-caliber backs who've been on the market.
Guys like Brian Robinson Jr., Najee Harris, Kareem Hunt and Austin Ekeler are still available, so if a team is in the market for a running back, there are some rotational options. But for any Titans fans who were expecting some big splash where the team moves away from Tony Pollard in favor of a new, fresh feature back, the calculus is pretty much developing into Jeremiyah Love in the draft or no change at all.
We all understand that NFL contracts are convoluted messes that are very seldom worth what they're reported to be worth. So, let's try to parse through it.
Coming into the week, Spotrac had the Titans at just a little bit north of $90 million worth a cash to spend against the salary cap. Now that number is down to a shade below $50 million. That's probably a fairly accurate estimate, but it's fair to say the reporting isn't complete yet since none of the contracts have been officially signed and, as such, nothing's set in stone.
So far what's been reported is that Wan'Dale Robinson will come with a cap hit of about $11 million in 2026, Alontae Taylor will cost about $14.5 million against the cap this year, Cor'Dale Flott will cost a little less than $11 million and Daniel Bellinger will cost a little more than $5 million. That gets you right about to that $50 million number, and it doesn't factor in the contracts that'll have to be reported on John Franklin-Myers and Mitchell Trubisky. Nor does it take into account any draft slot signings the Titans will have to make in a couple weeks, or the expected extension coming for guard Peter Skoronski.
Realistically, the Titans are probably coming up against it, financially. There are some moves the team could make to free up space, namely when it comes to Calvin Ridley and L'Jarius Sneed. But it's hard to think the money is adding up to allow the Titans to sign someone like Trey Hendrickson or Jauan Jennings right now.
Today hasn't been a particularly busy morning for free agent signings. Here's a quick rundown on some of the minor moves that have been reported:
If you're not subscribed to The Tennessean's "Talkin' Titans" newsletter, now's a good time to do that. Click here to get the emails sent your way. Here's a little taste of what you missed in today's edition:
"As I sat down to write this newsletter, the folks at NFL Network launched into a full, uninterrupted segment about the Tennessee Titans. So then I looked down at my phone to check a notification real quick and it turns out the notification was from NFL insider Ian Rapoport... posting a video of him breaking down all the Titans' moves in free agency.
The word of the week is eyeballs, Titans fans.
Are y'all familiar with the term "attention economy?" It means exactly what it sounds like it means. It's the theory that human attention spans are finite, and that competition for human attention should be treated as a scarce commodity, just as any other economic good would be. Succeeding in the attention economy is more valuable now than ever before. We, the consumer, have more entertainment options than we know what to do with, and just as crucially, we make fewer choices about our entertainment than we ever have. Computer algorithms direct us to the videos we watch, the songs we hear, the food we eat, heck, even the words we choose. There's never been a looser connection between being notable and being noticed.
This is why my main takeaway about the Titans this week is all about eyeballs. I don't think the Titans "won free agency" on Monday, at least not in the sense to where I believe the Titans are a playoff team now or anything like that. What I think the Titans won ― or at least won a chunk of ― was attention."
Subscribe at the link above for the complete piece and exclusive columns like this sent to your email inbox multiple times per week.
Now that compensatory picks are all worked out, the 2026 NFL Draft order is official. As the Titans continue working through their free agent strategy, click here to see a full list of all the picks the Titans have in the draft and the slots they'll officially be picking out of.
Here's a look at a couple of free agency grades from across the web, setting up how the national media is looking at the moves the Titans made:
After the Titans' spending spree on Monday, they still have some important needs to address and questions to sort out. Here's a quick ranking of what the Titans still need to do, and whether those needs make more sense to be addressed via free agency or via the NFL draft:
Here's your primer for Day 2 of the NFL free agency negotiation window, via the best NFL free agents still available list from USA TODAY Sports:
Former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams is reportedly signing with the Titans per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Williams only started 12 games in four seasons with the Chiefs, and hasn't started a game since 2024, but he's been highly productive when he's been on the field. He logged seven pass breakups as a rookie, five in 2023 and four in 2024 before he was cast into a smaller role in 2025, dropping from playing a little more than a third of the Chiefs' defensive snaps in each of his first three years to just 2% of the Chiefs' defensive snaps in 2025.
Williams joins a secondary that also added cornerbacks Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott earlier in the day.
Click here for a deeper read on The Tennessean's analysis of what the Titans accomplished on Day 1 of NFL free agency, ranging from a defense that feels just-about complete to an offense that feels... less so.
Based on the moves made today, here's a quick look at what the Titans' depth chart looks like, sorted by position:
The Titans have added former Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Cordell Volson to a one-year deal. Volson confirmed the deal with a post on his social media accounts. Volson spent three years as a regular starter at guard in Cincinnati. He missed all of the 2025 season with an injury.
Volson makes sense as competition in the interior offensive line with players like Schlottman and Jackson Slater.
Here are the best players still available heading into the 5 o'clock hour per USA TODAY Sports' rankings:
How about one more former Giants offensive player for good measure? Interior offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann has reportedly agreed to a contract with the Titans, per NFL Network. Schlottmann has started 18 games in seven pro seasons, including four last year as the Giants' center. It's hard to believe Schlottmann needs to be penciled in as an automatic starter given his signing, but his experience does make him a candidate to compete for jobs and to potentially be an interior swing lineman in the role Corey Levin's occupied in past years.
Multiple media outlets reported earlier in the day that former Titans edge rusher Arden Key has signed with the Indianapolis Colts, his third AFC South team in the last five years. Other than Key, no former Titans have figured into the early decision making choices of the rest of the league.
Tight end Chig Okonkwo, defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day, guard Kevin Zeitler, safety Xavier Woods, center Lloyd Cushenberry III, defensive end Jihad Ward, punter Johnny Hekker and kicker Joey Slye remain unsigned.
Huge fish Trey Hendrickson is still on the board, but the Titans are running out of money and options to justify bringing in a No. 1 edge defender type. Odafe Oweh is reportedly signing with the Commanders and Boye Mafe is linking up with the Cincinnati Bengals per his agent. After Hendrickson, the next best edge rushers available are players like K'Lavon Chaisson who are hardly No. 1 options and players like Joey Bosa who might make more sense as one-year rental options for teams that need a player to compete.
That leaves the Titans with a couple of expected options at the top of the NFL draft that make a ton of sense as far as roster building goes. If the Titans want to finish off Saleh's four-man rush with a rookie to build around, the options are still there to pick Arvell Reese, David Bailey or Rueben Bain Jr., at least one of whom is all but guaranteed to fall to the Titans at No. 4. That being said, as teams picking later in the top 10 that need running backs have been stockpiling free agent backs today, it's also conceivable to think the Titans are uniquely positions to grab Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love. The decisions are still in the air.
The Titans went out and grabbed a pair of starting-caliber cornerbacks with Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott. That's on top of the add of defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. With those moves in mind, let's take our best shot at projecting what the Titans' defensive starting lineup will look like:
The Titans' spending spree continues with the team going after cornerback Cor'Dale Flott, formerly of the New York Giants. NFL Network is reporting that Flott is signing on with the Titans for three years at $45 million with $32 million guaranteed.
Two weeks after trading away T'Vondre Sweat, the Titans found a more productive bash brother to line up alongside Jeffery Simmons on the defensive line. Per multiple media reports, the Titans are signing John Franklin-Myers, a standout defensive lineman who's thrived under Robert Saleh's system in the past and was an impressive play-wrecker over the past few seasons in Denver.
Franklin-Myers now pairs with Simmons and Jermaine Johnson II as the big pieces in Saleh's four-man rush philosophy, with a prominent name at edge rusher opposite Johnson needed to complete the quartet.
Per USA TODAY Sports, here are the top 50 free agents who were available coming into the day, sorted by who's been signed and who's left on the market.
The Titans still have some major needs. Let's take a quick look at some of the best players available at significant areas of need for the Titans after a few hours of the free agent feeding frenzy.
The Titans are reportedly signing receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, one of the top pass catchers available and a reunion of sorts for Robinson with Titans OC Brian Daboll, his former head coach in New York. Robinson profiles as a strong underneath target who doesn't eat up a ton of yards after catch or field-stretching deep balls but does his best as an extension of the running game catching short passes. The only five wide receivers with more catches over the last two years than Wan'Dale Robinson are Ja'Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Robinson likely doesn't fit in as a true No. 1 receiver, especially not at the money the Titans are paying him compared to the top-flight pass catchers in the league, but he's going to be a reliable, consistent No. 2 who can function as Cam Ward's short-yardage safety blanket.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Las Vegas Raiders are signing top free agent center Tyler Linderbaum to a record-breaking $81 million contract worth up to $27 million per year that makes him the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history.
That's a tough one to swallow for the Titans, who now miss out on the best center available for Cam Ward after releasing two-year starter Lloyd Cushenberry III.
Kicker Nick Folk is still playing in the NFL, believe it or not. He's reportedly signing with the Falcons two years after he stabilized the Titans' special teams unit in 2023-24.
The Titans have reportedly agreed to terms with tight end Daniel Bellinger, a former New York Giants player who worked with Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in New York. Bellinger, 25, has 88 catches for 934 yards in the last four seasons playing under Daboll.
Per reports, the Bears are signing safety Coby Bryant. That, theoretically, puts former Titans safety Kevin Byard back on the open market.
Other prominent names that have agreed on deals in the last 30 minutes include linebacker Demario Davis, heading to the Jets, tight end Austin Hooper, who's going to the Atlanta Falcons, running back Kenneth Gainwell, who's joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and linebacker Alex Anzalone, who's also signing with the Bucs.
As a source confirmed to The Tennessean, former Bears first round pick Mitchell Trubisky is signing with the Titans as their next backup quarterback. Trubisky previously worked with Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in Buffalo.
In the first hour of the legal negotiation window, five of the top 20 free agents available per USA TODAY Sports agreed to deals per reports. This includes receier Alec Pierce, cornerback Jaylen Watson, edge defender Jaelan Phillips, running back Kenneth Walker III and quarterback Malik Willis.
The Titans have yet to publicly agree to a contract with a free agent.
This isn't much of a surprise as the Miami Dolphins continue to import former Green Bay Packers, but quarterback Malik Willis is headed to the Dolphins, following Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan. A former Titans third-round pick, Willis is getting a three-year deal to replace Tua Tagovailoa.
Multiple media outlets are reporting that edge defender Jaelan Phillips is signing a massive contract with the Carolina Panthers worth $30 million per year with $80 million in guarantees. That's likely to be the biggest contract handed out in free agency this year.
Elsewhere, the Colts are trading wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., to the Pittsburgh Steelers per multiple reports. The Colts re-signed Alec Pierce to a long-term extension this morning and now ship off their other lead receiver to make space.
Watson, the No. 1 cornerback available per many rankings and lists, is heading to the Los Angeles Rams to reunite with once and current teammate Trent McDuffie, per multiple media reports. Watson and Eric Stokes have already come off the market as top-end cornerback contracts.
Other cornerback options expected to sign top-end deals include Jamel Dean, Alontae Taylor and Riq Woolen.
Cade Otton, the consensus No. 1 tight end on the market, is reportedly staying put with the Buccaneers. That makes Chig Okonkwo even more alluring to teams with tight end needs, and puts more pressure on the Titans to retain their home grown pass catcher if it aligns with organizational preferences.
NFL Network is reporting that Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as their new feature back. That takes the top running back option off the market and eliminates a would-be trade partner for the Titans at No. 4 for a team that had been connected to Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Per multiple media reports, some early names are signing quickly. Former Titans edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones appears to be heading to play for Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots. Cornerback Eric Stokes is reportedly re-signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, taking a top-tier cornerback off the free agent market. And slot receiver Olamide Zaccheaus is signing with the Atlanta Falcons per reports.
Per a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, top receiver Alec Pierce is returning to the Indianapolis Colts on a four-year contract worth up to $116 million. That's a $29 million AAV, and one that takes the Titans out of the running for the top receiver, and arguably top offensive player, on the free agent market.
Other top receivers available include Mike Evans, Romeo Doubs, Jauan Jennings, Stefon Diggs and Wan'Dale Robinson.
"I knew where my heart was, I love the city of Indianapolis," Pierce said on ESPN's Pat McAfee Show. "Just seeing where we were at last year, early in the year, rolling, I truly believe we were the No. 1 team in the NFL."
Call it "legal tampering." Call it the "legal negotiation period." Say whatever you want. Teams can start talking to (and agreeing on contracts with) free agents right now.
The Titans announced the long snapper Morgan Cox is coming back to the team on another one-year contract. The five-time Pro Bowl long snapper has been with the Titans since 2021.
Per Spotrac, here are the top 10 teams in the NFL with the most salary cap space available to spend on free agents in the coming hours and days:
Rumors have been swirling in recent days that future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce may hit the open market for the first time in his professional career. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore. NFL Network is reporting that Kelce is expected to return to the Chiefs, meaning he (and his famous fiancee with Nashville connections) likely aren't on the board for the Titans.
Another room about a famous (but not as famous) player: NFL Network is also reporting that recently-released quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is in discussions with the Atlanta Falcons, a move that makes sense given how the Falcons already have a left-handed quarterback, and one who's coming off an injury at that.
Here are the top 50 free agents on the market, according to USA TODAY Sports.
The Titans head into the free agency window with major needs at wide receiver, center, guard, interior defensive line, edge defender and cornerback. They could also benefit from adding depth pieces at quarterback, tight end, tackle and safety. The Titans also need to re-sign or bring in new players at kicker, punter and long snapper.
The Titans own the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as seven more picks throughout the rest of the draft. Some of the top prospects who the Titans have been linked with include edge rushers like Arvell Reese, Rueben Bain Jr., and David Bailey as well as running back Jeremiyah Love and receiver Carnell Tate.
The negotiation window will open up at 11 a.m. CT. Expect reports about big-name signings to trickle out shortly after that, though maybe not as quickly as in past years as teams may now conduct one-hour conversations with players during the negotiation window, a change from past years.
As a reminder, here's a look at the top handful of free agents at every offensive and defense position.
Don't forget: Free agency is opening up, but so is the trade market, officially at least. Per reports from ESPN and NFL Network, the Miami Dolphins are sending defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets.
Remember that everyone's on the table to be moved this time of year, not just the free agents with expiring contracts.
The Dolphins have made it official that they're releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, putting another veteran passer with starting experience on the market. The Titans have made it clear they're in the market for a veteran backup behind Cam Ward, and Tagovailoa joins a crowded group that also includes names like Kirk Cousins, Tyrod Taylor, Jimmy Garoppolo, Carson Wentz and Mitchell Trubisky, as well as players who could be looking for starting roles like Joe Flacco, Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson.
Per a report from NFL.com's Tom Pelissero, the Titans are not offering cornerback Darrell Baker the restricted tender on his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. That's another cornerback spot the Titans will have to attempt to fill as the vacancies keep piling up across the room.
There haven't been too many huge re-signings and massive updates on the eve of free agency, but some of the bigger names to reportedly agree on returns with their former clubs include Bills center Connor McGovern, Texans guard Ed Ingram and a whole mess of kickers and backup quarterbacks.
The Titans' primary needs for the 2026 offseason are wide receiver, edge defender and cornerback. They also have starting needs to fill at guard, center and defensive line, as well as depth questions at quarterback, tight end and safety. There's an argument to be made that the team could be looking for multiple starters at receiver, edge and cornerback, depending on roster moves made later in the offseason.
The Titans own the No. 4 pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as seven other selections overall.
The Titans have former No. 1 pick Cam Ward returning at quarterback for his second season, and former second-round pick Will Levis still on the roster for depth. But Titans GM Mike Borgonzi has expressed interest in acquiring a veteran backup to help mentor Ward, and that could include targeting players like Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith, Tyrod Taylor, Mitchell Trubisky and Jimmy Garoppolo, among many options. It's unlikely the Titans would opt for someone like Russell Wilson or Kyler Murray, who likely would be competing for a starting job.
Malik Willis is considered to be the No. 1 quarterback option on the market. Willis is a former Titans draft pick who never threw a touchdown in three starts and 11 appearances for the team.
The Titans traded Willis to Green Bay before the start of the 2024 season, where he has emerged as a reliable backup and spot starter.
Here are the top 25 free agents on the market, according to USA TODAY Sports.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans news, NFL free agency signings, 2026 updates
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The Titans were one of the NFL's most active teams on Day 1, agreeing to terms with deals on players including QB Mitchell Trubisky, WR Wan'Dale Robinson, TE Daniel Bellinger, OLs Cordell Volson and Austin Schlottmann, DL John Franklin-Myers and CBs Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott. The series of moves enriched the Titans' defense with three new plug-and-play starters and gave quarterback Cam Ward a couple of new toys to play with.
That said, the Titans still need help. There's a void to be filled in the middle of the offensive line, depth concerns on the defensive line and in the secondary, and questions about the overall shape of the receiver and cornerback rooms. And none of that's mentioning arguably the Titans' biggest need, edge defender, which went unaddressed on Day 1.
Some of the biggest names in free agency are still available. This includes edge defender Trey Hendrickson, offensive tackle Rasheed Walker, quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Jauan Jennings. It also includes former Titans who officially become free agents on March 11 such as tight end Chig Okonkwo, defensive linemen Jihad Ward and Sebastian Joseph-Day and specialists Joey Slye and Johnny Hekker.
Teams can continue to negotiate deals all the way through the offseason, but no contracts can be made official until the new league year begins at 3 p.m. CT on March 11.
Follow along below throughout the week as the Tennessee Titans and the rest of the NFL navigate the early days of free agency.
NEVER MISS NEWS: Subscribe to our exclusive Talkin' Titans newsletter
ESTES: Mike Borgonzi no longer so patient with Titans' rebuild
Tennessee Titans free agency 2026 live updates: Latest NFL news, signings, trades, rumors
2:30 p.m. Tuesday: What's the real meaning of patience?
As the NFL waits for more signings to trickle through, check out The Tennessean's sports columnist Gentry Estes's latest opinion about how free agency has gone for the Titans so far. Click here to see his thoughts on Titans GM Mike Borgonzi and the task ahead of him.
1:20 p.m. Tuesday: Romeo Doubs and the WR market
Romeo Doubs, one of the higher-ranked wide receivers on the free agent market, seems to be making his way to play for the New England Patriots per reports. For anyone who was hopeful the Titans would think about double dipping at the top of the receiver market, that's starting to feel like more of a stretch, though local kid Jauan Jennings is still available.
Here's a look at which receivers make remain unsigned into Day 2 of free agency.
- Jauan Jennings
- Deebo Samuel
- Tyreek Hill
- Darnell Mooney
- Keenan Allen
- Hollywood Brown
- Christian Kirk
- Calvin Austin
- Brandin Cooks
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
1:15 p.m. Tuesday: A quarterback trade! How does it change Titans NFL draft strategy?
Per reports from ESPN and NFL Network, the Las Vegas Raiders are trading quarterback Geno Smith to the New York Jets. What a small, full-circle league this is, for Smith to find his way back to the team that drafted him back in 2013.
Not that there was all that much speculation about the Jets picking a quarterback No. 2 in the NFL draft, but this move makes it a little bit easier for the Jets to hold off drafting a quarterback for another year with an experienced stopgap starter in the fold.
The Titans, obviously, would love for the Jets to pick a quarterback at No. 2 and create even more options and more leverage for their pick at No. 4 by pushing some of the best non-QBs down the board. But yeah, feels less and less likely that someone like Ty Simpson goes that high.
12:55 p.m. Tuesday: Why hasn't Trey Hendrickson signed?
Former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson was viewed by just about everyone as a top-10 free agent available this cycle, and by some as the No. 1 player on the board. Yet, more than a day into the negotiation window, Hendrickson remains unsigned.
A report from CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones might shed light on why. Jones is reporting that the gap between what Hendrickson's camp is asking for and how teams view Hendrickson is as wide as $10 million per year apart, and that as the price for Hendrickson comes down and the market adjusts, teams that weren't initially in conversation to add him might regain some interest.
12:15 p.m. Tuesday: Isiah Pacheco and the RB position
Per a report from NFL Network, the Lions are adding former Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. That's an interesting tandem between Pacheco and Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco joins Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne, Kenneth Gainwell, Rico Dowdle and Tyler Allgeier as the top tier of running backs who've been signed, leaving only Rachaad White as the starting-caliber backs who've been on the market.
Guys like Brian Robinson Jr., Najee Harris, Kareem Hunt and Austin Ekeler are still available, so if a team is in the market for a running back, there are some rotational options. But for any Titans fans who were expecting some big splash where the team moves away from Tony Pollard in favor of a new, fresh feature back, the calculus is pretty much developing into Jeremiyah Love in the draft or no change at all.
11:30 a.m. Tuesday: How much money have the Titans spent?
We all understand that NFL contracts are convoluted messes that are very seldom worth what they're reported to be worth. So, let's try to parse through it.
Coming into the week, Spotrac had the Titans at just a little bit north of $90 million worth a cash to spend against the salary cap. Now that number is down to a shade below $50 million. That's probably a fairly accurate estimate, but it's fair to say the reporting isn't complete yet since none of the contracts have been officially signed and, as such, nothing's set in stone.
So far what's been reported is that Wan'Dale Robinson will come with a cap hit of about $11 million in 2026, Alontae Taylor will cost about $14.5 million against the cap this year, Cor'Dale Flott will cost a little less than $11 million and Daniel Bellinger will cost a little more than $5 million. That gets you right about to that $50 million number, and it doesn't factor in the contracts that'll have to be reported on John Franklin-Myers and Mitchell Trubisky. Nor does it take into account any draft slot signings the Titans will have to make in a couple weeks, or the expected extension coming for guard Peter Skoronski.
Realistically, the Titans are probably coming up against it, financially. There are some moves the team could make to free up space, namely when it comes to Calvin Ridley and L'Jarius Sneed. But it's hard to think the money is adding up to allow the Titans to sign someone like Trey Hendrickson or Jauan Jennings right now.
11 a.m. Tuesday: Who's been signed so far?
Today hasn't been a particularly busy morning for free agent signings. Here's a quick rundown on some of the minor moves that have been reported:
- The Bills extended tight end Dawson Knox with a new three-year contract.
- Safety Dane Belton is signing with the Jets.
- The Packers are releasing cornerback Nate Hobbs.
- CB Greg Newsome II is signing a one-year deal with the Giants.
- The Packers are signing CB Benjamin St.-Juste
10:30 a.m. Tuesday: The eyeball economy
If you're not subscribed to The Tennessean's "Talkin' Titans" newsletter, now's a good time to do that. Click here to get the emails sent your way. Here's a little taste of what you missed in today's edition:
"As I sat down to write this newsletter, the folks at NFL Network launched into a full, uninterrupted segment about the Tennessee Titans. So then I looked down at my phone to check a notification real quick and it turns out the notification was from NFL insider Ian Rapoport... posting a video of him breaking down all the Titans' moves in free agency.
The word of the week is eyeballs, Titans fans.
Are y'all familiar with the term "attention economy?" It means exactly what it sounds like it means. It's the theory that human attention spans are finite, and that competition for human attention should be treated as a scarce commodity, just as any other economic good would be. Succeeding in the attention economy is more valuable now than ever before. We, the consumer, have more entertainment options than we know what to do with, and just as crucially, we make fewer choices about our entertainment than we ever have. Computer algorithms direct us to the videos we watch, the songs we hear, the food we eat, heck, even the words we choose. There's never been a looser connection between being notable and being noticed.
This is why my main takeaway about the Titans this week is all about eyeballs. I don't think the Titans "won free agency" on Monday, at least not in the sense to where I believe the Titans are a playoff team now or anything like that. What I think the Titans won ― or at least won a chunk of ― was attention."
Subscribe at the link above for the complete piece and exclusive columns like this sent to your email inbox multiple times per week.
10 a.m. Tuesday: NFL draft order official
Now that compensatory picks are all worked out, the 2026 NFL Draft order is official. As the Titans continue working through their free agent strategy, click here to see a full list of all the picks the Titans have in the draft and the slots they'll officially be picking out of.
8:40 a.m. Tuesday: Catching up on NFL free agent grades
Here's a look at a couple of free agency grades from across the web, setting up how the national media is looking at the moves the Titans made:
- USA TODAY Sports: Wan'Dale Robinson: C
- Bleacher Report: Wan'Dale Robinson: C+; John Franklin-Myers: B+; Alontae Taylor: C+
- CBS Sports: John Franklin-Myers: B+; Wan'Dale Robinson: C+;
- ESPN: Cor'Dale Flott: C-; John Franklin-Myers: B+; Alontae Taylor: C-; Wan'Dale Robinson: B+
- The Athletic: John Franklin-Myers: B; Wan'Dale Robinson: B-; Mitchell Trubisky: A; Cor'Dale Flott: B; Alontae Taylor: A
- Pro Football Focus: Joshua Williams: Average; Alontae Taylor: Below average; Cor'Dale Flott: Average; John Franklin-Myers: Good; Wan'Dale Robinson: Above average; Daniel Bellinger: Below average
- Over The Cap: Wan'Dale Robinson: B; Alontae Taylor: D
- FOX Sports: Wan'Dale Robinson: C+; The trio of John Franklin-Myers, Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott: B
- Walter Football: Cordell Volson: B-; Alontae Taylor: D+; Cor'Dale Flott: B; John Franklin-Myers: A-; Wan'Dale Robinson: D
7:30 a.m. Tuesday: Titans remaining needs, ranked, and how likely they are to address in free agency
After the Titans' spending spree on Monday, they still have some important needs to address and questions to sort out. Here's a quick ranking of what the Titans still need to do, and whether those needs make more sense to be addressed via free agency or via the NFL draft:
- Edge rusher: It's still a huge need, and the Titans probably don't have Trey Hendrickson money sitting around. It makes the most sense for the Titans to find their No. 1 pass rusher in the first round of the draft.
- Center: This is a tricky one. The Titans signed a couple of interior offensive line options on Monday, but neither are the type of hyper-experienced or high-upside players who'd be beneficial to Cam Ward. The market for centers available isn't robust, so the options are gamble on veteran competition or use the middle rounds of the draft to find a quick-turnaround project.
- Guard: If Cordell Volson is the option at guard, that's not particularly comforting. It's not as if the Bengals O-line has been some paragon of durability, consistency and protection. The good news is there are still veteran guards available, plus the opportunity to develop Jackson Slater. Not a huge draft need.
- Kicker/punter: Go sign some folks. Don't waste draft capital.
- More wide receiver help: Gotta draft someone.
- More defensive back help: Unless you're bringing Kevin Byard home on a sweetheart deal, this is probably a late-round draft situation.
- Running back: I'll be honest, I never really thought this was a need. The gap between Tony Pollard and what's available in free agency never felt that large, at least not large enough to justify incurring a cap penalty and paying more for it. Jeremiyah Love is still worth considering at No. 4, but no one else in the draft or free agency feels like an upgrade.
- Swing tackle: Find you a backup. If it's in the draft, find you a backup who can take over for Dan Moore Jr., someday. If it's in free agency, there's nothing wrong with bringing back Oli Udoh.
- Defensive line depth: Free agents. There are so many of them, including former Titans like Sebastian Joseph-Day, Denico Autry and James Lynch.
- Inside linebacker: Another spot that I've never much considered to be a "need." But if you want depth, go find it for cheap.
7 a.m. Tuesday: Which free agents are still available?
Here's your primer for Day 2 of the NFL free agency negotiation window, via the best NFL free agents still available list from USA TODAY Sports:
- Edge Trey Hendrickson
- OT Rasheed Walker
- QB Kyler Murray
- WR Jauan Jennings
- CB Nahshon Wright
- WR Romeo Doubs
- QB Aaron Rodgers
- QB Kirk Cousins
- Edge Joey Bosa
- CB Riq Woolen
- LB Bobby Wagner
- Edge Bradley Chubb
- Safety Jaylinn Hawkins
- WR Stefon Diggs
- DL Calais Campbell
- OG Teven Jenkins
- CB Cobie Durant
- OL Cade Mays
- Safety Kevin Byard
- CB Leo Chenal
- Safety Jaquan Brisker
- Edge Al-Quadin Muhammad
- WR Deebo Samuel
- RB Rachaad White
- TE Dallas Goeddert
- DL Logan Hall
- TE Chig Okonkwo
- Edge Jadeveon Clowney
- CB C.J. Gardner-Johnson
- OT Taylor Decker
- G Kevin Zeitler
- Edge K'Lavon Chaisson
- CB Rasul Douglas
- TE David Njoku
- DT D.J. Reader
- TE Jonnu Smith
- WR Brandon Aiyuk
- Edge Arnold Ebiketie
- OT Braden Smith
- WR Keenan Allen
- LB Kaden Ellis
- WR Hollywood Brown
- Edge Cameron Jordan
- RB Brian Robinson Jr.
- Edge Von Miller
- LB Lavonte David
- QB Geno Smith
- WR Tyreek Hill
7:30 p.m. Monday: Add another CB on to the pile in Joshua Williams
Former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams is reportedly signing with the Titans per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Williams only started 12 games in four seasons with the Chiefs, and hasn't started a game since 2024, but he's been highly productive when he's been on the field. He logged seven pass breakups as a rookie, five in 2023 and four in 2024 before he was cast into a smaller role in 2025, dropping from playing a little more than a third of the Chiefs' defensive snaps in each of his first three years to just 2% of the Chiefs' defensive snaps in 2025.
Williams joins a secondary that also added cornerbacks Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott earlier in the day.
6:30 p.m. Monday: The Tennessean's thoughts
Click here for a deeper read on The Tennessean's analysis of what the Titans accomplished on Day 1 of NFL free agency, ranging from a defense that feels just-about complete to an offense that feels... less so.
6:10 p.m. Monday: Projecting Titans depth chart
Based on the moves made today, here's a quick look at what the Titans' depth chart looks like, sorted by position:
- QB: Cam Ward, Mitchell Trubisky, Will Levis
- RB: Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Kalel Mullings
- WR: Calvin Ridley, Wan'Dale Robinson, Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor
- TE: Gunnar Helm, Daniel Bellinger, David Martin-Robinson
- OT: Dan Moore Jr., JC Latham
- G/C: Peter Skoronski, Cordell Volson, Austin Schlottmann, Jackson Slater
- IDL: Jeffery Simmons, John Franklin-Myers
- Edge: Jermaine Johnson II, Oluwafemi Oladejo, Jaylen Harrell
- ILB: Cedric Gray, Cody Barton, James Williams II
- CB: Cor'Dale Flott, Alontae Taylor, Marcus Harris, L'Jarius Sneed
- S: Amani Hooker, Kevin Winston Jr., Kendell Brooks
5:10 p.m. Monday: More O-line depth in Cordell Volson
The Titans have added former Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Cordell Volson to a one-year deal. Volson confirmed the deal with a post on his social media accounts. Volson spent three years as a regular starter at guard in Cincinnati. He missed all of the 2025 season with an injury.
Volson makes sense as competition in the interior offensive line with players like Schlottman and Jackson Slater.
4:45 p.m. Monday: Best players available in NFL free agency
Here are the best players still available heading into the 5 o'clock hour per USA TODAY Sports' rankings:
- Edge Trey Hendrickson
- OT Rasheed Walker
- WR Rashid Shaheed
- QB Kyler Murray
- LB Devin Lloyd
- WR Jauan Jennings
- CB Nahshon Wright
- WR Romeo Doubs
- QB Aaron Rodgers
- QB Kirk Cousins
- Edge Joey Bosa
- OL David Edwards
- CB Riq Woolen
- ILB Bobby Wagner
- OG Alijah Vera-Tucker
- Edge Bradley Chubb
- S Jaylinn Hawkins
- WR Stefon Diggs
- OT Braxton Jones
- DL Calais Campbell
- OG Teven Jenkins
- CB Cobie Durant
- LB Nakobe Dean
- RB Rico Dowdle
- S Kevin Byard
4:15 p.m. Monday: Austin Schlottmann in the mix
How about one more former Giants offensive player for good measure? Interior offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann has reportedly agreed to a contract with the Titans, per NFL Network. Schlottmann has started 18 games in seven pro seasons, including four last year as the Giants' center. It's hard to believe Schlottmann needs to be penciled in as an automatic starter given his signing, but his experience does make him a candidate to compete for jobs and to potentially be an interior swing lineman in the role Corey Levin's occupied in past years.
3:45 p.m. Monday: How are the former Titans looking?
Multiple media outlets reported earlier in the day that former Titans edge rusher Arden Key has signed with the Indianapolis Colts, his third AFC South team in the last five years. Other than Key, no former Titans have figured into the early decision making choices of the rest of the league.
Tight end Chig Okonkwo, defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day, guard Kevin Zeitler, safety Xavier Woods, center Lloyd Cushenberry III, defensive end Jihad Ward, punter Johnny Hekker and kicker Joey Slye remain unsigned.
3:15 p.m. Monday: The edge rusher market is leaving the Titans behind . . . so . . . NFL draft?
Huge fish Trey Hendrickson is still on the board, but the Titans are running out of money and options to justify bringing in a No. 1 edge defender type. Odafe Oweh is reportedly signing with the Commanders and Boye Mafe is linking up with the Cincinnati Bengals per his agent. After Hendrickson, the next best edge rushers available are players like K'Lavon Chaisson who are hardly No. 1 options and players like Joey Bosa who might make more sense as one-year rental options for teams that need a player to compete.
That leaves the Titans with a couple of expected options at the top of the NFL draft that make a ton of sense as far as roster building goes. If the Titans want to finish off Saleh's four-man rush with a rookie to build around, the options are still there to pick Arvell Reese, David Bailey or Rueben Bain Jr., at least one of whom is all but guaranteed to fall to the Titans at No. 4. That being said, as teams picking later in the top 10 that need running backs have been stockpiling free agent backs today, it's also conceivable to think the Titans are uniquely positions to grab Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love. The decisions are still in the air.
2:45 p.m. Monday: How do we feel about the Titans' defense after Alontae Taylor, Cor'Dale Flott, John Franklin-Myers?
The Titans went out and grabbed a pair of starting-caliber cornerbacks with Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott. That's on top of the add of defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. With those moves in mind, let's take our best shot at projecting what the Titans' defensive starting lineup will look like:
- Defensive line: Jeffery Simmons, John Franklin-Myers
- Edge defender: Jermaine Johnson II, PLAYER TBD
- Linebacker: Cedric Gray, Cody Barton
- Defensive back: Amani Hooker, Kevin Winston Jr., Cor'Dale Flott, Alontae Taylor, PLAYER TBD
2:25 p.m. Monday: Another Titans signing in Cor'Dale Flott
The Titans' spending spree continues with the team going after cornerback Cor'Dale Flott, formerly of the New York Giants. NFL Network is reporting that Flott is signing on with the Titans for three years at $45 million with $32 million guaranteed.
2:20 p.m. Monday: Jeffery Simmons can rejoice, Titans signing John Franklin-Myers as running mate
Two weeks after trading away T'Vondre Sweat, the Titans found a more productive bash brother to line up alongside Jeffery Simmons on the defensive line. Per multiple media reports, the Titans are signing John Franklin-Myers, a standout defensive lineman who's thrived under Robert Saleh's system in the past and was an impressive play-wrecker over the past few seasons in Denver.
Franklin-Myers now pairs with Simmons and Jermaine Johnson II as the big pieces in Saleh's four-man rush philosophy, with a prominent name at edge rusher opposite Johnson needed to complete the quartet.
2:15 p.m. Monday: Let's take a look at the top 50 best free agents available
Per USA TODAY Sports, here are the top 50 free agents who were available coming into the day, sorted by who's been signed and who's left on the market.
- WR George Pickens ― FRANCHISE TAGGED BY COWBOYS
- C Tyler Linderbaum ― SIGNING WITH RAIDERS
- Edge Trey Hendrickson
- Edge Jaelan Phillips ― SIGNED BY PANTHERS
- QB Daniel Jones ― TRANSITION TAGGED BY COLTS
- Edge Odafe Oweh
- QB Malik Willis ― SIGNED BY DOLPHINS
- WR Alec Pierce ― SIGNING WITH COLTS
- OT Rasheed Walker
- WR Rashid Shaheed
- TE Kyle Pitts ― FRANCHISE TAGGED BY FALCONS
- RB Breece Hall ― FRANCHISE TAGGED BY JETS
- QB Kyler Murray
- S Coby Bryant ― SIGNING WITH BEARS
- CB Jaylen Watson ― SIGNED BY RAMS
- LB Devin Lloyd
- S Bryan Cook
- RB Kenneth Walker III ― SIGNING WITH CHIEFS
- WR Jauan Jennings
- WR Mike Evans ― SIGNING WITH 49ers
- CB Nahshon Wright
- WR Romeo Doubs
- QB Aaron Rodgers
- QB Kirk Cousins
- Edge Boye Mafe
- Edge Joey Bosa
- WR Wan'Dale Robinson ― SIGNING WITH TITANS
- CB Jamel Dean ― SIGNING WITH STEELERS
- G David Edwards
- CB Riq Woolen
- RB Travis Etienne ― SIGNING WITH SAINTS
- Edge Dre'Mont Jones ―SIGNING WITH PATRIOTS
- CB Cor'Dale Flott
- LB Bobby Wagner
- TE Travis Kelce ― SIGNING WITH CHIEFS
- G Alijah Vera-Tucker
- Edge Bradley Chubb
- S Jaylinn Hawkins
- DL John Franklin-Myers
- TE Isaiah Likely ― SIGNING WITH GIANTS
- G Zion Johnson ― SIGNING WITH BROWNS
- RB Tyler Allgeier ― SIGNING WITH CARDINALS
- LB Devin Bush
- WR Stefon Diggs
- S Jalen Thompson
- OT Braxton Jones
- DT Calais Campbell
- G Teven Jenkins
- CB Cobie Durant
- C Cade Mays
1:30 p.m. Monday: Best NFL free agents available by position
The Titans still have some major needs. Let's take a quick look at some of the best players available at significant areas of need for the Titans after a few hours of the free agent feeding frenzy.
- G/C: Ethan Pocic, Dylan Parham, Cade Mays, Isaac Semualo, David Edwards, Kevin Zeitler
- IDL: John Franklin-Myers, Logan Hall
- CB: Nahshon Wright, Jamel Dean, Alontae Taylor, Riq Woolen
1:15 p.m. Monday: What does Wan'Dale Robinson mean for Titans?
The Titans are reportedly signing receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, one of the top pass catchers available and a reunion of sorts for Robinson with Titans OC Brian Daboll, his former head coach in New York. Robinson profiles as a strong underneath target who doesn't eat up a ton of yards after catch or field-stretching deep balls but does his best as an extension of the running game catching short passes. The only five wide receivers with more catches over the last two years than Wan'Dale Robinson are Ja'Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Robinson likely doesn't fit in as a true No. 1 receiver, especially not at the money the Titans are paying him compared to the top-flight pass catchers in the league, but he's going to be a reliable, consistent No. 2 who can function as Cam Ward's short-yardage safety blanket.
12:50 p.m. Monday: Tyler Linderbaum... not a Titan
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Las Vegas Raiders are signing top free agent center Tyler Linderbaum to a record-breaking $81 million contract worth up to $27 million per year that makes him the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history.
That's a tough one to swallow for the Titans, who now miss out on the best center available for Cam Ward after releasing two-year starter Lloyd Cushenberry III.
12:45 p.m. Monday: More former Titans news
Kicker Nick Folk is still playing in the NFL, believe it or not. He's reportedly signing with the Falcons two years after he stabilized the Titans' special teams unit in 2023-24.
12:30 p.m. Monday: Another Titans-Daboll reunion in TE Daniel Bellinger
The Titans have reportedly agreed to terms with tight end Daniel Bellinger, a former New York Giants player who worked with Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in New York. Bellinger, 25, has 88 catches for 934 yards in the last four seasons playing under Daboll.
12:30 p.m. Monday: Cleaning up some signings 90 minutes in
Per reports, the Bears are signing safety Coby Bryant. That, theoretically, puts former Titans safety Kevin Byard back on the open market.
Other prominent names that have agreed on deals in the last 30 minutes include linebacker Demario Davis, heading to the Jets, tight end Austin Hooper, who's going to the Atlanta Falcons, running back Kenneth Gainwell, who's joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and linebacker Alex Anzalone, who's also signing with the Bucs.
12:05 p.m. Monday: Titans have their backup QB
As a source confirmed to The Tennessean, former Bears first round pick Mitchell Trubisky is signing with the Titans as their next backup quarterback. Trubisky previously worked with Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in Buffalo.
12 p.m. Monday: One hour in, a recap
In the first hour of the legal negotiation window, five of the top 20 free agents available per USA TODAY Sports agreed to deals per reports. This includes receier Alec Pierce, cornerback Jaylen Watson, edge defender Jaelan Phillips, running back Kenneth Walker III and quarterback Malik Willis.
The Titans have yet to publicly agree to a contract with a free agent.
11:50 a.m. Monday: Former Titans alert ― Malik Willis to Miami
This isn't much of a surprise as the Miami Dolphins continue to import former Green Bay Packers, but quarterback Malik Willis is headed to the Dolphins, following Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan. A former Titans third-round pick, Willis is getting a three-year deal to replace Tua Tagovailoa.
11:45 a.m. Monday: Two huge moves: Jaelan Phillips and Michael Pittman Jr.
Multiple media outlets are reporting that edge defender Jaelan Phillips is signing a massive contract with the Carolina Panthers worth $30 million per year with $80 million in guarantees. That's likely to be the biggest contract handed out in free agency this year.
Elsewhere, the Colts are trading wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., to the Pittsburgh Steelers per multiple reports. The Colts re-signed Alec Pierce to a long-term extension this morning and now ship off their other lead receiver to make space.
11:40 a.m. Monday: Jaylen Watson joining Trent McDuffie on L.A. Rams per reports
Watson, the No. 1 cornerback available per many rankings and lists, is heading to the Los Angeles Rams to reunite with once and current teammate Trent McDuffie, per multiple media reports. Watson and Eric Stokes have already come off the market as top-end cornerback contracts.
Other cornerback options expected to sign top-end deals include Jamel Dean, Alontae Taylor and Riq Woolen.
11:30 a.m. Monday: Cade Otton returning to Tampa Bay. Where does that leave Chig Okonkwo?
Cade Otton, the consensus No. 1 tight end on the market, is reportedly staying put with the Buccaneers. That makes Chig Okonkwo even more alluring to teams with tight end needs, and puts more pressure on the Titans to retain their home grown pass catcher if it aligns with organizational preferences.
11:20 a.m. Monday: Kenneth Walker (and Jeremiyah Love)
NFL Network is reporting that Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as their new feature back. That takes the top running back option off the market and eliminates a would-be trade partner for the Titans at No. 4 for a team that had been connected to Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
11:10 a.m. Monday: Eric Stokes, Dre'Mont Jones and the early signings
Per multiple media reports, some early names are signing quickly. Former Titans edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones appears to be heading to play for Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots. Cornerback Eric Stokes is reportedly re-signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, taking a top-tier cornerback off the free agent market. And slot receiver Olamide Zaccheaus is signing with the Atlanta Falcons per reports.
11:05 a.m. Monday: Alec Pierce didn't last long
Per a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, top receiver Alec Pierce is returning to the Indianapolis Colts on a four-year contract worth up to $116 million. That's a $29 million AAV, and one that takes the Titans out of the running for the top receiver, and arguably top offensive player, on the free agent market.
Other top receivers available include Mike Evans, Romeo Doubs, Jauan Jennings, Stefon Diggs and Wan'Dale Robinson.
"I knew where my heart was, I love the city of Indianapolis," Pierce said on ESPN's Pat McAfee Show. "Just seeing where we were at last year, early in the year, rolling, I truly believe we were the No. 1 team in the NFL."
11 a.m.: The NFL free agency negotiation window is open
Call it "legal tampering." Call it the "legal negotiation period." Say whatever you want. Teams can start talking to (and agreeing on contracts with) free agents right now.
10:45 a.m. Monday: Morgan Cox is back
The Titans announced the long snapper Morgan Cox is coming back to the team on another one-year contract. The five-time Pro Bowl long snapper has been with the Titans since 2021.
10:45 a.m. Monday: NFL salary cap rankings
Per Spotrac, here are the top 10 teams in the NFL with the most salary cap space available to spend on free agents in the coming hours and days:
- Las Vegas Raiders: $110 million
- Tennessee Titans: $89 million
- Washington Commanders: $83 million
- Los Angeles Chargers: $80 million
- New York Jets: $59 million
- Seattle Seahawks: $58 million
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $50 million
- Arizona Cardinals: $48 million
- Cincinnati Bengals: $47 million
- New England Patriots: $40 million
10:30 a.m. Monday: There go Travis Kelce hopes
Rumors have been swirling in recent days that future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce may hit the open market for the first time in his professional career. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore. NFL Network is reporting that Kelce is expected to return to the Chiefs, meaning he (and his famous fiancee with Nashville connections) likely aren't on the board for the Titans.
Another room about a famous (but not as famous) player: NFL Network is also reporting that recently-released quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is in discussions with the Atlanta Falcons, a move that makes sense given how the Falcons already have a left-handed quarterback, and one who's coming off an injury at that.
10:30 a.m. Monday: Best free agents available
Here are the top 50 free agents on the market, according to USA TODAY Sports.
- WR George Pickens ― FRANCHISE TAGGED BY COWBOYS
- C Tyler Linderbaum
- Edge Trey Hendrickson
- Edge Jaelan Phillips ― SIGNED BY PANTHERS
- QB Daniel Jones ― TRANSITION TAGGED BY COLTS
- Edge Odafe Oweh
- QB Malik Willis ― SIGNED BY DOLPHINS
- WR Alec Pierce ― SIGNING WITH COLTS
- OT Rasheed Walker
- WR Rashid Shaheed
- TE Kyle Pitts ― FRANCHISE TAGGED BY FALCONS
- RB Breece Hall ― FRANCHISE TAGGED BY JETS
- QB Kyler Murray
- S Coby Bryant
- CB Jaylen Watson ― SIGNED BY RAMS
- LB Devin Lloyd
- S Bryan Cook
- RB Kenneth Walker III ― SIGNING WITH CHIEFS
- WR Jauan Jennings
- WR Mike Evans
- CB Nahshon Wright
- WR Romeo Doubs
- QB Aaron Rodgers
- QB Kirk Cousins
- Edge Boye Mafe
- Edge Joey Bosa
- WR Wan'Dale Robinson
- CB Jamel Dean
- G David Edwards
- CB Riq Woolen
- RB Travis Etienne
- Edge Dre'Mont Jones ―SIGNING WITH PATRIOTS
- CB Cor'Dale Flott
- LB Bobby Wagner
- TE Travis Kelce ― SIGNING WITH CHIEFS
- G Alijah Vera-Tucker
- Edge Bradley Chubb
- S Jaylinn Hawkins
- DL John Franklin-Myers
- TE Isaiah Likely
- G Zion Johnson
- RB Tyler Allgeier
- LB Devin Bush
- WR Stefon Diggs
- S Jalen Thompson
- OT Braxton Jones
- DT Calais Campbell
- G Teven Jenkins
- CB Cobie Durant
- C Cade Mays
9:45 a.m. Monday: Reminder on Titans needs, NFL draft assets
The Titans head into the free agency window with major needs at wide receiver, center, guard, interior defensive line, edge defender and cornerback. They could also benefit from adding depth pieces at quarterback, tight end, tackle and safety. The Titans also need to re-sign or bring in new players at kicker, punter and long snapper.
The Titans own the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as seven more picks throughout the rest of the draft. Some of the top prospects who the Titans have been linked with include edge rushers like Arvell Reese, Rueben Bain Jr., and David Bailey as well as running back Jeremiyah Love and receiver Carnell Tate.
9 a.m. Monday: Two hours to go, top players by position
The negotiation window will open up at 11 a.m. CT. Expect reports about big-name signings to trickle out shortly after that, though maybe not as quickly as in past years as teams may now conduct one-hour conversations with players during the negotiation window, a change from past years.
As a reminder, here's a look at the top handful of free agents at every offensive and defense position.
- QB: Malik Willis, Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins
- RB: Kenneth Walker II, Isiah Pacheco, Travis Etienne
- WR: Alec Pierce, Mike Evans, Romeo Doubs, Rashid Shaheed, Wan'Dale Robinson
- TE: Cade Otton, Chig Okonkwo
- OT: Rasheed Walker, Braden Smith, Taylor Decker
- G/C: Tyler Linderbaum, David Edwards, Isaac Seumalo
- DT: David Onyemata, John Franklin-Myers, Sheldon Rankins
- Edge: Trey Hendrickson, Jaelan Phillips, Boye Mafe, Odafe Oweh
- ILB: Devin Lloyd, Quincy Williams, Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker
- CB: Jaylen Watson, Jamel Dean, Alontae Taylor
- SAF: Kevin Byard, Bryan Cook, Jaquan Brisker
8:30 a.m. Monday: NFL trade market stays steady
Don't forget: Free agency is opening up, but so is the trade market, officially at least. Per reports from ESPN and NFL Network, the Miami Dolphins are sending defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets.
Remember that everyone's on the table to be moved this time of year, not just the free agents with expiring contracts.
8 a.m. Monday: Tua Tagovailoa and the backup QB market
The Dolphins have made it official that they're releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, putting another veteran passer with starting experience on the market. The Titans have made it clear they're in the market for a veteran backup behind Cam Ward, and Tagovailoa joins a crowded group that also includes names like Kirk Cousins, Tyrod Taylor, Jimmy Garoppolo, Carson Wentz and Mitchell Trubisky, as well as players who could be looking for starting roles like Joe Flacco, Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson.
7 a.m. Monday: Darrell Baker and the overnight news
Per a report from NFL.com's Tom Pelissero, the Titans are not offering cornerback Darrell Baker the restricted tender on his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. That's another cornerback spot the Titans will have to attempt to fill as the vacancies keep piling up across the room.
There haven't been too many huge re-signings and massive updates on the eve of free agency, but some of the bigger names to reportedly agree on returns with their former clubs include Bills center Connor McGovern, Texans guard Ed Ingram and a whole mess of kickers and backup quarterbacks.
Titans free agency needs: Jaelan Phillips, Tyler Linderbaum, Alec Pierce, Trey Hendrickson and more
The Titans' primary needs for the 2026 offseason are wide receiver, edge defender and cornerback. They also have starting needs to fill at guard, center and defensive line, as well as depth questions at quarterback, tight end and safety. There's an argument to be made that the team could be looking for multiple starters at receiver, edge and cornerback, depending on roster moves made later in the offseason.
The Titans own the No. 4 pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as seven other selections overall.
Malik Willis, Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins and the NFL free agent QB market
The Titans have former No. 1 pick Cam Ward returning at quarterback for his second season, and former second-round pick Will Levis still on the roster for depth. But Titans GM Mike Borgonzi has expressed interest in acquiring a veteran backup to help mentor Ward, and that could include targeting players like Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith, Tyrod Taylor, Mitchell Trubisky and Jimmy Garoppolo, among many options. It's unlikely the Titans would opt for someone like Russell Wilson or Kyler Murray, who likely would be competing for a starting job.
Malik Willis is considered to be the No. 1 quarterback option on the market. Willis is a former Titans draft pick who never threw a touchdown in three starts and 11 appearances for the team.
The Titans traded Willis to Green Bay before the start of the 2024 season, where he has emerged as a reliable backup and spot starter.
Top NFL free agents left
Here are the top 25 free agents on the market, according to USA TODAY Sports.
- WR George Pickens
- C Tyler Linderbaum
- Edge Trey Hendrickson
- Edge Jaelan Phillips
- QB Daniel Jones
- Edge Odafe Oweh
- QB Malik Willis
- WR Alec Pierce
- OT Rasheed Walker
- WR Rashid Shaheed
- TE Kyle Pitts
- RB Breece Hall
- QB Kyler Murray
- S Coby Bryant
- CB Jaylen Watson
- LB Devin Lloyd
- S Bryan Cook
- RB Kenneth Walker II
- WR Jauan Jennings
- WR Mike Evans
- Edge Khalil Mack
- CB Nahshon Wright
- WR Romeo Doubs
- QB Aaron Rodgers
- QB Kirk Cousins
Tracking Tennessee Titans free agents in 2026
- QB Brandon Allen
- CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
- LB Joe Bachie
- CB Darrell Baker Jr. (RFA)
- SAF Mike Brown (RFA)
- RB Julius Chestnut
- LS Morgan Cox ― RESIGNED WITH TITANS
- C Lloyd Cushenberry III
- CB Kaiir Elam
- OL Blake Hance
- DB Kemon Hall (RFA)
- P Johnny Hekker
- WR Van Jefferson
- DL Sebastian Joseph-Day
- Edge Arden Key
- OL Corey Levin
- DL James Lynch
- TE Chig Okonkwo
- WR Bryce Oliver (ERFA)
- LB Anfernee Orji (ERFA)
- WR James Proche
- SAF Jerrick Reed II (RFA)
- K Joey Slye
- OL Oli Udoh
- Edge Jihad Ward
- SAF Xavier Woods
- G Kevin Zeitler
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans news, NFL free agency signings, 2026 updates
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