The 2025 offseason was a season of change in Nashville, and the Tennessee Titans made some sweeping changes throughout the organization that will impact the franchise for the foreseeable future.
The Titans made moves at every level of the organization, with changes to the front office, coaching staff, and the addition of talented players to the roster. Now, they just have to put it all together on the field and see how much of a difference it will make.
Most of the changes made by the Titans have been met with applause and have been widely viewed positively. ESPN analyst Seth Walder has released his offseason report card, and the Titans received a passing grade.
Tennessee Titans: B+
Biggest move: Drafting QB Cameron Ward
Move I liked: Signing G Kevin Zeitler
Move I disliked: Signing Edge Dre’Mont Jones
The most important decision the Titans made wasn’t much of one at all. The QB-needy Titans had the No. 1 pick in a draft with one quarterback viewed substantially above the rest. The result of this offseason will swing more on Ward’s performance than anything else, but it was the choices made around the rookie that involved real decisions.
The drafting of Cam Ward might have the most significant long-term implications for the franchise, and so far, he has exceeded expectations. Ward has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, and his work ethic is truly noteworthy. The rookie quarterback is poised to take the helm of the offense and looks the part of a true face of the franchise.
Before even selecting Ward, the Titans invested heavily in the offensive line with the additions of Dan Moore and Kevin Zeitler. It is the signing of Zeitler that Walder points to as his favorite.
I liked what the Titans did with their offensive line. The best part was bringing in Zeitler on a one-year, $9 million deal. Yes, he’s 35, but he’s still a great pass protector (he ranked sixth in pass block win rate last season) and is better than free agents such as Aaron Banks and Will Fries, who made so much money.
Zeitler should pay dividends on the field and in the locker room, where his experience could have a stabilizing effect on the young offensive linemen around him. The Titans have talent up front, and they should be much better in 2025 than they were in 2024.
The signing of Jones filled a void at edge once the team parted ways with Harold Landry, and altered the defense’s composition by adding size to the outside. The move was met with a mixed response, and Walder seems to agree.
One free agency move I did not like was signing Jones at one year, $10 million. It’s a substantial pay cut from his previous contract with the Seahawks, but for good reason — he never lived up to that deal. In fact, with more seasons of data, Jones’ 2022 contract season with Denver seems to be an outlier.
The Titans are going bigger at the edge position in 2025, and Jones ushered in that change. This schematic change should help against the run, but it still leaves questions on how it plays against the pass. Tennessee struggled to pressure quarterbacks in 2025, and this move doesn’t appear to make a significant impact in that area.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans earn quality offseason grade from ESPN