AFC South
Tennessee Titans
AI Summary
Tennessee enters 2026 in full reset mode under new head coach Robert Saleh, who hired former Giants HC Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator specifically to develop 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward after the Titans won just three games in Ward's rookie year. The roster was reshaped on both sides of the ball this offseason -- a retooled receiving corps around rookie Carnell Tate and a defensive-line makeover that sent T'Vondre Sweat to the Jets for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II and added John Franklin-Myers -- but ESPN and NFL.com both slot Tennessee around 24th in preseason power rankings, behind every other AFC South team. A shaky preseason debut from Ward against San Francisco did little to settle questions about whether he's ready for the Year 2 jump the new staff is counting on.
Researched by Team Research Desk · last updated August 20, 2026
Real Efficiency KPIs
Offensive EPA/play
-0.160
#30 of 32
Defensive EPA/play allowed
+0.101
#28 of 32
2025 regular season, 995 offensive / 992 defensive plays. Source: nflverse play-by-play (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season. This is a prior-season baseline — this team's 2026 numbers will replace it once real Week 1 plays exist.
Key Players (2025 production)
Leading Passer
Cam Ward · QB
323/540, 15 TD, 7 INT
-109.1 passing EPA
Leading Rusher
Tony Pollard · RB
242 car, 1082 yds, 5 TD
-21.7 rushing EPA
Leading Receiver
Elic Ayomanor · WR
41/89, 515 yds, 17% target share
-9.6 receiving EPA
Leading Pass Rusher
Jeffery Simmons · DT
11 sacks, 21 QB hits
Leading Tackler
Cedric Gray · LB
94 solo, 67 assist
Leading Interceptor
Cody Barton · LB
3 INT
Source: nflverse player stats (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season; team attribution updated for documented 2026 offseason trades. Prior-season baseline, not 2026 in-season stats.
Key Storylines
- New HC Robert Saleh hired ex-Giants coach Brian Daboll as OC specifically to develop 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward, with no plans to alter his throwing mechanics
- Overhauled WR room: drafted Carnell Tate No. 4 overall, signed Wan'Dale Robinson, and retained a restructured Calvin Ridley alongside 2025 fourth-rounder Elic Ayomanor
- Traded DT T'Vondre Sweat to the Jets for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II and signed DL John Franklin-Myers to a 3-year, $63M deal, reuniting him with Saleh and pairing him with Jeffery Simmons
- RT JC Latham (pectoral) and S Amani Hooker both opened training camp on the PUP list before being activated and returning to practice
- Cam Ward struggled in the preseason opener at San Francisco (5-of-12, 57 yards) in a 19-13 win, with Saleh attributing it to rushed mechanics; ESPN and NFL.com both rank Tennessee around 24th overall entering the season
Injury Report
No notable injuries reported.