Titans Depth Chart: Current Roster Outlook for 2026

The Tennessee Titans enter the 2026 offseason at a pivotal crossroads. Following a challenging 2025 campaign that saw significant roster turnover and a coaching transition, the current depth chart reflects a team heavily invested in young talent while balancing veteran contracts. As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, evaluating the current state of the roster is essential for understanding the team's strategic direction under the current front office.

Quarterback: The Cam Ward Era

The most critical component of the Titans' depth chart is the quarterback position, which underwent a total transformation in 2025. After selecting Cam Ward with the first overall pick, the team moved away from the previous regime's developmental projects.

Starter: Cam Ward
Backup: Brandon Allen
Reserve/Injured: Will Levis

Cam Ward enters the 2026 offseason as the established face of the franchise. Despite dealing with a shoulder (AC joint) issue toward the end of his rookie season, his production provided a spark that the offense had lacked for years. Ward's ability to extend plays and his arm talent have solidified his role, though the team must prioritize his protection. Brandon Allen remains a steadying veteran presence in the backup role, offering a high-floor option if Ward needs to miss time. The situation surrounding Will Levis remains complex; currently on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, his future with the team is a subject of ongoing speculation as he enters the latter half of his rookie contract.

Backfield: Stability and Explosiveness

The running back room remains one of the more stable units on the roster. The combination of veteran leadership and young, explosive playmaking provides a balanced attack for the offensive scheme.

Starter: Tony Pollard
Primary Rotation: Tyjae Spears, Kalel Mullings
Depth: Julius Chestnut, Blake Watson

Tony Pollard continues to lead the group, having shown significant recovery in his explosive metrics during the 2025 season. His ability to contribute both as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield is central to the Titans' offensive identity. Tyjae Spears, despite battling ankle and hamstring injuries last season, remains the primary change-of-pace back. When healthy, Spears offers a dynamic element that complements Pollard’s style. Rookie Kalel Mullings worked his way into a rotational role late in 2025 and is expected to compete for more short-yardage carries in 2026, providing a physical presence the team values.

Wide Receivers: Transitioning to the Next Generation

The wide receiver depth chart is currently a mix of high-priced veterans and 2025 draft picks who are expected to take a leap in their second year.

Starters: Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, Elic Ayo Manor
Rotational Depth: Chimere Dike, Van Jefferson
Developmental: Bryce Oliver, James Proche II, Mason Kinsey

Calvin Ridley remains the focal point of the passing game, though he finished the 2025 season on injured reserve with a lower leg injury. His recovery is paramount for the 2026 offense. Tyler Lockett provides a reliable veteran target, though at 33, his snap count may be managed more conservatively. The real intrigue lies in the development of Elic Ayo Manor and Chimere Dike. Both 2025 draftees showed flashes of starter potential; Ayo Manor’s size and Dike’s speed offer a modern skill set that meshes well with Cam Ward’s vertical passing ability. Van Jefferson provides depth but may see his targets decrease as the younger players earn more trust.

Tight Ends: The Chig Factor

Tennessee’s usage of tight ends has evolved, focusing more on athleticism and middle-of-the-field stretching rather than traditional in-line blocking.

Starter: Chigoziem Okonkwo
Backup: Gunnar Helm
Depth: David Martin-Robinson, Joel Wilson

Chigoziem Okonkwo is the undisputed starter and a primary target in the red zone. His chemistry with Ward improved throughout 2025. Gunnar Helm, a 2025 selection, has established himself as the primary backup. Helm’s versatility in both the passing game and as a blocker allows the team to run more 12-personnel (two tight ends) looks, which helps mitigate some of the offensive line's struggles.

Offensive Line: A Work in Progress

Perhaps the most scrutinized unit on the Titans depth chart, the offensive line continues to undergo a massive rebuild.

Left Tackle: Dan Moore Jr., Olisa Emeka Udoh
Left Guard: Peter Skoronski, Jackson Slater
Center: Lloyd Cushenberry III, Corey Levin
Right Guard: Kevin Zeitler, Blake Hance
Right Tackle: JC Latham, Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson

JC Latham’s transition to right tackle has been a major talking point. While he has shown the physical tools required for the position, the consistency of the entire right side remains a concern. Peter Skoronski at left guard is the anchor of the interior, providing elite pass protection. The addition of Lloyd Cushenberry III at center has improved the communication upfront, but injuries to Kevin Zeitler (quadriceps) and Blake Hance (shoulder) late in 2025 exposed a lack of depth. Jackson Slater, a 2025 rookie, is expected to challenge for a starting role or at least a primary swing-guard position in 2026.

Defensive Line: The Interior Strength

The Titans' defensive identity is built from the inside out, led by one of the premier defensive tackles in the league.

Defensive Tackle: Jeffery Simmons, T’Vondre Sweat
Defensive End: Sebastian Joseph-Day, James Lynch
Depth: Shy Tuttle, CJ Ravenell, Cam Horsley

Jeffery Simmons remains the heart of the defense. Despite the team's overall struggles, Simmons' ability to disrupt both the run and pass remains elite. Alongside him, T’Vondre Sweat has emerged as a massive space-eater who allows the linebackers to play more freely. The depth here is solid, with Sebastian Joseph-Day providing a veteran presence and James Lynch offering versatility across multiple techniques in the 3-4 front.

Outside Linebackers/Edge: Youth Movement

Pressure off the edge was inconsistent in 2025, leading to a shift in how the team values its rotational players.

Starters: Arden Key, Dre’Mont Jones
Primary Rotation: Femi Oladejo, Jihad Ward
Depth: Jaylen Harrell, Ali Gaye

Arden Key and Dre’Mont Jones are the projected starters, but Femi Oladejo is the player to watch. As a 2025 draft pick, Oladejo’s physical profile and high motor earned him significant snaps by the end of last season. Before a lower leg injury sidelined him, he was arguably the team's most productive pure pass rusher. Jihad Ward provides a veteran edge-setting capability that is vital for early downs, but the team is clearly looking for more explosive production from its younger corps.

Inside Linebackers: Command and Control

The interior of the defense requires high-level communication and tackling efficiency, areas that saw both highs and lows last year.

Starters: Cody Barton, Cedric Gray
Backup: James Williams Sr., Dorian Mausi
Depth: Joe Bachie, Kyzir White (Practice Squad)

Cody Barton took over the leadership role in the middle of the defense and provided consistent, if not spectacular, play. The emergence of Cedric Gray is a positive development for the depth chart; his range and coverage ability complement Barton’s downhill style. James Williams Sr. is a versatile piece who can play multiple roles in sub-packages, though his availability has been hampered by shoulder issues.

Secondary: Rebuilding After Trades

The secondary underwent the most drastic changes during the 2025 season following the trades of Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and Roger McCreary.

Cornerbacks: L’Jarius Sneed, Darrell Baker Jr., Jalyn Armour-Davis, Samuel Womack III
Safeties: Amani Hooker, Xavier Woods, Quandre Diggs, Kendell Brooks
Injured Reserve: Mike Brown, Kevin Winston Jr., Marcus Harris

L’Jarius Sneed is the lockdown corner this defense is built around, but his health (quadriceps/IR) was a major factor in the team's late-season struggles. With Brownlee and McCreary gone, the depth at cornerback is exceptionally thin. Darrell Baker Jr. and Jalyn Armour-Davis are currently slated for significant roles, though both are better suited as rotational players rather than high-end starters. At safety, Amani Hooker and Xavier Woods provide a veteran backbone, but the depth is decimated by injuries to Kevin Winston Jr. and Mike Brown. This area is widely considered the team's primary need entering the 2026 Draft.

Special Teams: The Reliable Specialists

Special teams remain a bright spot for the Titans, with veteran consistency at the core positions.

Kicker: Joey Slye
Punter: Johnny Hekker
Long Snapper: Morgan Cox
Returners: Chimere Dike (KR/PR), Julius Chestnut

Johnny Hekker remains one of the league's most effective punters, frequently flipping the field for a struggling offense. Joey Slye has provided stability at kicker, and Morgan Cox continues his streak of high-level snapping. The return game has been handed over to Chimere Dike, whose speed makes him a threat every time he touches the ball, though the team may look to add more competition here to reduce Dike's offensive workload.

2026 Positional Needs and Draft Outlook

Looking at the depth chart holistically, several gaps must be addressed to support Cam Ward’s second year and fix a defense that was often overmatched in 2025.

Cornerback: Following the mid-season trades and Sneed’s injury history, the Titans lack a legitimate CB2. Expect this to be a priority in the early rounds of the draft.
Offensive Tackle/Guard: While Latham and Skoronski are pieces to build around, the right side of the line and the overall depth are insufficient for a pass-heavy offense.
Edge Rusher: The team needs a consistent double-digit sack threat to take the pressure off Jeffery Simmons.
Wide Receiver: With Tyler Lockett aging and Calvin Ridley coming off injury, adding another high-ceiling playmaker is necessary to ensure the offense doesn't stagnate.

Roster Strategy and Coaching Impact

The firing of Brian Callahan during the 2025 season signaled a shift in the organization's philosophy. The current coaching staff has prioritized versatility and speed, which is reflected in the 2025 rookie class. Players like Femi Oladejo and Elic Ayo Manor were specifically brought in to fit a high-intensity, high-IQ system. However, the depth chart still bears the scars of previous roster construction, particularly in the lack of depth in the secondary and the inconsistent offensive line play.

The 2026 season will likely be defined by how the team maximizes the "rookie window" of Cam Ward. By building around his strengths—mobility and downfield accuracy—the Titans can accelerate their rebuild. However, if the defensive secondary remains a sieve and the offensive line cannot provide a clean pocket, even elite quarterback play will struggle to translate into wins.

Conclusion

The Titans' depth chart is a portrait of a team in transition. It features elite pillars like Jeffery Simmons and L'Jarius Sneed, a promising young quarterback in Cam Ward, but significant holes that require immediate attention. For fans and analysts, the next several weeks leading through the draft and into training camp will be crucial as the front office attempts to fill the gaps in the secondary and offensive line. The talent is present at the top of the roster, but the "depth" in the depth chart remains the primary obstacle to returning to AFC South contention.