Times are changing in Tennessee. The new front office led by GM Mike Borgonzi is not afraid to purge this roster and start fresh. They have proved as much throughout the offseason.
The Titans have moved on from edge rusher Harold Landry III, punter Ryan Stonehouse, linebacker Jack Gibbens, and most recently OT Nicholas Petit-Frere among others.
Nobody is safe, and after the 2025 NFL Draft, there is certain to be another group of players that lose their current spot. Here are the players that I think are on the hot seat to lose their job over the next week during the draft.
Tyjae Spears could lose carries
Let's not forget that the Titans have expressed interest in drafting a rookie running back at some point in the draft. This is a really deep draft class at the running back position, which is a good sign for team's like Tennessee who need an instant contributor.
The goal is to find a back with a different skillset than what the Titans already have. A power running back who can take the ball between the tackles in short-yardage situations. A running back that has elite contact balance.
While the organization has maintained their stance that both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears will have significant roles in 2025, we have seen this movie before...Before the 2024 season, Pollard and Spears were supposed to have an even 50-50 split of touches. Injuries and regression from Spears put the ball in Pollard's hand more frequently, and he cashed in on that opportunity with 1,000+ yard season.
I won't be shocked if we see Spears get even less carries in 2025 with the Titans attempting to keep Pollard as the primary back and feed their new rookie.
Defensive tackle rotation
With the Titans going out of their way to host five different defensive tackles for Top 30 visits, it's impossible not to think one of the current defensive lineman could be displaced by a rookie in 2025.
Maybe a Jeffery Simmons trade ends up happening, but if it doesn't and Tennessee drafts a defensive tackle, who is the odd man out?
It's not Simmons or T'Vondre Sweat. That leaves Keondre Coburn and Sebastian Joseph-Day on the hot seat, although I am inclined to believe SJD is safe due to the fact that the Titans went out of their way to re-sign him to a one-year, $6.5 million contract. Almost all of the money on Joseph-Day's one-year deal is guaranteed. There's almost no incentive for the Titans to not have him on the 53-man roster.
If a rookie defensive tackle is drafted and Jeffery Simmons is not moved, I think Keondre Coburn could lose his spot on the team, and definitely lose his spot in the defensive rotation.
Arden Key is safe
While I do expect the Titans to take an edge rusher with one of their top picks in the draft, I don't consider Arden Key to be a player "losing a job."
Key's role in 2025 is going to be exactly what it was intended to be when he signed a three-year, $21 million deal with Tennessee to begin with: A rotational edge rusher that thrives in third down pass rush situations.
In the two years before Key arrived in Nashville, he totaled 11 sacks combined for the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville jaguars. In those two seasons (2021-2022), Key played a total of 849 snaps.
Key has played over 700 snaps in each of his seasons with the Titans out of necessity. The edge play has been weak and they've needed to increase his role. So while Key's snap count will likely go down in a world where the Titans draft a rookie edge rusher to start opposite of DreMont Jones, I think we could see Key be just as productive.
You'll get 5-6 sacks from him regardless. That's what you're paying him for.
