The Tennessee Titans have wrapped up training camp, and some young players flashed their potential during the hot August days; one of those was second-year safety Kevin Winston Jr.
Winston brought attitude and a physical presence to camp and has the athleticism and upside to be a difference-maker in the secondary. While there will likely be some growing pains as he navigates the new Robert Saleh defense, Carter Bahns of CBS Sports believes he will overcome those difficulties and be one of the NFL’s breakout defenders in 2026.
Kevin Winston Jr. - TEN - SAF - #23
The partially torn ACL Kevin Winston Jr. sustained at Penn State delayed his debut until Week 5, but he still managed to accumulate five starts as a rookie. Winston had to learn on the fly
last year, so now that he has finally completed an offseason of development, it does not take much imagination to see him take his game to another level. The front office cleared his path to the lineup, and he now gets to play for a renowned defensive coach in Robert Saleh. Winston will be at his best when he plays up toward the line of scrimmage, as coverage is the weak spot in his skill set. He ranked 90th among 98 qualified safeties, per PFF, in coverage last year. His run defense, however, was the best at the position.
As a run defender, Winston is already there, but he has to improve his coverage. He did show off his range with an interception against the Seattle Seahawks, but unfortunately it was called back due to a phantom penalty to Cor’Dale Flott. With Amani Hooker looking a bit shaky in the preseason, the Titans will need Winston to step up as an impact player on defense as the unit continues to build chemistry.
If Winston can break out in 2026, Tennessee’s defense has the potential to be one of the best in the league. And if they can reach that level, the entire team will benefit.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans' Kevin Winston Jr. named potential breakout star
