The Tennessee Titans are hoping to build a path toward a more sustainable future following a disastrous 3-14 campaign in 2025.
Though it wasn't enough to land the Titans the top overall pick, it was enough to give them a chance to add wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall selection. Pairing him with second-year quarterback Cam Ward gives Tennessee hope of building a duo that can last.
With the preseason now over and the 2026 campaign set to begin, the youth movement is at the forefront of the many storylines surrounding the team, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
The Titans have veterans to give them grounding in Jeffery Simmons, John Franklin-Meyers, Cody Barton, Calvin Ridley, Dan Moore Jr., Tony Pollard, Wan’Dale Wright and
Peter Skoronski. But roughly half the team’s 53-man roster is made up of first-, second- and third-year guys and the plan is for those guys to play. The more, the better. So Carnell Tate and Elic Ayomanor are pushing Calvin Ridley and Wan’Dale Robinson at receiver. Fernando Carmona Jr. beat out Cordell Volson at right guard. Gunnar Helm is starting at tight end. Femi Oladejo and Keldrick Faulk are carving out roles on the edge. Anthony Hill Jr. is pushing Cody Barton at linebacker. Cedric Gray, Marcus Harris and Kevin Winston Jr. have won starting jobs in the back seven. And as these guys win roles and get experience, the future gets a little brighter, with the plan being—and this especially goes for quarterback Cam Ward—to ride out bumps and see the development of all these guys through.
The offensive side of the ball is full of young players who will get ample opportunities to stake their claim as significant contributors in Brian Daboll's offense. Much of it revolves around Ward and the steps he can take, but his supporting cast — on paper — seems better than what he had during his rookie campaign.
This type of youth movement is typically a double-edged sword for teams. While experience can be the best teacher, it's likely to come with plenty of bumps and bruises throughout the campaign.
For a team that has failed to reach the playoffs or post a winning record since 2021, having the young players taking those lumps might be necessary if any change is to take place in Nashville.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans youth movement highlights team's narrative entering 2026 season
