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Tennessee Titans NFL free agents 2025: Best players to re-sign, who must be let go

Published

10 months ago

March 4, 2025

Tennessee Titans NFL free agents 2025: Best players to re-sign, who must be let go

The Tennessee Titans have a long list of players set to hit free agency when the NFL league year starts anew on Wednesday, March 12, ranging from veterans who could easily find their way into starting lineups to younger players still trying to find their foothold.

NFL teams will be permitted to begin negotiating with free agents and their representatives on March 10, and several players will agree to contracts in the minutes and hours that follow. Others may carry their free agencies into the summer, electing not to sign until the start of training camp.

As free agency begins, let’s go position-by-position through the Titans’ pending free agents and organize them by how much the Titans should want to bring them back.

Quarterbacks

Mason Rudolph ― Don’t bring back: There are plenty of backup quarterback options on the market this offseason, many who have higher upside as in-a-pinch starters than the production Rudolph flashed in 2024.

Running backs

Julius Chestnut ― Keep options open: The Titans need a reliable power back. There should be plenty of opportunities to find one in the NFL draft. But that doesn’t mean Chestnut can’t try to find a way onto the roster or practice squad in camp.

Joshua Kelley ― Don’t bring back: Maybe he can provide some special teams value, but the Titans barely used Kelley in 2024. Enrich the roster some place else.

Wide receivers

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine ― Make an offer: Don’t overpay here, but try to keep him around. Westbrook-Ikhine is a valuable and productive player who should be considered a valuable No. 3 or No. 4 option. Try to bring him back, but don’t let sentimentality cloud judgment.

Tay Martin ― Keep options open: Give him a chance in training camp. Solid practice squad option.

Tyler Boyd ― Don’t bring back: Boyd served his purpose last year helping the Titans’ skill guys acclimate to coach Brian Callahan’s offense. But the Titans need to get younger and faster at receiver.

Tight ends

Nick Vannett ― Keep options open: Vannett’s veteran savvy serves a purpose. If he wants to come back, he’s worth a roster spot. But it’s not a make-or-break signing.

Offensive line

Dillon Radunz ― Stay in touch: There are worse fates than running things back with Radunz at right guard in 2025. If that’s the case, so be it. But as the Titans continue to reconfigure their offensive line, paying for a bigger-ticket option or drafting a younger player with higher upside both feel like more viable choices.

Daniel Brunskill ― Stay in touch: If Brunskill wants to pursue options as a starter, the Titans can move on. If he’s willing to come back on a deal as a rotational backup piece, he’s worth a roster spot.

Corey Levin ― Keep options open: Another valuable depth piece who won’t break the bank if he wants to come back and compete for a spot again.

Andrew Rupcich ― Keep options open: Unfortunate injury timing derailed his 2024. That doesn’t mean his career should be over.

Defensive line

Sebastian Joseph-Day ― Bring him back: He won’t garner the kind of attention T’Vondre Sweat and Jeffery Simmons do, but he’s an important piece on the defensive front. Sign him to another deal and use him to fill multiple roles.

James Lynch ― Keep options open: He’s a solid player who, at the very least, has some value competing for a spot in camp.

Marlon Davidson ― Keep options open: Davidson was poised for a role on last year’s team before getting injured. There’s no guarantee he’ll be able to win that role in 2025, but it could be worth seeing how he recovers.

Keondre Coburn ― Don’t bring back: His relationship with Sweat matters, but Coburn hasn’t produced much in his two years in Nashville.

TK McLendon Jr. ― Don’t bring back: The Titans made do without him last year and can continue to find bodies at his spot.

Linebacker

Jack Gibbens ― Make an offer: There’s clearly something there when he’s on the field. He’s got holes in his game, and it’s hard to see him as an every-down linebacker. But the value is real.

Luke Gifford ― Make an offer: He does his jobs on special teams well. He shouldn’t get starter money, but he’s worth a roster spot.

Otis Reese IV ― Keep options open: Reese is a solid special teams player with athletic upside. If he wants to stick around, let him compete for a spot.

Chance Campbell ― Keep options open: It’s hard not to get sentimental with how bad Campbell’s injury luck has been. But he’s going on three years without really playing football at this point. He’s got to really prove himself.

Garret Wallow ― Keep options open: Solid depth piece. Played well before getting hurt in training camp. Could be worth a shot.

Jerome Baker ― Don’t bring back: His brief time in Nashville was a disappointment at best. Move on.

Raekwon McMillan ― Don’t bring back: His two-game Titans tenure didn’t mean enough to justify another year.

Defensive backs

Justin Hardee ― Bring him back: Hardee’s importance to the Titans’ special teams units last year was massive. As the team rebuilds in these spaces, Hardee matters.

Quandre Diggs ― Make an offer: If Diggs wants to come back to Nashville, the Titans should sign him. Keep an eye out for younger options too, but Diggs is a difference-maker.

Darrell Baker Jr. ― Make an offer: There’s some potential here. Let him incubate for another year and see how he develops.

Mike Brown ― Keep options open: Brown does his job. The Titans can rely on that again, but don’t need to value him as a starter.

Specialists

Ryan Stonehouse ― Bring him back: No-brainer. Protect him and let him keep booming punts.

Morgan Cox ― Make an offer: Consistency is key at long snapper, and Cox’s consistency hasn’t dropped off yet. If he wants back, sign him.

Nick Folk ― Make an offer: There’s still plenty of juice in Folk’s leg. It’s less a matter of if the Titans should want to bring him back than it is what Folk sees about his own future.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

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Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police says Metro officer acted lawfully when stopping THP trooper

Published

6 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police says Metro officer acted lawfully when stopping THP trooper

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A routine traffic stop in Nashville became a test of authority after a Metro police officer attempted to pull over a vehicle driven by a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper.

Newly released body camera video shows the Metro officer initiating the stop after clocking a black SUV traveling 85 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone. Police records indicate the officer followed the vehicle for several miles before it came to a stop.

When the driver exited the SUV, he identified himself as a state trooper. The exchange that followed quickly escalated with both officers asserting authority and disrupting the circumstances of the stop.

The Metro police officer demanded identification and told the trooper he was not free to leave. The trooper responded that he was “the police” and suggested they were preparing to move on.

The trooper later said he had blue lights activated, indicating they were responding to other business.

The Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police said that flashing blue lights alone do not override a lawful traffic stop.

“He was doing his job,” Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police President Scottie Delashmit said. “The officer was trying to ensure there was no threat to the public.”

The incident drew heightened attention after it was confirmed that Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the stop.

In a statement to News 2, Sexton criticized the Metro police officer’s conduct, describing it as overzealous and unsafe. He said he does not believe the state trooper violated traffic laws.

“Any vehicle traveling above a posted speed limit should have emergency lights and sirens operating under Tennessee state law,” DeLashmit said. “Otherwise, you are to adhere to the same traffic laws anyone else does.”

Delashmit said incidents like this highlight the need for clear communication and de-escalation, particularly when multiple law enforcement agencies are involved.

⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com

“This is an unfortunate situation that could have been avoided if there had been clearer communication and immediate compliance,” he said.

Following the incident, the Metro Nashville Police Department opened an internal investigation after concerns were raised by the House Speaker’s chief of staff. The review examined whether the Metro police officer violated department policy.

According to MNPD records, the traffic stop was lawful, and the officer acted within policy. Allegations of misconduct were either exonerated or found to be unfounded.

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Construction-related closures suspended for nearly 3 million holiday travelers in TN

Published

18 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Construction-related closures suspended for nearly 3 million holiday travelers in TN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Tennessee Department of Transportation has announced the suspension of construction-related closures during the holiday travel period.

TDOT says road construction won’t delay travelers for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

All lane closure activity on interstates and state highways will be halted as higher traffic volumes are expected statewide.

Survey: Increased costs impacting holiday travel

“No temporary lane closures will be allowed for construction on Tennessee roadways beginning at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 23, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026,” TDOT said.

The state estimates that 2.8 million Tennesseans will be traveling throughout the holidays.

“Safety is our top priority, and with so many people expected to travel Tennessee roadways during the holidays, we want to keep traffic moving and get everyone to their destinations,” said TDOT Commissioner Will Reid, P.E. ““As always, please wear your seatbelt, reduce your speed, avoid distractions, and move over for emergency vehicles as our HELP Truck drivers will be on patrol.”

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Sold on Cam Ward’s future? Tennessee Titans teammates sure are | Estes

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Sold on Cam Ward’s future? Tennessee Titans teammates sure are | Estes

As rough as this season has been for the Tennessee Titans and a grumpy Cam Ward, a faint glimmer of light is appearing at the end of the tunnel.

It says something important about rookie quarterback Cam Ward that his reputation among veteran Tennessee Titans teammates is that of a grumpy old codger.

“Don’t be a Grinch today,” defensive star Jeffery Simmons told Ward after the Titans — gasp — won a home football game, beating the Kansas City Chiefs 26-9 on Dec. 21 at Nissan Stadium, improving to 3-12 and getting to enjoy the holidays just a bit more.

Simmons was kidding with Ward. Well, he was kind of kidding.

The last time the Titans won (on Dec. 7 in Cleveland — not that it’s difficult to narrow it down), Ward showed up to his postgame news conference in a sour mood, relatively displeased with how the victory had gone.

On the flight back, Titans defensive end Arden Key reportedly used the plane’s speaker system to joke about Ward’s disposition after the game. We know that because Will Boling, the Titans’ sideline reporter and a host on 104.5-FM, relayed that on the air (which caused the team to subsequently remove him from traveling on the team’s plane).

So that’s the Grinch-iness Simmons was talking about.

It’s also, however, why Simmons said about Ward a few minutes later: “I keep telling people, that’s the reason why I don’t want to go nowhere. I see the competitive nature. I see the growth as a rookie. I can see where he could take this franchise.”

Ward got this far as a zero-star prep recruit, becoming the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, because his nature is to never be satisfied, even while winning. This is a strength. So is the fact that he is genuine in his thoughts. Doesn’t sugarcoat. Tells it like it is.

So this Titans season has been an experiment.

What happens when you take a quarterback like that and have him lose a whole bunch of games right away in the NFL?

You get quotes like “we ass,” which Ward famously said earlier this season after the Titans started 0-for-4. Some older teammates didn’t like hearing that at the time. But he wasn’t wrong, as this season has continued to demonstrate.

Ward’s first NFL head coach, Brian Callahan, was fired after six games this season. The Titans lost six in a row after that (seven in a row total), and five were at Nissan Stadium. It has been humbling, I’d imagine, for a touted rookie quarterback, especially because Ward’s performances have been mixed, if not overall underwhelming.

But as Simmons noted, “Cam hasn’t changed” during all the losses. That’s what teammates have noticed.

Joking aside, Ward has earned the respect of teammates — young and old — behind the scenes because of his fortitude. And of course, his ability.

“That guy is so talented,” rookie receiver Chimere Dike said of Ward, “but his work ethic is something that I really appreciate. I’m thankful that I’ve been able to grow with him this year, and I can’t wait to continue to build that rapport going forward. Hopefully, we’ll win a lot of games in Nashville.”

Win a lot? Could it be that Ward’s Titans are finally noticing a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel? Perhaps all the struggles are beginning to bear fruit?

For Ward, this was a good weekend. His college team, the Miami Hurricanes, got a gigantic College Football Playoff win at Texas A&M. “I plan on them going out there and beating Ohio State (in the quarterfinals),” Ward chirped.

A day later, the Chiefs game may have been Ward’s best so far in the NFL. He went 21-for-28 for 228 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, and while that might not sound too impressive, he led the Titans to three long TD drives and a 9-for-17 clip on third down.

Those eye-opening highlights, the ones that’ve flashed all season, haven’t gone away, either. Against Kansas City, Ward made a laughably absurd throw. Against his body and off his back foot, he found Dike for 30 yards to beat cornerback Kristian Fulton (remember him?).

“I’ve been better each and every week,” Ward said, “whether it’s one thing or whether it’s a major thing.”

The Titans, as an organization, may not be certain that they have their future quarterback yet. Ward’s journey is ongoing, and it will stay this way through next season. But the arrow keeps tilting slightly more north as this rough season nears a merciful — yet increasingly optimistic — conclusion.

Titans teammates, for what it’s worth, have sounded convinced about Ward for a while.

Teammates who matter.

Do not underestimate the importance of the quote from Simmons. It’s not a given that he’d want to stay with a franchise that’s gone 6-26 the past two seasons and not even sniffed the playoffs. A lot has been asked of Simmons here, and he’d be coveted by every other NFL team.

If Simmons is insisting he wants to stay amid all this losing, it’s worth paying attention to the reason why.

That reason just won his first home game as an NFL quarterback. And you know what? Cam Ward even seemed happy about this one.

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social

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