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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator

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Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator


Alex Golesh was introduced as Auburn’s head coach on Dec. 1. He served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.

Golesh announced the hiring of Jacob Bronowski as Auburn’s special teams coordinator. He served as the Vols’ special teams analyst in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel. Bronowski was also under Heupel at UCF in 2020 as special teams quality control.

“His track record is outstanding,” Golesh said of Bronowski. “He developed multiple national award contenders, including a Lou Groza Award winner, and has led some of the top special teams units in the country.

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“I saw up close when we worked together before that coach Bronowski understands that special teams can be a championship difference-maker, and he’s proven he can develop elite specialists. He brings exactly the attention to detail and relentless work ethic we need in our program.”

Auburn will play at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2026.

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Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates

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Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates


Tennessee football will host Lane Kiffin, Alex Golesh and possibly Arch Manning at Neyland Stadium in the 2026 season.

UT’s opponents for the next four seasons were previously announced. On Dec. 11, the SEC released the dates of every conference game, providing the full picture of the 2026 schedule.

Game times and television designations will be announced later.

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Texas will make its first trip ever to Tennessee on Sept. 26. Manning, the Longhorns quarterback, is expected to return for the 2026 season rather than enter the NFL draft. If so, he’ll face the Vols on the home turf of his uncle, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.

Golesh, the former UT offensive coordinator, is Auburn’s new coach. He will return to Knoxville for an Oct. 3 game.

Alabama will play at Tennessee on Oct. 17, continuing their Third Saturday in October rivalry game.

Kiffin, the polarizing former UT coach, is now coaching LSU after bolting Ole Miss after the regular season ended. He will return to Knoxville for a Nov. 21 game. Three of the five SEC teams visiting Neyland Stadium will have a first-year coach, including Kentucky’s Will Stein on Nov. 7.

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Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as annual SEC opponents in the league’s new nine-game conference schedule. Its other six opponents will rotate each season. That means each school will play every SEC opponent home and away every four years.

Tennessee will have one open week on Oct. 31 and thus won’t play on Halloween.

Here is Tennessee’s week-to-week schedule for the 2026 season.

Tennessee football 2026 schedule

  • Sept. 5: Furman
  • Sept. 12: At Georgia Tech
  • Sept. 19: Kennesaw State
  • Sept. 26: Texas*
  • Oct. 3: Auburn*
  • Oct. 10: At Arkansas*
  • Oct. 17: Alabama*
  • Oct. 24: At South Carolina*
  • Oct. 31: Open
  • Nov. 7: Kentucky*
  • Nov. 14: At Texas A&M*
  • Nov. 21: LSU*
  • Nov. 28: At Vanderbilt*

*SEC game

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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Dragos Cazacu signs with Tennessee

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Dragos Cazacu signs with Tennessee


Tennessee announced the signing of graduate student Dragos Cazacu on Wednesday. He is from Constanta, Romania.

“Dragos is someone we believe can translate all of his professional experience and success seamlessly to high level college tennis,” Tennessee associate head coach Matt Lucas said. “He’s a very mature young man who has finished university in Romania, so we know the type of student athlete we are getting. Winning ITF Pro Circuit titles, all while doing his degree back home shows he will transition nicely to Tennessee in January.”

Cazacu competed on the ATP Tour prior to Tennessee. His highest ranking was No. 763 in singles and No. 495 in doubles.

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Tennessee will begin its spring men’s tennis season versus ETSU on Jan. 9, 2026 at Goodfriend Tennis Center. SEC competition will begin Feb. 21, 2026 at Kentucky.

The Vols’ home opener in SEC play is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2026 versus Auburn at Goodfriend Tennis Center.

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