A breakdown of the top five Tennessee Titans contracts most at risk under a new coaching staff, using cap impact and roster context to explain who could be on the move.
The Tennessee Titans fired head coach Brian Callahan in week 6 of the NFL season after starting the season 1-5. Callahan had an unsuccessful stint as the head coach of the Titans, finishing with an overall record of 4-19 over the course of 2 season. The Titans hired general manager Mike Borgonzi last offseason, who came from the Kansas City Chiefs. According to reports from NFL insiders, Borgonzi is well respected around the league, and the expectation is that he is here to stay.
The Titans' head coaching job was seen as an appealing job due to them having a projected $100M+ in cap space available, a potential franchise QB in Cam Ward, and the opportunity to work with Borgonzi.
All of this sets the stage for the arrival of head coach Robert Saleh. Saleh previously was the head coach of the New York Jets for 4 seasons and finished with a 20-36 record. Saleh, known for his defensive acumen, proved his ability to quickly turn around a Jets defense that was abysmal in many key defensive categories. Ultimately, what led to his demise was his lack of development of the offense and whiffing on QB Zach Wilson as the face of the franchise. I honestly did not think he would get a second chance so quickly, especially given the fact that his best record was 7-10. Instead of finding a bright offensive mind to get the most out of Cam Ward, they opted to go the route of a cultural tone setter for the organization.
The Titans made it clear they wanted every head coach candidate to lay out a plan for Cam Ward. In the end, though, Tennessee opted for a defensive-minded head coach, prioritizing a reset of the organization’s culture.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 20, 2026
An offensive coordinator has not yet been selected
The Titans enter a transition phase where front-office change doesn’t necessarily mean an immediate teardown. As the new general manager evaluates the roster, contracts, and performance will ultimately shape who carries over into the next phase. I would expect that the 2025 draft class would be a lot safer vs the 2024 draft class because Bergonzi was still with Kansas City when those players were drafted.
Below are four players most likely not to be on the roster next season, along with one surprise name you may not expect.
RB Tony Pollard signed a 3 year, $21.75 million contract with the Tennessee Titans during the 2024 free agency period, which included a $6 million signing bonus and $10.4 million guaranteed. Pollard has been successful during his tenure with the Titans. He has back-to-back 1,000 rushing yards seasons, including 5 touchdowns each.
Tony Pollard now enters the final year of the contract he signed in free agency. According to Spotrac, his cap hit for the 2026 season is scheduled to be roughly $9.2 million. If the Titans were to release Pollard, they would save $7.25 million in cap savings. Tony Pollard will be 29 entering this season, and I believe they will elect to bring in another RB to complement Tyjae Spears. A name to watch in free agency is Breece Hall, who was drafted and played under Saleh when he was the coach of the Jets. I expect Pollard to be a cap casualty, and based on our contract risk meter tool, we list Pollard as a high risk.
LB Cody Barton signed a 3 year, $21 million contract, including close to $9 million guaranteed during the 2025 free agency period. Barton was brought in to bring veteran leadership in the middle of that Titans defense. Barton finished the season with 81 total tackles, with 37 solo tackles over 17 games.
Notably, towards the end of the season, young LB Cedric Gray started to take over for the defense, totaling 55 combined tackles over the last five games of the season. Barton will be entering eight season in the league and will be 29 years old next season. According to Spotrac, he carries a cap hit of $8.2M, and even though the Titans don't save any money, I expect the Titans to go younger at the position and cut Barton this off-season.
CB L’Jarius Sneed was probably the biggest swing and miss that the Titans had in recent years. Not only did the Titans give Sneed a contract extension worth $76.4 million, including $55 million guaranteed, but they also had to acquire him from the Chiefs for a 2025 third round pick and a 2024 seventh round pick swap.
Since Sneed has joined the Titans, his availability has been hampered by persistent quadriceps injuries that ended his 2024 season and again landed him on injured reserve in 2025. Over the past two seasons, he has only played in 12 total games. Additionally, Sneed has also not been able to escape off-the-field concerns. In late 2025, a Dallas County grand jury indicted him on a misdemeanor charge of failing to report an aggravated assault from a December 2024 incident.
Needless to say, Sneed has shown to be a horrible sign-and-trade for the Titans. Entering this season, he has two years remaining on his contract extension and carries a $20 million cap hit this season. According to Spotrac, if the Titans elect to release Sneed prior to March 15th, they would save roughly $11.9 million in cap savings.
The Titans swung big on Sneed and missed. Sneed is more trouble than he is worth, and I expect the Titans to cut him this offseason. Based on our contract risk meter tool, we list Sneed as a high risk.
S Xavier Woods signed a 2 year, $8 million contract, including $3.49 million guaranteed during the 2025 free agency period. Xavier Woods played in 11 games for the Titans this season, recording 39 total tackles and 2 interceptions. Rookie S Kevin Winston Jr. was rehabbing from a partially torn ACL which allowed Woods to be the starter in the beginning of the year.
Heading into this season, the Titans have their two starting safeties with Amani Hooker and Kevin Winston Jr. According to Spotrac, Woods has a $5 million cap hit next season and the Titans could save $4 million if he were to be released. I expect the Titans to cut Woods and use that cap space elsewhere.
WR Calvin Ridley was a splash signing for the Titans when he signed a four year, $92 million contract, including $50 million guaranteed during the 2024 free agency period. A few years back, Calvin Ridley was famously given a one-year suspension based on his involvement with illegal sports betting. He was then traded to the Jaguars and had a bounce back season, finishing with 76 receptions, 1,016 yards and 8 TDs. When he became a free agent in 2024, there were rumors he might go back to the Jaguars or join the Patriots. Instead, he made the surprise decision to go to the Titans.
Ridley had a promising first year with the Titans, recording over 1,000 yards and four touchdowns. But in his second year with the team, he came crashing down to earth. He failed to record a single touchdown and only played in seven games, amassing 36 targets, 17 receptions, and 303 receiving yards. This was a huge disappointment as many believed he could excel as the #1 target for rookie QB Cam Ward.
Entering this season, Ridley is 31 years old and has two years remaining on his contract. His current cap hit for this season is a whopping $26.7 million, which is 12th highest in the NFL according to Spotrac. If the Titans were to cut him in March, they would save $13.7 million. The Titans are not hurting for cap space, but that is a lot of money to spend on a player if he isn’t in the team's future plans.
Since the departure of former head coach Mike Vrabel, the Tennessee Titans have become one of the worst teams in the league, finishing 3-14 in back-to-back seasons. When they hired Vrabel a few years ago, the logic was bringing in someone who could create a culture. After butting heads with ownership, it was time for a change, but that change has made them look foolish after seeing the Patriots reach the AFC championship.
Time will tell if Robert Saleh will be able to turn around the Titans organization. The biggest question for the Titans is how they will continue to develop Cam Ward and surround him with talent to compete. Based on what we have seen from Saleh in the past, it’s a safe bet he will turn around the culture, but will he suffer the same fate that he did in NY? Saleh and Borgonzi will have their work cut out for them as they reshape this roster.
Want to see which players face contract risk across the rest of the NFL? Check out our contract risk meter tool and keep an eye out for our upcoming series breaking down teams undergoing front-office changes. Be sure to check out our other articles on Front Office Pros for more dynasty analysis and offseason insights. For more analysis like this, explore more NFL Front Office articles.
Steve Falco
Steve Falco
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