Struggling Titans had much more than money to lure free agents to Tennessee

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — For a franchise mired in four straight losing seasons, the Tennessee Titans had a lot of selling points to go along with a ton of salary cap money to spend in free agency.

New coach Robert Saleh and new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll combined to lure at least nine players whom they've coached previously. Then there's two big attractions on the roster already in All-Pro defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and quarterback Cam Ward.

“Jeffery Simmons is a dog,” cornerback Cor’Dale Flott said Wednesday as the Titans introduced a handful of their top free agent signees.

Linebacker Jermaine Johnson, acquired by the Titans in a trade with the Jets in February, said Simmons can "ruin the offense’s day single-handedly." Johnson also likes what Ward brings in leading the Tennessee offense.

“I’m super excited to work with him," Johnson said of the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 draft. "He’s got a chip on his shoulder. He got fire with him and yeah, I’m just excited to be here and just see what this group can turn into.”

Johnson loved watching the Titans in free agency after helping lobby John Franklin-Myers to join him and being reunited with so many former teammates. It’s why Johnson is so excited to get to work this offseason in April.

“How many guys are lucky enough to go to a different team that is in a city they’ve already been looking to move to? That has a head coach that drafted him, has a defensive line coach that kind of like built him up to be who he is, running a scheme that he’s very effective in and fell in love with,” Johnson said.

Cornerback Alontae Taylor couldn’t pass up the chance to play not only for his home state team but also Saleh.

“I’ve always wanted to play for him,” Taylor said. “And then when Tennessee hired him, I was like, ‘Wow. I can go back home.’ This is an opportunity. It’s a team that needs corners, and I think it would just fit.”

Saleh has made it clear he learned from his first stint as an NFL head coach that he needs to call the plays on defense, which he will do in Tennessee. Johnson pointed to Saleh's work with San Francisco last season as defensive coordinator as proof of what the coach can do on defense.

“When some of his best guys went down, you know those guys were still to be reckoned with,” Johnson said.

Flott can't wait to play behind Tennessee's revamped defensive line knowing the pressure that will be put on quarterbacks. It's a cornerback's dream helping the secondary have a chance to create turnovers.

"The quarterback not going to sit there and have all the time in the world to be able to throw the ball,” Flott said.

Wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson from Frankfort, Kentucky, who played at Kentucky in college wanted to get closer to home or stay with the Giants. The receiver who had several quarterbacks throwing to him in New York called the Titans “a perfect fit.”

“It was just kind of new staff, new everything,” Robinson said. “Obviously (Daboll) being there was an added bonus."

The Titans also have a new enclosed stadium opening up in 2027. Tennessee's new uniforms and color scheme hadn't been unveiled before the top free agents agreed to terms. Their reviews are similar to their new teammates.

“It’s crazy because the new uniforms, they’re sick, I love them," Taylor said.

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