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