Let’s lend Robert Saleh a helping hand here.
The biggest question when he takes over as the next coach of the Tennessee Titans is whether he’ll be able to field a competitive offense after failing to do so across his four years as the New York Jets’ coach.
Sure, a lot of that depends on quarterback Cam Ward’s development in Year 2. But some of the burden will fall on Saleh assembling the right staff and general manager Mike Borgonzi bringing the right kind of talent in to ensure the Titans’ offense isn’t nearly as putrid as Saleh’s bottom-dwelling Jets units were.
Ward is returning, as are promising pass catchers/fellow 2025 rookies Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike and Gunnar Helm. The offensive line ― which found its form in the second half of 2025 ― is mostly intact. Running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are under contract for one more year. With an estimated $100 million in salary cap space available and four of the top 101 picks in April’s draft, the Titans are in position to make three or four moves that can, if coupled with the right coaches, get the offense running smoothly pretty fast.
Here is The Tennessean’s eight-step guide for how to fix the Titans’ offense in the 2026 offseason.
Step 1: Hire Brian Daboll at offensive coordinator
Daboll checks every box for what the Titans should be looking for. When he was the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator, he developed Josh Allen into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. He has coordinated top-five offenses. He has head coaching experience. He has worked for championship-winning programs in New England and Alabama. And he was reportedly so enamored of Ward as a prospect that the Giants were reportedly willing to trade the Titans multiple first-round picks in 2025 to select him. Development, productivity, experience, success and confidence in the quarterback he’ll be inheriting. That’s a full deal.
Step 2: Bring in a fresh, young mind to contribute
Daboll represents the experienced, been-there-done-that wing of what the Titans need. Now find an upstart who can contribute fresh thoughts. Maybe it’s someone Saleh has overlapped with like San Francisco’s Joe Graves or Green Bay quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion. Maybe it’s longtime Daboll associate Shea Tierney. In a best-case scenario, though, it’s a coach completely off-radar with new, challenging ideas. Consider up-and-coming candidates from college as pass game coordinators/specialists.
This group includes Indiana co-offensive coordinator Chandler Whitmer (age 34, formerly at Ohio State, Clemson, the Chargers and Falcons); Ohio State QB coach Billy Fessler (30, formerly at Mississippi State and Akron); Oregon receivers coach Ross Douglas (31, formerly with the Patriots); and Notre Dame assistant QBs coach Kurt Rawlings (27/28, former Yale QB and Cincinnati assistant).
Step 3: Wan’Dale Robinson as veteran slot receiver
A Daboll connection, Robinson broke out with a 1,000-yard season as the Giants’ top slot option in 2025. He’s hardly the physical type at 5-foot-8, 185 pounds, but he would expand the Titans’ offense with a different kind of reliability in the short passing game. In 2025, only All-Pro Puka Nacua gained more yards on route run from the slot. Pair Robinson with Dike as the Titans’ interior receivers of the future.
Step 4: Draft a big WR on Day 2
Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II (6-5), Southern Cal’s Ja’Kobi Lane (6-4) and Alabama’s Germie Bernard (6-1, 205 pounds) all should be available on Day 2 of the NFL draft. As much as fans might prefer the Titans target a receiver with the No. 4 overall pick, let that selection go toward defense. Use the middle rounds to bring in big-bodied, physical receivers like Lane and Bernard, or field stretchers like Brazzell who can change the shape of the offense and allow Ward to use the middle of the field more effectively.
Step 5: Trade Calvin Ridley
In 2022, Ridley was worth a third- and fifth-round pick on the trade market. Three seasons later, the Titans might get a third- or fourth-round pick for him. Get what you can get. Start fresh. Ridley was a 1,000-yard receiver for the Titans in 2024, and there’s reason to believe there’s still something in the tank. But it’s probably best for both parties to move on.
Step 6: Beef up the RB room
Keep Pollard around for 2026, despite the option in his contract. Instead of starting fresh with a big-name free agent, sign a couple of mid-tier options, guys like Brian Robinson, Jerome Ford or Tyler Allgeier. Pair one or two of those guys with Pollard and Spears to keep the rotation fresh and build the running game by committee.
Step 7: Invest in the young and old up the middle
Re-sign Kevin Zeitler at guard and retain center Lloyd Cushenberry III despite his contract option to keep continuity. Continue developing Jackson Slater as a future piece at guard, and use a mid-round draft pick on someone like Iowa’s Logan Jones or Indiana’s Pat Coogan. Build the future from behind the present. And while you’re at it, re-sign Oli Udoh as a swing tackle, even if it takes paying him borderline starter money. You can afford it.
Step 8: Backup QB Tyrod Taylor
Taylor was Saleh’s backup quarterback in 2024 and Daboll’s in 2022-23. Double the familiarity is nice. And having a veteran with 62 NFL starts to his name, plus one in the playoffs, in the room with Ward is a huge help. Keep with the theme of relying on experience and developing youth simultaneously.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Fixing Robert Saleh’s Titans offense for 2026 in 8 easy steps
