INDIANAPOLIS – It's been a busy week at the NFL Combine.
The Titans are well represented here, where workouts continue over the next few days.
Hope you've enjoyed the coverage here at TennesseeTitans.com, where the focus will soon turn to free agency, a big March 12 event, and then the NFL Draft.
But for now, let's jump into another Titans mailbag.
Here's the link to submit questions: CLICK HERE.
Terry Sullivan from Charleston, South Carolina
Question: Hello Jim. I hope you are doing well. First time writer, but I'll keep it short. I'm going to go contrarian to the thinking of seemingly all fans, and "experts". The Titans, I believe, will have the opportunity to choose an absolute game changer in Jeremiyah Love. I acknowledge their defense needs help, but all of the great teams have a great tandem at QB & RB. Love seems to be a generational talent, and would likely make Cam much better. Pollard is okay, but at best is lower half of the league, and there will be no game planning around him. As it stands now, without a genuine threat out of the backfield, defenses will be able to pin their ears back and get after Cam. It's been said that defense wins championships. But it's also been said that the best defense is a good offense. Love would solidify the backfield of QB and RB for at least several years.
Jim: Hey Terry. Thanks for chiming in. I'm a big fan of Jeremiyah Love myself, and actually wrote about him yesterday. Here's that story: CLICK HERE. I will have nothing to do with the decision, I can promise you that. I will say if I had a say, I'd be very tempted to take Love. I think he could end up being the best player in the draft.
Joe Levickis from Joelton, Tennessee
Question: Hey Jim! I'm absolutely thrilled how this coaching staff is coming together. I couldn't be happier. I think Borgonzi is showing why he was hired in this role.
I'm wondering what your thoughts are on our cap space, in particular when it comes to getting a few of our guys extended. I think the obvious and most important have to be signing Big Jeff to ensure he retires a Titan, and Big Pete as he's eligible and shown to be an excellent player.
Do you see anyone else getting extended anytime soon?
Also, I know these wouldn't technically be extensions as they are Free Agents, but I'd love to see Chig Okonkwo and Sebastian Joseph-Day back on multi-year deals. I think they've both earned it.
Jim: Hey Joe. Hope all is well with you and your wife. You probably saw where Mike Borgonzi talked about Peter this week. Here's what he said when asked about him potentially getting an extension: "We always try to secure our best players early. Our goal is to get something done with Peter. With Peter, he is one of our better players, and we'd like him here long-term. The fifth-year option is always a tool, a mechanism, you can use. But we are going to work to try and get something done with Peter." I know everyone loves Big Jeff, and I expect the team to do everything it can to keep him in Tennessee as long as possible. Borgonzi hinted at talks with other guys, but didn't name names.
Francis Victory from Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Question: I understand that the Titans will be getting a new logo soon. My son is a Titans fan and I want to buy him a Titans shirt. When will the merchandise be available?
Jim: Hi Francis. Where did you get that idea? Jk. As I'm sure you've seen by now (among other things), the team distributed a letter to fans and season ticket holders this week announcing a special event at The Pinnacle on March 12 that will celebrate "the next chapter of the Tennessee Titans." I'll be honest: I haven't heard anything about merchandise sales. But I suspect you should get some answers on this and more in the near future.
Richard Robles from Springfield, Tennessee
Question: Hi, Jim. If the Punter Johnny Hekker, the Kicker Joey Slye and the Long Snapper Morgan Cox are the free agents, what will you do with them if they are free agents? Which would you rather keep and resign either one of them: Morgan Cox, Joey Slye or Johnny Hekker?
Jim: Hey Richard. Hekker, Slye and Cox are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on March 11, when free agency begins. The GM will make the call on this. Morgan Cox continues to perform at a high level, and it makes sense to bring him back. I probably shouldn't speak for the GM on some of these other UFAs, because it'll be his call, not mine. I'll let his decisions in the coming weeks speak for themselves.
Beau Siddens from Covington, Indiana
Question: Hey Jim. Hope you're feeling better. We got to hear from the OC (and DC). I knew who they were and excited they chose the Titans, but had never heard them speak before. Daboll's a character! I gotta admit, I don't think I've fully grasped what Borgonzi and now Saleh are building here. A knit group of former HCs with decades of football groomsmenship. I bet they draw some good players. Our core and rookies made the last few games of the season interesting. This off season has been a good one and is about to get a whole lot better.
Dennard Wilson is a great coach. I like Brian Callahan as an OC. The Giants have a staff too.
Do you think they will become our "coach rivals"?
What's your take on the Indiana Bears? That's all going down just north of where I live. Sucks being a lone Titans fan in these parts. Bears and Colts here.
On to FA and eventually the Draft. TITAN UP!!!
Jim: I'm feeling better, thanks Beau. The flu got me, but I'm back. I wish Dennard and Callahan well, great guys. I don't view it as a "rivalry" situation. I think everyone will be rooting for them to be successful.
I hate the sound of the Indiana Bears. Being in Indy all week, the potential of the Bears moving to Indiana was a big topic on the news each night. I sure hope that doesn't happen, because it doesn't seem, or sound, right.
Joni Daniels from Antioch, Tennessee
Question: I noticed that Nick Westbrook Ikhine and Kevin Byard will either become unrestricted free agents or released. Would either of them be open to returning to the Titans or would the Titans consider bringing them back. Both players were productive members of the team and could be a welcomed addition. What do you think?
Jim: I know a lot of Titans fans would love to see this. I can't say anything on K.B., since he's still under contract with the Bears. I don't want to get in trouble for tampering. As much as I like NWI, I'm not expecting him to return, but I haven't asked anyone about this subject.
Robert Cabral from Tuscon, Arizona
Question: Hi JIM! Fan since 1999. Is it true the Titans have a new logo? If so, do you like it? I wasn't prepared for a new look being a die-hard Titans fan, not sure how I feel about it. I personally like the aggressive look of the flame. I'm not enthusiastic about the neutral look like the rumored photos shared online. Thanks for your time!
Jim: Hey Robert. I know a lot of folks want some definitive answers on this. I'm sorry I haven't been able to share anything on something everyone outside the building has been talking about for weeks. Put March 12 down on your calendar. It's already on mine – it's my daughter Sydney's birthday. I can confirm there will be flames on the candles on her cake.
Ado Laguna from Tuscon, Arizona
Question: Mr. Jim. I'm a life long Oilers/Titans fan. I'm praying that the new head coach will without any doubt pick Mr Bain Jr from Miami. No team can double up on all there beast of men in our DL. Just tell me if I'm just dreaming. I'm not a coach I'm not a stat guy. I'm just a ride and or die for the TITANS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
Jim: Back-to-back from Tuscon! I agree Bain is a beast. And Robert Saleh had some great things to say about him this week. Here's what Saleh said about Bain: "With a young man like Bain, his tape is undeniable. He is an unbelievable football player, he plays with great violence. His football IQ is off the charts. … There are certain things he'll have to adjust to like all these rookies will, but I think he's a kid that is going to have a lot of success in this league."
Murphy Gill from White House, Tennessee
Question: Jim, I am 60 years old and have been a fan from the beginning. (Memphis, Vandy, Nashville) I have always love how the team leaned into the Greek mythology aspect of Nashville being the Athens of the South in their original stadium name and the helmet logos with the sword etc... When I saw the new logo I just went "meh..." It's not bad, but certainly not great. I wish the team would do a broad based poll of Titans fans to test the waters on this change. Just my opinion. I will still be a fan no matter what, but in a time of much disappointment, this is another one.
Jim: Thanks for chiming in, Murphy.
Christian Drolet from Quebec City, Canada
Question: Hi Jim. Let's talk about QB2. Do you have an idea about what is the plan with Will Levis? Real chance to compete for starter role? Trade? Minded for a backup role?
Merci et bonne journée!
Jim: Well, both Saleh and Borgonzi both talked glowingly about Will at the NFL Combine this week. They also talked about T'Vondre Sweat being a potential fit on the team, and I'm sure you saw what was reported about him this week. Just pointing out things can change. Cam Ward is going to be the starter in 2026, I don't see that changing. I still can't help but wonder about Will's future with the team, because I suspect other teams will be inquiring about him in the coming weeks and months. I like Will, and think he's really talented. Could another team make the Titans an offer they can't refuse? Well, we'll just have to wait and see. Merci et bonne journée!
Charles Burnett Wallingford, Connecticut
Question: Hi Jim. Big fan here and appreciate the hard work keeping us informed about the Titans.
Haven't seen or heard much about the shoulder injury that Cam Ward sustained in the first quarter of the season finale.
Do you have any idea about how he is doing and if he is getting treatments at the team facilities? I'm pretty concerned because he is the face of the franchise on the offensive side of the ball.
I'm sure it has been pretty busy around the team headquarters with everything going on with the head coach search. Sometimes all the other news gets pushed onto the back burners.
Keep up the great work and have a great weekend. TitanUp.
Jim: Appreciate it, Charles. Cam has been in the facility a lot. I've seen him, and coach Saleh said he sees him just about every day. The HC and the GM have been pretty tight-lipped about Cam's health, but Borgonzi did offer this up here on Wednesday when asked about his health: "I would just say he's trending well, he's tracking well, for the offseason."
Benjamin Mead from Cooperstown, New York
Question: Jim!! Are you as excited as I am?! We got Salah, my number 1 candidate available. I will be the first to admit I was on here banging the same drum for Callahan and what he could do to our offence. In this new age of scoring, defence is dead right? We gotta score points that's what will win today! Wrong! Boy was I wrong! This is what this team needs is to get back to the roots. A bust you in the mouth type of team that nobody wants to go punch for punch with for 4 quarters. If Cam is who we think he might be the points will come and if he doesn't need to score 30 to win that will take some pressure off. And if the game is close we can run the ball. I can't believe how many people were on last week's feed talking bad about this hire. His defense has always been amazing. From SF to NY and back to SF he has posted a top 10 defense almost every year. So finally, new coaches usually bring their own style and like to add players to fit that. With a Salah and a ton of cap space. Do you think this team will be busy in free agency this year? Thanks Jim.
Jim: Hey Benjamin. I do think the team will be active in free agency. What that looks like exactly, I'm looking forward to finding out myself. But the team has cap room, and plenty of needs.
Eli Decko from Youngwood, Pennsylvania
Question: Gennaro Filice just had the best pick 4 for the Titans yet and the one that actually makes the best sense, he also sources a quote from Saleh. Pick Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame. I mean, wow. No brainer. I was actually hoping to land Breece Hall in Free Agency, cuz let's face it we don't have the guy on the roster now. Cool, Pollard had 1k. Thats like what 50 something yards a game now? WOW. His line sucked, cool, so Did Derrick Henry's and he went for 2k, 1500, etc. Hit a good WR in a Trade or Free Agency and that RB pick makes even more sense. Offensive Line Free agency can also instantly fix out line. Bring is the kid from Baltimore and bring in Teller. Bam, Fixed. It is shaping up to be an optimistic season Jim! Dare I say it?...... #TitanUp
Jim: Optimistic? Is this really you, Eli? Did someone steal your computer?
Have a great weekend everyone!
