Even though Brian Callahan hasn’t led the Tennessee Titans to a single touchdown. Yet, he has already stated that this roster will be built his way. And that vision? There will be casualties. After already cutting six players earlier in the week, the Titans added two more names to the chopping block. Only a few days before the NFL Draft, the total number of players cut from the roster rises to eight. It’s a drastic change that shows how bold Callahan and rookie general manager Mike Borgonzi are prepared to be.

The latest roster moves involved waiving defensive back and special teams ace Justin Hardee and edge rusher Khalid Duke, both of whom were designated with non-football injuries. Hardee, a veteran journeyman with previous stints on the Texans, Saints, Jets, Browns, and Panthers, played in nine games for the Titans last season, exclusively on special teams. Duke, a younger player, signed with Tennessee as an undrafted rookie out of Kansas State in 2023 and saw limited action with just two appearances. Both now fall into the “can’t contribute now, can’t project later” bucket—and in Brian Callahan’s system, there’s no room for placeholders.

Earlier this week, Brian Callahan oversaw the release of six more players: linebacker Curtis Bolton, wide receiver Stanley Morgan, defensive tackles McTelvin Agim and Isaiah Iton, defensive back Gervarrius Owens, and guard Logan Bruss. Only Owens and Bruss logged playing time last season, appearing in two and three games respectively. This wasn’t about ego or emotion. It was about economics. Callahan knows that each roster spot is a seed—plant the wrong ones, and you’re stuck growing weeds. By clearing out eight low-impact players in a span of days, he’s making room for something better: value, versatility, and youth.

This is the kind of roster churn you expect during training camp, not in mid-April, days before the NFL Draft. But the timing makes sense for a franchise preparing to overhaul its depth chart. Tennessee heads into the draft with nine picks and a clear priority at quarterback, edge rusher, and cornerback. Opening roster space now, before rookies and undrafted free agents flood the market, avoids the logjam that typically forces clubs into awkward post-draft releases.

This isn’t unusual for new regimes. It’s a clean-out of the roster’s lower tier, where replacement-level veterans or injured depth options often sit. For Callahan and new general manager Mike Borgonzi, it’s also about setting a tone. The Titans aren’t hanging onto placeholders.

Brian Callahan zeros in on Cam Ward

All of this roster maneuvering sets the stage for what may be the most pivotal decision of the Titans’ offseason—and perhaps their next decade. According to NFL Rumors (@nflrums) on X: “🚨 NFL RUMORS: Cam Ward is reportedly a LOCK for the Tennessee #Titans for the number 1 overall pick.” It’s not an official statement, but the reporting aligns with what’s been building behind the scenes for months.

The Titans have spent significant time evaluating Cam Ward, the Miami quarterback who lit up college football in 2024 with 39 touchdown passes and 4,313 yards, both school records. He completed 67.2% of his throws, averaged 9.5 yards per attempt, and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Ward didn’t just produce—he dominated. And Tennessee noticed.

Brian Callahan, Borgonzi, and the Titans’ top brass were present for Ward’s pro day at Miami on March 24 and reportedly planned a follow-up visit before the draft. Ward left a lasting impression there, capping off his workout with a confident message aimed directly at the Titans’ decision-makers: “I’m solidifying it today… I made sure they heard me.” They heard him loud and clear.

The Titans also did their homework on Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter, even sending personnel to Colorado’s pro day. But no prospect has commanded Tennessee’s attention quite like Ward. While some speculation remains about a potential trade-down to acquire more picks, the Titans hold just two selections in the first 35 picks and none in the third round. If they don’t receive a substantial offer to move off the No. 1 spot, Ward appears destined for Nashville.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Tennessee is counting down the days to its new stadium opening in 2027, and the fanbase wants more than just hope—they want a star. As Callahan said back in March during the NFL owners’ meetings: “If you think they’re that good and they’re that type of player, those guys, to me, are priceless. There is no price that you can put on those type of players if you think that they are that caliber of quarterback.”

At this point, all signs point toward Cam Ward being that guy. And if that means eight players had to go to make room for what’s next, so be it.