Latest news with #Borgonzi
USA Today
20 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee Titans have two of NFL's worst contracts entering 2025
Tennessee Titans have two of NFL's worst contracts entering 2025 The Tennessee Titans had an aggressive offseason knowing they needed to build around whichever player they selected with the No. 1 overall pick. That player wound up being quarterback Cam Ward out of Miami, a move that has given some new hope to a franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs in three consecutive seasons. However, the offseason also included some questionable moves. With Mike Borgonzi taking over as the general manager for the first time in his career. When looking at the worst contracts across the NFL, the Titans were featured twice on the list from Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report. Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, with his four-year, $76.4 million deal, came in at No. 9 on the list. It's easy to understand the rationale behind the Tennessee Titans' 2024 trade to acquire cornerback L'Jairus Sneed. Good cornerbacks are hard to find, and Sneed had excelled in Steve Spagnuolo's defense with the Kansas City Chiefs. Still, it was odd to see Tennessee immediately give a 27-year-old corner who had never been to a Pro Bowl a deal worth $19.1 million annually—which has him as the league's 11th-highest-paid cornerback a year later. Borgonzi inherited that contract, so it's difficult to hold that deal against him. However, coming in at No. 3 on the list was arguably the biggest move Borgonzi made during free agency: signing Dan Moore Jr. to a four-year, $82 million deal. The Titans entered free agency knowing that they were likely to use the No. 1 overall pick on Miami quarterback Cam Ward. Therefore, aggressively addressing the offensive line was logical. However, there isn't a world in which Moore should be the league's 10th-highest-paid tackle in terms of annual salary, which he currently is. Fortunately for the Titans, they have a quarterback on a rookie contract so they can afford to overpay right now for some lesser-tiered players. With that said, there's a good chance these deals will become even more of a talking point in the future.
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New York Giants took 'one more swing' at No. 1 overall pick on draft night
New York Giants took 'one more swing' at No. 1 overall pick on draft night New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen is always working, trying to find ways to make his team better. Two weeks ago, on the first night of the 2025 NFL draft, Schoen was holding the third overall pick in the first round but was antsy. Anything could happen. The fate of his night -- and future -- hinged on what the two teams drafting in front of him did. The Tennessee Titans had the first pick, followed by the Cleveland Browns. The consensus was that Tennessee would take Miami quarterback Cam Ward first overall and were not budging. In a recent video released by the Giants, as part of their "Giants Life" series, Schoen is seen lobbing a call into Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi with seven minutes remaining on the clock during the first selection. "Were you waiting for this?" Schoen said to Borgonzi on the phone. "I had to it. I had to it." Borgonzi told Schoen he would not be trading the pick. "Well, good luck to you, man," Schoen replied with a smile. "I thought I'd give one more swing." Schoen was exhausting all avenues once again to move up in the draft. Which player he was angling for is still unknown. Was it Ward? Or Colorado's Travis Hunter, who went second to Jacksonville after a trade with Cleveland? This is the second straight year Schoen attempted to trade up in the first round. Last year, he had the sixth overall pick and tried to get into the top three to select a quarterback but found no takers. Instead, he landed LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers at No. 6. That worked out well. This year, Schoen landed Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. That could be another great consolation prize. Schoen did make his Day 1 trade, however, when he moved back into the first round to take Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
CBS Sports awards Titans an A+ on their 2025 NFL draft
CBS Sports awards Titans an A+ on their 2025 NFL draft Mike Borgonzi and the Tennessee Titans have repeatedly been praised for how they handled the 2025 NFL draft. They started with eight picks and ended the draft with nine new players added to the roster after trading back in the second round to add a third-round pick. But it's not just how the picks were managed, it's who they actually selected to join the Titans. Cam Ward was the obvious choice at number one, but after that, Borgonzi did a nice job of bringing in players who fit the needs of the team. CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson recently graded all 32 NFL teams on how they drafted. The Titans earned an A+. Favorite pick: Cam Ward is an obvious choice, but I'm going with Femi Oladejo. I talked to him at the Senior Bowl and his personality matches his tape. He loves football and is going to be a great locker-room guy. He has confidence for days, even though he just moved to edge rusher in 2024. Prior to that he played off-ball linebacker at both UCLA and Cal. For an idea of what you'll see in Tennessee, watch Oladejo against the Penn State right tackle, who had one of the longest days of his football life during that matchup. Best value: I had Elic Ayomanor as a Day 2 pick, so to get him early on Day 3 provides some value, but I love the idea of getting Ward a reliable, big-bodied, sure-handed possession receiver alongside fourth-rounder Chimere Dike, a big slot with 4.3 speed who can stretch the field. Most surprising pick: It's not a shock that the Titans grabbed Gunnar Helm; just that he was available on Day 3, and was the seventh tight end taken in this draft. He was my TE3, and I wouldn't have been shocked if he heard his name called in Round 2. What he lacks in flash he makes up for in consistency. The Titans not only grabbed their next franchise quarterback, but they brought in some weapons for him to use on offense and added some depth on the defensive side of the ball. Borgonzi, along with Chad Brinker and Brian Callahan, has been active since he was hired by the Titans, bringing in some needed assets during free agency as well as focusing on the draft. As of right now, it looks like he's made some good decisions, but we won't really know how it all translates until the players hit the field this summer.
Chicago Tribune
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
GM says Tennessee Titans will keep — and use — the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans know who they want to select with the first overall pick in Thursday night's opening round of the NFL draft, so stop asking them if that spot is available via trade. New general manager Mike Borgonzi declined to say Tuesday exactly who the Titans will be taking with that draft pick. 'I guess you'll find out Thursday night who we pick,' Borgonzi said. The presumption has been the Titans will take quarterback Cam Ward out of Miami to fill one of many needs they have after three straight losing seasons. The Titans have fired two general managers and one head coach in this stretch. Borgonzi was hired after the Titans fired Ran Carthon in January. Borgonzi said they did have inquiries into the No. 1 pick with the Titans preparing for his first draft with the franchise. They listened and decided they're going to use the top pick themselves. 'I don't want to go into specifics of what the offer was, what the teams were, but there were offers,' Borgonzi said. Asked about the Miami quarterback, Borgonzi said the Titans, including coach Brian Callahan, met Ward several times along with the quarterback's family. 'Just the competitive edge that he has, you can feel that talking with the kid. He's very intelligent,' Borgonzi said. 'We've had him on the board several times with Brian.' The Titans have Will Levis, the 33rd pick overall in the 2023 draft by the previous general manager, and two journeymen quarterbacks signed this offseason on the roster. Tennessee asked Levis to go to California this offseason and work on his lower body and footwork with Jordan Palmer. Asked about Levis' status with the team, Borgonzi noted Levis is a quarterback in their room who's still developing. 'He's a young quarterback, he's had some good moments and like any other young quarterback, they're continuing to develop,' Borgonzi said. Ward finished fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy after his lone season at Miami where he completed 67.2% of his passes for 4,313 yards with a FBS-best and program-record 39 touchdown passes. He also had only seven interceptions. Callahan also has experience developing a No. 1 overall draft pick at quarterback in Joe Burrow at Cincinnati. That's one of the reasons Tennessee signed Brandon Allen to the roster. The coach said he learned a lot of lessons on bringing in players that can help the Titans get a rookie quarterback up to speed quickly. He noted free agency additions, which include left tackle Dan Moore and right guard Kevin Zeitler, to help a rookie quarterback. The Titans coach also credited Borgonzi and the team's evaluation process with helping set their draft board at every position. They brought in 30 players for visits, including Ward who came in before the start of NFL free agency in March. 'There was no particular point anywhere for any of these players that is an 'a-ha' moment,' Callahan said. The bigger question will be the Titans' second-round pick at No. 35. They don't have a third-round pick at this point, so trading down might give them a chance to add a much-needed selection to the eight they take into this draft. Borgonzi said they've had lots of discussions about their options. 'If these players are on the board, if there's a few players that are there, do we not move and take that player? Or are there a few players that we can move back and maybe pick up a pick? So those conversations have been ongoing here the last week or so,' Borgonzi said.
Fox Sports
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
General manager says the Titans keeping and using the No. 1 overall pick to start the NFL draft
Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans know who they want to select with the first overall pick in Thursday night's opening round of the NFL draft, so stop asking them if that spot is available via trade. New general manager Mike Borgonzi declined to say Tuesday exactly who the Titans will be taking with that draft pick. 'I guess you'll find out Thursday night who we pick,' Borgonzi said. The presumption has been the Titans will take quarterback Cam Ward out of Miami to fill one of many needs they have after three straight losing seasons. The Titans have fired two general managers and one head coach in this stretch. Borgonzi was hired after the Titans fired Ran Carthon in January. Borgonzi said they did have inquiries into the No. 1 pick with the Titans preparing for his first draft with the franchise. They listened and decided they're going to use the top pick themselves. 'I don't want to go into specifics of what the offer was, what the teams were, but there were offers,' Borgonzi said. Asked about the Miami quarterback, Borgonzi said the Titans, including coach Brian Callahan, met Ward several times along with the quarterback's family. 'Just the competitive edge that he has, you can feel that talking with the kid. He's very intelligent,' Borgonzi said. 'We've had him on the board several times with Brian." The Titans have Will Levis, the 33rd pick overall in the 2023 draft by the previous general manager, and two journeymen quarterbacks signed this offseason on the roster. Tennessee asked Levis to go to California this offseason and work on his lower body and footwork with Jordan Palmer. Asked about Levis' status with the team, Borgonzi noted Levis is a quarterback in their room who's still developing. 'He's a young quarterback, he's had some good moments and like any other young quarterback, they're continuing to develop,' Borgonzi said. Ward finished fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy after his lone season at Miami where he completed 67.2% of his passes for 4,313 yards with a FBS-best and program-record 39 touchdown passes. He also had only seven interceptions. Callahan also has experience developing a No. 1 overall draft pick at quarterback in Joe Burrow at Cincinnati. That's one of the reasons Tennessee signed Brandon Allen to the roster. The coach said he learned a lot of lessons on bringing in players that can help the Titans get a rookie quarterback up to speed quickly. He noted free agency additions, which include left tackle Dan Moore and right guard Kevin Zeitler, to help a rookie quarterback. The Titans coach also credited Borgonzi and the team's evaluation process with helping set their draft board at every position. They brought in 30 players for visits, including Ward who came in before the start of NFL free agency in March. 'There was no particular point anywhere for any of these players that is an 'a-ha' moment,' Callahan said. The bigger question will be the Titans' second-round pick at No. 35. They don't have a third-round pick at this point, so trading down might give them a chance to add a much-needed selection to the eight they take into this draft. Borgonzi said they've had lots of discussions about their options. 'If these players are on the board, if there's a few players that are there, do we not move and take that player? Or are there a few players that we can move back and maybe pick up a pick? So those conversations have been ongoing here the last week or so,' Borgonzi said. ___ AP NFL: recommended
