The Titans are entering a new era with defensive minded head coach Robert Saleh, and the team has also onboarded former head coach of two separate teams in Gus Bradley as the defensive coordinator of the franchise. The defense with those two in charge will be coached at a very high level. However, the personnel that those two have to work with on the defensive side of things will also loom quite large as well. I have gone into detail assessing the front seven personnel of the Titans heading into 2026 and here I will go into detail assessing the secondary personnel of the team as the season approaches.
Set to start at the first primary cornerback position is 2022 3rd rounder Cor’Dale Flott who has had his ups and downs in the NFL thus far. Flott played very well as a rookie, grading in the above average range among players at his position in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Flott then however struggled the next two seasons, grading below average in that department. During the 2025 season he recaptured strong form grading in the above average range. However, Flott has never shown an electric ceiling and is inconsistent on top of it. Flott is likely better suited in a reserve role where he might transition if he is not on his A game under Robert Saleh.
At strong safety veteran Amani Hooker is set to start for the team and is a player with an elite ceiling but one that is very inconsistent. Hooker in seven seasons in the NFL has graded in the above average range among players at his position in terms of an overall defense grade four times, while grading below average the remaining time. Take out his rookie season where he was learning on the job and he is four out of six in terms of grading above average in that department. Hooker has shown an elite ceiling as well as Pro Football Focus graded him as the fifth best overall safety in the NFL during the 2021 season.
At free safety 2025 3rd rounder Kevin Winston Jr is set to start coming off a solid rookie season. Winston Jr graded slightly below average in terms of an overall defense grade among players at his position as a rookie in limited snaps, which is solid. Winston Jr will need to improve heading into year 2 in order for the Titans to have a solid starter at free safety.
2022 2nd rounder Alontae Taylor is set to start at the other primary cornerback spot for the Titans and has had his struggles in the NFL. Taylor played at a poor level in each of his first three seasons in the league but then turned it around in 2025. Taylor graded in the slightly above average range in terms of an overall defense grade among players at his position during the 2025 season. Given his high draft selection and solid play for the first time in 2026, he will be in line to build off of it going forward.
Set to start at the nickel cornerback spot is 2025 6th rounder Marcus Harris who is coming off a very strong rookie year that he is now in line to build off of. Harris graded in nearly the top 25% of all players at his position despite being a rookie, although he played only 342 snaps. Harris is perhaps the strongest point of an otherwise very questionable Titans’ back-end defense.
From a reserve standpoint in the secondary the team has some notable names who could provide the team with some high-end backup play and/or could transition to starting roles given some of the needs that the Titans currently have in their secondary. Safety Tony Adams has consistently played at an above average level in the NFL, although having a down year in 2025 and never showing an elite ceiling. 2022 4th round cornerback Joshua Williams has consistently looked very strong in limited NFL snaps. While 2025 7th round cornerback Micah Robinson looked borderline elite in very limited rookie snaps. The Titans have some talent but many question marks in their secondary and a breakdown of the unit heading into 2026 can be found below
2026 Projected Titans’ Starting Secondary
LCB – Cor’Dale Flott – C+ to B-, half the time above average, half the time below average
SS – Amani Hooker – B to B-, elite ceiling, inconsistent
FS – Kevin Winston Jr – 2025 3rd rounder, C as rookie
RCB – Alontae Taylor – C to C+, 2022 2nd rounder, above average for first time in 2025
NB – Marcus Harris – 2025 6th rounder, B to B+ as rookie
2026 Notable Titans’ Secondary Reserves
CB – Joshua Williams – B to B+
S – Tony Adams – C+ to B-
CB – Micah Robinson – 2025 7th rounder, B+ in very limited rookie snaps
