The Tennessee Titans’ difficult season has brought sweeping changes to their defense. The team traded defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons to the Chicago Bears and safety Amani Hooker to the Buffalo Bills, leaving third-year linebacker Cedric Gray as the longest-tenured active member of the unit.
Gray reacted with a laugh when a reporter pointed out the distinction. “That sounds crazy,” he said. Linebackers Jaylen Harrell and James Williams have also been with Tennessee for three seasons, but both are currently on injured reserve.
The Titans began the season hoping to make significant progress under new head coach Robert Saleh. Instead, they are 1-7 and looking toward the future. Gray said he is ready to take on a larger leadership role as the team works through the rest of the season. “I am just looking forward to stepping up and being a leader on this defense,” he said.
## Titans Stockpile Draft Picks
Tennessee’s roster overhaul accelerated with the Simmons trade. The Titans received two first-round picks and a fourth-round selection from Chicago in exchange for the four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and a fifth-round pick. They later traded Hooker to Buffalo for a second-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The deals give Tennessee four first-round selections across the 2027 and 2028 drafts, three second-round picks and nine selections in the top 100 over the next two years. General manager Mike Borgonzi said the team’s 1-7 record was not what he expected at the start of the season, but described the trades as a way to build for the future.
“We felt like it was the best decision, really, at the time to accumulate draft capital to accelerate the process here to really build this thing here,” Borgonzi said.
The remaining nine games will give the organization an extended opportunity to assess its younger players and determine who fits into its long-term plans. That evaluation includes first-overall pick Cam Ward, who is working to establish himself as the franchise quarterback.
With its record and recent trades, Tennessee is increasingly focused on reshaping the roster. Gray’s new place among the defense’s longest-serving players reflects just how quickly the team’s personnel and priorities have changed.
