The Tennessee Titans finished with just three wins during the 2024 NFL season. This gave them the worst record in the league and the right to select quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
However, the decisions that the Titans made last offseason under general manager Ron Carthon will still affect the team this year. One of the biggest additions that he made was trading for Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed.
While Sneed is highly regarded in NFL circles, he played in just five games for the Titans last year after suffering an injury. That same ailment has kept him out of the team's offseason program this spring as well.
Tennessee Titans cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38).
Tennessee Titans cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38).
Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Head coach Brian Callahan is considered to be on the hot seat heading into this season after such a poor campaign in 2024. This has caused him to feel like there is a bit more urgency, so he put Sneed on notice with one statement when speaking to the media on Tuesday.
"There's a track record of success as well from what he has been as a player. But he's also gotta prove that here too," Callahan said. "He hasn't done that yet for us. ... We're waiting for him to show us the player that he's been. He hasn't reached that level of play for us, so we're waiting for that opportunity to occur."
Sneed had 10 career interceptions in his first four seasons with the Chiefs as well as 40 passes defended. However, in five games last season, he failed to record either an interception or a pass defended.
When the Titans sent a fourth-round pick in exchange for his services last offseason, they also gave him a four-year, $76.4 million deal. $44 million of this was guaranteed at signing, so it is paramount that he returns to the lineup this season.
Without Sneed, the team will have to rely on Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and Darrell Baker Jr. to hold it down for the Titans' secondary. While Callahan's words may have been a bit harsh for the 28-year-old, Tennessee needs him to perform if they want to stay afloat in the AFC South.