Titans' Safety Problems Go Beyond Losing Amani Hooker

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Kevin Winston Jr. and Tony Adams have similar strengths and troubling coverage weaknesses. Drew Beatty examines what their pairing means for Robert Saleh's defense.

By DREW BEATTY, film analyst

As yet another NFL trade deadline came and went, the 2026 NFL season approached its halfway point. The Tennessee Titans made two significant, franchise-altering trades during the first half of the season.

Less than two weeks after trading superstar defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for a historic return of two first-round picks (2027 and 2028) and a 2027 fourth-round pick, Tennessee’s front office dealt safety Amani Hooker and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick at the buzzer of the trade deadline.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scores a touchdown past Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Winston Jr. (23) during the second half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Kevin Winston tried to stop Deshaun Winston from scoring / ASSOCIATED PRESS

While the Titans have now lost two defensive staples and two of their last ties to the golden days of a bygone, competitive era, general manager Mike Borgonzi has armed his NFL draft war chest with seven top-64 draft picks over the next two seasons.

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Paul Kuharsky has covered the Tennessee Titans since 1996, first for The Tennessean, then ESPN.com and now independently at PaulKuharsky.com. He served on the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee for 11 years and is the longest-tenured Titans beat reporter in the franchise's history.