How the Titans could exploit this NFL rule to overhaul roster: “You have first crack”

Back in 2009, the Broncos cut a young punter named Brett Kern. He didn’t last a day on the waiver wire. The Titans, holding a high priority slot thanks to their dismal start, swooped in. Kern went on to play more than a decade in Nashville, earning three Pro Bowls and cementing himself as one of the best special-teams pickups in franchise history.

That story explains why this time of year matters for Tennessee again. Sitting atop the NFL’s waiver order, the Titans have the rare ability to claim any player with fewer than four accrued seasons before anyone else. And in the days ahead, with rosters shrinking from 90 to 53, hundreds of players will hit the wire.

Coach Brian Callahan spelled it out on Saturday:

“The benefit of being No. 1 in the waiver claim is that you have first crack at anybody you think upgrades your roster. I know Mike [Borgonzi] and his crew have been hard at work, they’ve watched every player in the preseason, watched every preseason game of every team, and they have a really good feel for what’s out there.

“You never know what is going to shake free, or not shake free, so you do your due diligence and you are ready for it when it comes. There is going to be opportunities to claim some players that will help us, and that will be a part of the ongoing process through Tuesday to make sure we try to find the best 53.”

This is not just coach speak. For three weeks into the regular season, Tennessee controls the top of the waiver ladder. That gives them a brief but potentially powerful tool to reshape depth quickly and cheaply.

• Waiving, cutting and releasing: here’s the difference

What does history tell us about waiver claims?

A quick dive into the hindsight-is-a-powerful-tool history books shows that there have been more examples than just the aforementioned Kern:

• In 1997, La’Roi Glover was waived by the Oakland Raiders and immediately claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints. He didn’t just stick, he broke out. He recorded 6.5 sacks in 1997, became a Pro Bowl mainstay, and in 2000 led the NFL with 17 sacks, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Year. As former Saints GM Bill Kuharich put it, Glover “proved everybody wrong” and remains one of the greatest waiver claims in franchise history.

• In 2018, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed defensive end Carl Nassib off waivers from the Cleveland Browns. That season, Nassib set career highs with 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, significantly boosting the Bucs’ pass rush and quickly becoming a key rotational piece.

• More recently, teams like the 2024 Patriots used early waiver positioning to grab linebacker Steele Chambers and receiver Matt Landers to shore up depth.

You see, there can be valuable additions that patch roster holes overnight.

How can Titans 2025 use the waiver?

The Titans’ roster still looks thin at edge rusher, cornerback, and linebacker. By claiming even three or four players from the churn, they could upgrade multiple positions at once. Of course, every addition means a subtraction, so the back end of the roster in Tennessee is anything but safe.

The Titans may have finished last in 2024, but for the next few weeks they’ll be first in line. But how much of a difference that makes is several months away from knowing...

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