Cordell Volson entered training camp holding the edge over Jackson Slater for the Titans’ starting right guard job. Rookie Fernando Carmona was lower in the pecking order a month ago, but he is now firmly in the mix to start, according to Teresa M. Walker of the Associated Press.
“He put his foot in the door, and he’s doing everything he can to throw his shoulder through,” head coach Robert Saleh said.
Carmona, a fifth-round pick, divided four years as a college starter between San Jose State and Arkansas. The 6-foot-5, 325-pounder spent the first three of those seasons at left tackle, but he shifted inside to left guard in 2025. The switch worked out for Carmona, who took home second-team All-SEC honors.
In his pre-draft rankings, Dane Brugler of The Athletic had Carmona as the 206th-best prospect in this year’s draft class, writing that he “projects as a swing backup who can provide depth across the offensive line.” The Titans, who selected Carmona 142nd overall, are obviously higher on him. He got off to an auspicious start while lining up with the first team in the Titans’ preseason opener against the 49ers on Aug. 13. After Carmona did not allow a single pressure, he earned a place on Pro Football Focus’ Rookie Team of the Week.
Carmona is expected to draw another start against the Seahawks on Sunday, Walker reports. A second straight quality showing could further tip the scales in his favor as the Titans seek a replacement for Kevin Zeitler. The 36-year-old started in all 16 appearances last season and finished as PFF’s 11th-best guard out of 79 qualifiers, but he has gone unsigned since free agency opened in March. Although the Titans were reportedly pushing to re-sign Zeitler in late February, it has been radio silence since then.
After nothing came together with Zeitler, the Titans added Volson on a one-year, $3.22MM deal with $2MM in guaranteed money. Volson was a full-time starting guard with the Bengals from 2022-24, but he missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Over a month after signing Volson, with the goal of drafting guard Keylan Rutledge, the Titans tried to jump the AFC South rival Texans late in the first round. While the Titans were unsuccessful on that front, they may have found a starter in Carmona four rounds later.
Elsewhere in Tennessee’s offense, second-year man Elic Ayomanor has established himself as the team’s clear-cut No. 4 receiver, per veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky. As a fourth-round rookie last year, Ayomanor played 16 games and tied for a team-high with four receiving touchdowns. He finished second among Titans in receiving yards (560) and fifth in catches (41).
Ayomanor led Titans receivers with a 74.91% offensive snap share in 2025, but they have since made aggressive moves to upgrade their WR corps. In addition to signing former Giant Wan’Dale Robinson to a four-year, $70MM pact, they drafted Carnell Tate fourth overall. Those two and the returning Calvin Ridley, who missed 10 games last year, comprise the Titans’ top three wideouts.
Chimere Dike, another member of the Titans’ three-fourth-rounder class last year, caught 48 passes and tied Ayomanor in TDs. Despite coming off the board 33 picks before Ayomanor, Dike now sits fifth on the Titans’ depth chart.