Titans general manager Ran Carthon continues to search for creative ways to improve his roster
The Tennessee Titans are reportedly showing interest in a pair of UFL players. Firstly, AtoZ Sports reported that general manager Ran Carthon has kicked the tires on veteran defensive end Breeland Speaks. Speaks led the league in sacks with 9.5 quarterback takedowns this season en route to winning Defensive Player of the Year.
Speaks’ name is familiar. The former Ole Miss standout was a second-round selection of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018. He bounced around the league before joining the USFL’s Michigan Panthers in 2022. He led that spring league in sacks, and repeated those efforts in the UFL following the USFL-XFL merger.
The Titans could still be in the market for a defensive end/outside linebacker after losing Denico Autry to the Houston Texans in unrestricted free agency. Speaks has obviously proven he’s too good for the UFL/XFL levels. He deserves an opportunity to salvage his NFL career.
Elsewhere, the Titans are also reportedly interested in UFL wide receiver/special teams returner Juwan “Sonic” Manigo, per AtoZ Sports.
Manigo played for the Arlington Renegades this past season. The Titans are deep at receiver with Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd, Treylon Burks, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but Manigo would likely get into the mix at returner. He finished second in the league in kick return yards (962), and fifth in punt return yards (123) this past season.
A slew of Titans players practiced at both the kickoff and punt returner positions through organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp. Rookie sixth-round receiver Jha’Quan Jackson is one of the contestants. Based on his background, Manigo would be a legitimate contender should he join the Titans’ 90-man roster ahead of training camp.
