2024 Tennessee Titans Preview
2023 Record: 6-11 4th AFC South
Points Scored: 305 27th of 32
Points Allowed: 367 16th of 32
Key Additions: QB Mason Rudolph, RB Tony Pollard, WR Calvin Ridley, WR Tyler Boyd, TE Nick Vannett, CB Chidobe Awuize,, C Lloyd Cushenberry III, LB Kenneth Murray Jr, DL Joseph Sebastian-Day, DB L’Jarius Sneed, K Nick Folk
Losses: QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Derrick Henry, WR, Chris Moore, DE Denico Autry, OLB Azeez Al-Shaair
Draft Summary (5th) J.C Latham, OT Alabama, (38th) T’Vondre Sweat DT, Texas, (106th) Cedric Gray LB North Carolina, (146th) Jarvis Brownlee CB, Louisville, (182nd) Jha’Quan Jackson WR, Tulane (242nd) James Williams S Miami (252nd) Jaylen Harrell, EDGE Michigan
Summary: The Tennessee Titans entered 2023 on a bit of a high note, making a playoff birth in 2022 and riding the wave of elite veterans Derrick Henry and DeAndre Hopkins. The Titans also had one of the top quarterback prospects Will Levis waiting in the wings. Levis had a phenomenal start versus Atlanta, tossing 4 touchdown passes on the day. He went on to throw 4 TOTAL scores in the next eight weeks as the Titans faded from playoff contention. The Titans still view themselves as contenders in the AFC and spent a lot of money this year to keep pace in the ultra-competitive conference.
Passing: Will Levis is heading into the season as the Titans starter. He showed flashes of great play in 2023/24 but also some rookie struggles. As if first-ballot Hall of Famer DeAndre Hopkins wasn't enough, the Titans signed solid veteran receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. If Levis cannot succeed with this group, it asks the question, “Will he ever succeed?” Mason Rudolph looked great late last season in Pittsburgh and could be a very sneaky option late in Superflex or Best Ball leagues.
Rushing: The Titans parted ways with franchise back Derrick Henry, and opened their wallet for Tony Pollard this season, signing the former Cowboy to a 3-year 20 million 20-million-dollar deal. He’s expected to share the workload with Tyjae Spears, last year's 5th-round pick. Pollard struggled in Dallas last year and on the surface appears to be more of a passing down back given his stature. Do the Titans give Spears more work on 1st and 2nd down and move Pollard to the passing role? Tennessee has used two top-ten draft picks on the offensive line in the last two years ( Peter Skorosnki and J.C Latham ) to open up the run game and protect their investment at quarterback. The Titans also hired elite O-Line mastermind Bill Callahan to work his magic on the run game. Un-drafted free agent Dillon Johnson is the ultimate dynasty stash. Johnson was a part of the Washington Huskies offense that made it to the National Championship Game, rushing for 1,195 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2023.
Receiving: De’Andre Hopkins showed no signs of slowing down in his age 31 season as he finished WR22 on the year, rebounding after two below-average seasons the years before. Calvin Ridley’s stats almost mirrored Hopkins in 2023 (Hopkins 75/1057/7 vs Ridley 76/1016/8) as Ridley played his first full season since 2018, and only his second full season in his career. Additionally, the Titans signed former Bengals WR Tyler Boyd to round out the receiving corps. The eight-year vet will bring a steady presence in the slot. Treylon Burks and Kyle Phillips are now complete afterthoughts, who hold minimal fantasy value and little NFL value. Chiogziem Okonwkwo is a fantastic buy-low candidate. The third-year tight end had a tremendous 2022 season but faded in 2023 as the whole Titans offense sputtered.
Defense: The Titans' Defense has been a staple under Mike Vrabel for years and looks to continue under new head coach Brian Callahan and first-year Defensive Coordinator Dennard Wilson. Wilson has been a coordinator previously with the Rams, Eagles and Ravens, and will look to bring that same physicality to this unit that features a tremendous Defensive Lineman Jonathan Simmons and Harold Landry. They did however lose Denico Autry and Azeez Al-Shaair to the division rival Texans. This unit looks to be in transition as they look to find their identity. Six games per year against high-powered offenses in Houston, Indianapolis and Jacksonville is a tall task.
Fantasy Impact: This may be the most unpredictable offense in all of football; the talent is there, but is Father Time dragging these players down? Will Levis has ample weapons but any finish in the top 15 at quarterback will be a tremendous achievement. The Spears/Pollard timeshare will make their draft day values impossible to gauge. Hopkins and Ridley will be weekly starters, but very boom or bust as Levis continues to grow. An offense that doesn't have to score a lot of points is a fantasy football quagmire. Even with appealing names, the Titans fantasy football outlook looks to be bleak this season.
Prediction 7-10. The Titans are building the right way, with two elite offensive line pieces in back-to-back years ( Skorosnki, Latham ) on top of a solid prospect at quarterback in Levis. Ideally, the veteran wide receiver room can mentor Levis to improve his game, minimize mistakes, and take it to the next level. The defense can bend but not break, to squeak out some close games. But ultimately this is a transition year for the Titans.
Schedule:
1 Sun September 8 1:00PM ET @ Chicago Bears
2 Sun September 15 1:00PM ET New York Jets
3 Sun September 22 1:00PM ET Green Bay Packers
4 Mon September 30 7:30PM ET @ Miami Dolphins
5 Bye Week
6 Sun October 13 1:00PM ET Indianapolis Colts
7 Sun October 20 1:00PM ET @ Buffalo Bills
8 Sun October 27 1:00PM ET @ Detroit Lions
9 Sun November 3 1:00PM ET New England Patriots
10 Sun November 10 4:05PM ET @ Los Angeles Chargers
11 Sun November 17 1:00PM ET Minnesota Vikings
12 Sun November 24 1:00PM ET @ Houston Texans
13 Sun December 1 1:00PM ET @ Washington Commanders
14 Sun December 8 1:00PM ET Jacksonville Jaguars
15 Sun December 15 1:00PM ET Cincinnati Bengals
16 Sun December 22 1:00PM ET @ Indianapolis Colts
17 Sun December 29 1:00PM ET @ Jacksonville Jaguars
18 Sun January 5 1:00PM ET Houston Texans
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