Good news, Titans fans. All players will report for training camp this week, meaning we are that much closer to seeing real football.
The team has certainly added talent on both sides of the ball, but perhaps no player is more important than young quarterback Will Levis. Levis showed flashes of greatness as a rookie, but the Titans are counting on the young passer to take another step forward in 2024 with a better supporting cast.
The team added veteran receivers Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley this offseason. Running back Tony Pollard was added to offset the loss of Derrick Henry, and the offensive line was beefed up by adding rookie JC Latham and free agent Lloyd Cushenberry. It certainly seems like Levis will have every opportunity to prove himself in 2024.
With that being said, let’s identify three bold stat predictions for the Titans in 2024.
Will Levis will throw for 4,000+ yards
The Tennessee Titans have never had a passer throw for 4,000 yards in a single season. Ryan Tannehill currently holds the team’s single-season record with 3,819 yards in 2020.
Why will Will Levis be the first QB to do so? Well, his supporting cast is arguably the best in franchise history. DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd give the young QB a trio of experienced pass catchers to target. Additionally, Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow eclipsed 4,000 yards twice under Brian Callahan’s tutelage.
Add in that the Titans no longer have Derrick Henry to give the ball to 25 times a game, and all the ingredients are there for Levis to have a huge season.
Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins will both eclipse 1,000 receiving yards
In 2023, both Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards. In 2024, look for the duo to repeat that stat, this time as teammates.
As mentioned above, all expectations should be that Levis is going to have a huge year. If Levis eclipses 4,000 yards, then that also means Ridley and Hopkins will have huge years. Both veterans have shown the ability to rack up yards, and there’s no reason to think there won’t be enough targets to go around.
Tyler Boyd hasn’t surpassed 1,000 yards since 2019, and neither Nick Westbrook-Ikhine nor Treylon Burks have shown an ability to produce like that. This means Levis could end up relying on his two star receivers, and both could end up with Pro Bowl-caliber seasons because of that.
Cedric Gray will collect 100+ tackles
Cedric Gray was a tackling machine in college. From 2021-2023, the linebacker collected at least 100 tackles in each season for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Coming to the Titans as a fourth-round pick, many would probably expect Gray to be a backup and/or a special teamer as a rookie. However, the former Tar Heel has his eyes on the green dot and could end up starting from Week One. Gray is slightly undersized and isn’t the best in pass coverage, but he attacks the ball and doesn’t shy away from contact.
The Titans brought in Kenneth Murray in free agency, but the other inside linebacker spot is up for grabs. Last season, we saw Azeez Al-Shaair blow past 100 tackles for the Titans. The rookie Gray could easily do the same in his first season in Nashville.