Category: Titans roster

3 bold stat predictions for the Tennessee Titans in 2024

Three bold predictions for the Titans in 2024, including Will Levis going over 4,000 passing yards.

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.

Rich Storry/Getty Images

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.

Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

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.

Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

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.

Titans’ Amani Hooker: ‘I am able to do my job now’ with new CBs

Amani Hooker explained why the Titans’ new cornerbacks will allow him to “do my job now.”

The Tennessee Titans’ roster overwent an overhaul this offseason, and perhaps no group underwent more changes than the secondary.

In addition to a new coaching staff, the secondary also added two new starters. L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie were brought in to start at cornerback, replacing Kristian Fulton and Sean Murphy-Bunting.

One holdover in the secondary is safety Amani Hooker. The veteran defensive back is the second-longest tenured Titan alongside Jeffery Simmons. Only Harold Landry has been with the team longer than those two.

Despite his extended tenure in Nashville, Hooker has to start from scratch in 2024 after the change at head coach.

“It’s all about accountability, with me as well,” Hooker said, per Jim Wyatt. “This is all new for me – it’s a new style, a new defense, new scheme, so just like everyone else is learning, I am doing the same thing. But my job is to make sure everyone learns at a progressive level and we’re doing it together as a unit.”

“I’ll just say it’s a lot more aggressive,” Hooker said of the defense under Dennard Wilson. “There’s times when it can be aggressive and there’s times when not to, so our coaches are doing a good job teaching that.”

Hooker has lived through staff changes before, so having his presence in the locker room will help the young guys get acclimated. Having two talented corners in Sneed and Chido will be a huge help, also.

“We have two dogs – we have Chido and Sneed out there,” Hooker said. “I can’t wait to go full speed with them, with the pads on. I have been watching them make plays for the other team against us, so I am excited that they’re on our team now and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

It’s no secret that the Titans’ secondary struggled in 2023. For example, Fulton ended with a pitiful 46.4 PFF grade and allowed 37 receptions on 51 targets. Hooker perhaps threw shade at his former teammates, saying he will be able to “do my job now” because he can bank on the fact that Sneed and Awuzie will be in the right places.

“These guys have proven they can be in the right position to make the plays, and when I’m out there I am able to do my job now, and start searching for plays as they come to me. Knowing you have guys that are aggressive out there, it makes me as a safety have that same mentality that they have and bring it to our defense.”

Having quality corners will go a long way toward helping Hooker perform at the highest level. The DB is excited for the 2024 season, and Titans fans should be as well.

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Titans’ Will Levis talks QBs being weirdos and tweaking mechanics

Titans QB Will Levis explained why he’s tweaking his mechanics this offseason.

The Tennessee Titans began mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and while things are just getting started, quarterback Will Levis is already tweaking his mechanics.

The second-year signal-caller didn’t like the way the ball was coming out of his hand, so he decided to tweak a few things. When asked about why the tweaks were made, Levis had an interesting response.

“I mean, quarterbacks are weirdos,” Levis declared, according to Buck Reising of AtoZ Sports. “We’re always tweaking with something, you always feel like something might be off. You saw (Tom) Brady go through a couple of different footworks throughout one season.

“And, just the ball wasn’t coming out the way that I would’ve liked it to and just started looking at what could potentially be the cause of it. And just been messing around with things, specifically my base, that I feel like I’ve gotten to a good spot.”

Levis was then asked if the team approached him, or if it was his own idea to tweak his mechanics.

“It was both,” the QB explained. “Obviously, I know when I’m not throwing it my best, and just talking through with Bo (Hardegree) and Nick (Holz) and Brian (Callahan) about why that might be and just a couple of things that I can kind of hold in the back of my head and practice and pre-practice, and then hopefully have it transition into drills, and I feel like it has so far.”

Clearly, the quarterback is serious about taking a step forward in 2024. Levis threw for 1,808 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions in his rookie campaign, but dealt with a poor supporting cast and the team sputtered to a 6-11 record.

The Titans’ mandatory minicamp ends on Thursday and OTAs resume on June 10.

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What is the Titans’ biggest strength going into 2024 season?

Bleacher Report identifies the Titans’ biggest strength going into 2024, but did they choose the right one?

The Tennessee Titans have much to prove in 2024. The team is coming off a dismal 2023 season in which head coach Mike Vrabel was fired after going 6-11.

With a new head coach in town, the team did a fine job of adding talent to the roster. Wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd were added in free agency. Running back Tony Pollard was added to offset the loss of Derrick Henry. Corners L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie were also added to the secondary in free agency. Lloyd Cushenberry and Saahdiq Charles will help improve the offensive line.

Despite some high-profile additions, oddsmakers and many media members are not believers in the Titans, as evidenced by the team having one of the lowest projected win totals in the league (6.5).

Recently, Bleacher Report identified the biggest strength of each NFL team. For the Titans, the biggest strength was listed as the pass-catcher group. Ridley was listed as the most impactful addition while Treylon Burks was listed as a player to watch this summer.

Regarding the pass-catchers, the BR NFL Scouting Department said the following:

A year ago, the Titans had one of the worst receiver groups in the league. In the wake of the A.J. Brown trade, they didn’t have a No. 1 receiver or even a collection of secondary options that could cause problems for defenses.

Fast-forward to the present and they have put together an ensemble that should give Will Levis every chance to prove he can be the franchise quarterback.

Last season, DeAndre Hopkins ended with 75 catches for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. No other WR on the roster had even 30 catches or 450 yards. Luckily, that shouldn’t be the case going forward.

Here’s more from BR:

Calvin Ridley worked just fine as the Jaguars’ No. 1 receiver last year. However, his best fit is probably as a high-end second option. That’s exactly what he’ll be with the Titans after defecting from their division rival.

Chigoziem Okonkwo might have disappointed fantasy football managers, but he was the second-leading receiver in the Titans’ run-heavy offense last season.

New head coach Brian Callahan went to a familiar face to create a good receiving trio. The Titans signed Tyler Boyd to a one-year deal. He’ll give them a consistent veteran who can man the slot.

Whether the group can blossom will depend on the younger talent underneath the top three. This feels like a make-or-break season for Treylon Burks. Hopkins has publicly hyped Burks at OTAs already this offseason. His continued performance is a storyline to watch.

The BR NFL Scouting Department made the right call here. The wide receivers room is the deepest position group on the roster. What was arguably the biggest weakness in 2023 is now arguably the biggest strength.

If the pass-catcher group wasn’t the choice, it would have to be the secondary.

Sneed and Awuzie are welcome additions to a secondary that includes Roger McCreary, Amani Hooker, and Elijah Molden. However, not even that group of players has the ceiling that this group of pass-catchers has.

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Tre Avery named a Titans player who could get cut in 2024

In an article naming one player on every team who could get cut in 2024, CB Tre Avery was the choice for the Titans.

In a recent article naming one player on every team who could get cut in 2024, cornerback Tre Avery was the choice for the Tennessee Titans.

The article comes from David Kenyon of Bleacher Report, who had this to say about Avery possibly getting cut:

Over the last two seasons, Tre Avery has collected 62 tackles with five starts in 29 games. Tennessee needed to upgrade the unit, however, and added both L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie. Roger McCreary is the third starter, while releasing Caleb Farley saves no money and keeping Eric Garror and rookie Jarvis Brownlee Jr. is sensible. Avery should catch on somewhere if the Titans move on.

While Avery is certainly a possibility to miss the cut after all of the additions the Titans have made to the cornerbacks room, a list that includes L’Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie and draft pick Jarvis Brownlee Jr., he wouldn’t be my first choice at the position.

That goes to 2021 first-round pick Caleb Farley, who recently had his fifth-year option declined following three very disappointing seasons.

There’s no question Farley has been dealt a terrible hand, with injuries and the tragic loss of his father last summer. However, he also hasn’t been effective when on the field.

The Titans would have to absorb a dead-cap charge of $4.2 million if Farley is cut, but I don’t think that’s enough to stop them from letting him go in favor of someone else who deserves a roster spot more.

Sneed, Awuzie, Roger McCreary and Brownlee Jr. should make the cut, leaving two or three spots at cornerback, at most. If the Titans carry six, I’d be more comfortable saying Avery and Eric Garror will make the roster over Farley.

I truly hope I’m wrong and Farley gets his career on track in some form or fashion, but he just hasn’t shown enough to suggest that will happen.

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Titans’ T’Vondre Sweat weighs in on NBA players in NFL debate

Titans DT T’Vondre Sweat shared his thoughts on the age-old debate about if NBA players could play in the NFL and vice versa.

Tennessee Titans rookie defensive lineman  T’Vondre Sweat recently gave his input on a debate that’s been circulating online over the last week, and really, for several years now.

The debate was reignited when former NBA player Austin Rivers made the claim that NBA players could play in the NFL right now, but not the other way around. Several NFL players took exception to this, including former Green Bay Packer James Jones.

After the first day of rookie minicamp, Sweat was asked if he has any basketball talent.

“I’m a hooper, too, so if anybody wants to get on that court,” Sweat said, before revealing he can dunk.

Finally, Sweat was asked if he thought NBA players could play in the NFL or vice versa. Sweat didn’t take long to respond and was definitive in his answer.

“Basketball players can’t play in the NFL. Too soft,” the rookie declared.

Sweat was a dominant force at Huntsville High School in Texas for both the basketball and football teams. The 366-pound Sweat decided to stick with football, but his athleticism would shock you.

At the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, Sweat ran a 5.27 40-yard dash, which is incredible given his massive frame.

The rookie will be looked at to immediately contribute on the line for the Titans in 2024. Clearly, confidence won’t be an issue.

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Titans’ updated WR depth chart after Tyler Boyd signing

Bryce Lazenby breaks down the Titans’ current situation at wide receiver and makes a prediction for how things will ultimately shake out.

The Tennessee Titans made another addition to the wide receiver room on Tuesday, officially agreeing to terms with veteran Tyler Boyd.

This news comes after the Titans met with fellow receiver Zay Jones on Monday. Boyd originally visited with the Titans last week, so it looks like the team wanted to meet with Jones before making a decision.

Boyd comes to Nashville after eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Since 2017, Boyd has had at least 55 catches and 660 yards in each season. Boyd eclipsed the 1000-yard mark in both 2017 and 2018. The former Bengal is not a burner, but he’s a reliable route-runner with sure hands.

The Titans made their first notable addition to the WR room by signing Calvin Ridley shortly after the beginning of free agency. Boyd and Ridley join DeAndre Hopkins, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Treylon Burks, among others, in a revamped receiver room.

With these new additions, let’s take a look at the current Titans wide receiver depth chart.

Position Starter Backup Backup Backup
WR1 DeAndre Hopkins Treylon Burks Colton Dowell Tre’Shaun Harrison
WR2 Calvin Ridley Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Kearis Jackson Mason Kinsey
WR3 Tyler Boyd Kyle Philips Jha’Quan Jackson

This group is much improved over the 2023 iteration. In fact, this could be the most talented wide receiver group the Titans have ever fielded.

Hopkins and Ridley are a perfect complement to one another. Hopkins is one of the best contested-catch receivers in the league and Ridley is a burner who can be a weapon on deep balls. Boyd adds another distinct element as a possession receiver who is a savvy route-runner.

Behind that top three, the Titans have to be hoping for former first-round pick Treylon Burks to finally play up to his draft pedigree. The addition of Boyd could be seen as insurance in case Burks continues to struggle. I believe Burks will get one season with the new staff before any decisions are made about his future.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was brought back this offseason and should make the team as a reliable depth option. The team also rosters several speedy receivers who will battle for the return job in Mason Kinsey, Kearis Jackson, and 2024 draft pick, Jha’Quan Jackson.

Ultimately, I believed the final depth chart will look something like this:

Position Starter Backup
WR1 DeAndre Hopkins Treylon Burks
WR2 Calvin Ridley Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
WR3 Tyler Boyd Jha’Quan Jackson

I have the rookie Jackson making the team for now, but a sixth-round pick is not guaranteed a spot. Kearis Jackson impressed before getting injured in 2023, so either he or Philips could realistically win the final roster spot over the Tulane product.

This is a much more competitive group than it was a year ago. It will be fascinating to watch these guys battle for spots this summer.

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Titans plan to use Calvin Ridley all over formation

Titans head coach Brian Callahan loves the flexibility his WR group offers, and specifically when it comes to Calvin Ridley.

The Tennessee Titans have long been a run-first offense. Before the arrival of A.J. Brown and subsequently DeAndre Hopkins, Titans fans rarely saw elite receivers suit up for their favorite team.

Now, the Titans are in the fortunate position of having two highly-touted playmakers at wide receiver: The aforementioned Hopkins, who had a 1,000-yard season in 2023, will be joined by Calvin Ridley in 2024.

Ridley signed a massive four-year, $92 million deal and gives the Titans a speedster who will complement Hopkins perfectly. The team also brought back Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to provide depth. Treylon Burks and Kyle Philips are other notable receivers on the roster.

Head coach Brian Callahan is thrilled to have these weapons at his disposal, especially guys like Hopkins, Ridley and Burks, all of whom can play all over the formation, something Callahan plans to utilize.

“Being able to move Calvin around is going to be exciting,” Callahan said, per Jim Wyatt. “But I think the other guys, being able to move those guys around, too, will be helpful. Moving Hop around, trying to get him some matchups, put his skill set in good position against lesser players. We’ll see what Treylon (Burks) can do as we move him around.

“I just think it’s a good group that has some flexibility, particularly with Calvin. I think he has played all over the formation, so that part to me is exciting.”

One of the beliefs when it comes to Ridley’s inconsistent play in 2023 has to do with the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t move him around the formation much.

Based on Callahan’s comments, that won’t be an issue in Tennessee.

“You’re looking at a very similar role that Ja’Marr [Chase] played, in terms of his ability to move around the formation, use him in motion,” Callahan said on the This is Football show. “He’s got such a unique skill set. He’s got great quickness, he’s got great speed, he can run all the different routes.”

It’s notable that Callahan mentioned Burks. Many have wondered if Burks’ days in Nashvillle could be numbered after a pair of disappointing seasons. However, the coach clearly envisions the former first-rounder playing a role.

The Titans hope the new-look room will help improve on the league’s 29th-ranked passing offense from a season ago.

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Projecting Titans’ CB depth chart after L’Jarius Sneed trade

Bryce Lazenby breaks down the Titans’ cornerback depth chart after the L’Jarius Sneed trade.

With a new coaching staff, it’s fair to say the Tennessee Titans’ defense will look different in 2024. On top of having a new defensive coordinator in Dennard Wilson, multiple new players were added to the defense in free agency, but the biggest move came via trade.

Last week, it was announced that the Titans had agreed to trade for Kansas City Chiefs corner L’Jarius Sneed. The Titans and Sneed also agreed to an extension to keep the standout CB in Nashville for the foreseeable future.

Sneed joins Chidobe Awuzie as a newcomer to the Titans’ secondary. The duo will be replacing Sean Murphy-Bunting, who signed with the Arizona Cardinals, and Kristian Fulton, who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Murphy-Bunting performed admirably in his lone season with the Titans, but Fulton had a miserable year. Sneed and Awuzie are both upgrades and will immediately improve the cornerbacks room.

Currently, the Titans’ CB depth chart looks like this:

Starter Second string Third string
L’Jarius Sneed Caleb Farley Tay Gowan
Chidobe Awuzie Tre Avery Anthony Kendall
Roger McCreary Eric Garror

Sneed gives the Titans a true lockdown corner on the outside, while Awuzie is a very good No. 2 who once looked to be on an elite trajectory before his ACL tear in 2022. McCreary does his best work in the slot, and he should line up there primarily in 2024.

Admittedly, this is a top-heavy group.

Farley is a former first-round pick who has barely been able to get on the field and hasn’t been very good when he has played.

Avery and Garror are former UDFAs. Avery has been decent in a limited role but routinely gets exposed when he gets increased playing time. Garror was quietly good in coverage last season but the jury is still very much out on him.

Gowan and Kendall are roster fillers who will battle it out for a spot in camp.

Now, let’s take a look at what the final depth chart could look like:

Starter Second string
Chidobe Awuzie Caleb Farley
L’Jarius Sneed Drafted CB
Roger McCreary Eric Garror

It will be interesting to see if this new coaching staff can develop Farley. The talent was once there in college, but it has yet to translate to the next level. Ultimately, I believe Farley will get one more chance to prove his worth.

This unit could use some young talent. I expect the team to spend a draft pick on a corner. Perhaps another veteran is needed, as well. If Tennessee does neither of those things, Avery is a favorite to grab a spot.

Regardless, this group should be much improved over last season.

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Projecting Titans’ WR depth chart after Calvin Ridley signing

Bryce Lazenby takes a look at the Titans’ current WR depth chart, and how it might look after final cuts.

The Tennessee Titans have a new coaching staff, and with a new coaching staff comes a new identity.

For years, the Titans have been a run-first offense that has only had one or two reliable options to throw the ball to. In 2023, DeAndre Hopkins led the Titans with 75 catches for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. No other wide receiver on the roster even caught 30 passes.

Thus, new head coach Brian Callahan and general manager Ran Carthon saw the position as a pressing need this offseason.

The Titans were aggressive in free agency and dished out a whopping $50 million in guaranteed money to Calvin Ridley. Ridley and Hopkins should give the Titans an enviable one-two punch at the position.

The team also retained Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who is a solid depth piece after tallying at least 25 catches and 370 yards in each of the last three seasons.

The team will likely add another receiver in the 2024 NFL draft, but before that happens let’s go ahead and take a look at the wide receiver depth chart as it stands today.

Starter Second string Third string
DeAndre Hopkins Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Tre’Shaun Harrison
Calvin Ridley Colton Dowell Kearis Jackson
Treylon Burks Kyle Philips Mason Kinsey

Other than Ridley being added, the only notable difference from last season is Chris Moore, who signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

The hope is that Burks will flourish playing with Hopkins and Ridley. His career has been disappointing to this point, but there will be much less pressure on the former Arkansas Razorback now.

While Burks and NWI currently sit as WR3 and WR4, respectively, it’s likely the team will bring in a receiver in the 2024 NFL draft to compete with them for playing time.

Kinsey and Philips are slot-only options, and Jackson provides value as a return man. Kinsey, Philips, Harrison, Dowell, and Jackson could end up competing for one or two roster spots.

Ultimately, I believe the depth chart will look something like this after final cuts are made:

Starter Second string Third string
DeAndre Hopkins Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
Calvin Ridley Drafted WR Kearis Jackson
Treylon Burks Kyle Philips

I imagine Burks will work mostly from the slot in three-receiver sets, but the Titans have a slew of options on how to deploy their top three, as Ridley and Hopkins are capable of lining up inside and out.

Ridley has breakaway speed and is a crisp route-runner, while Hopkins is the possession receiver who catches everything.

Allowing Burks to work out of the slot could do wonders for his game. The wide receiver flourished out of the slot in college thanks to his YAC (yards after catch) ability and would likely do the same in the pros.

It helps to also have Philips, who has flashed as a slot receiver in the past.

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