An optimist’s guide to the 2024 Tennessee Titans

After their second straight losing season, the Tennessee Titans brought in a new head coach and began revamping one of the more talent-deficient rosters in the NFL.

Here’s why the Titans can surprise a lot of people picking against them next season.

New regime

While Mike Vrabel is a fine NFL head coach, it seemed the Titans never really evolved under his leadership, which is why controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk moved on from the 14-year NFL veteran in favor of the up-and-coming, offensive-minded Brian Callahan.

The former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator runs a more innovative offensive system than his predecessor, and the team made some necessary upgrades at several offensive skill positions this offseason. Additionally, ownership has given general manager Ran Carthon free rein to call the shots and build a roster to his liking without having to worry about any objections from Vrabel.

Loaded WR corps

In the span of a few months, the Titans receiver group went from DeAndre Hopkins and hope for the best to arguably one of the top WR trios in the NFL. Hopkins is still Tennessee’s No. 1, but swiping Calvin Ridley from division rival Jacksonville and signing free agent Tyler Boyd from Callahan’s old team in Cincinnati gives Titans second-year quarterback Will Levis one heck of a stable of weapons to throw to.

The 1-2-3 punch of Hopkins, Ridley and Boyd also takes some pressure off 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks, who no longer has to carry around the weight of being the guy who has to replace A.J. Brown. Adding Ridley and Boyd also encourages some friendly competition between Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Philips, Colton Dowell, Jha’Quan Jackson and Mason Kinsey with WR spots at a premium.

Their gunslinger QB

Ryan Tannehill was exactly what the Titans needed when he arrived, but he joined the team when he was 31 and quickly hit a decline after his two best seasons. Tannehill was efficient, he didn’t turn the ball over and he did just enough to keep the offense running smoothly. What he didn’t do was wow anyone with his arm strength or threaten much with the deep ball.

However, that’s where Levis shines. In five of the eight full games he played, Levis had a completion of 35 yards or longer in five of them, and he averaged nearly 225 yards passing in all eight games. With Hopkins and Ridley on the outside, there’s an even better chance Levis launches the ball downfield more frequently and racks up the passing yards. With the addition of Tony Pollard, who catches a lot of passes out of the backfield, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Levis flirt with 4,000 yards in 2024.