With the 2022 season officially in the books after Super Bowl 57, outlets have begun taking a look ahead to 2023 via way-too-early NFL power rankings.
We begin our round-up with Touchdown Wire’s Mark Lane, who has the Titans at No. 18 in his rankings, which is actually better than expected. Here’s his take on the yet-to-be-fully-assembled 2023 Titans.
New offensive coordinator Tim Kelly has a history of working with mobile quarterbacks, which should bode well for Malik Willis as he enters his second year. As long as the Titans can continue to rely on their run game, it will be the driving force behind their offense.
Of course, take these rankings with a grain of salt, as the Titans have many moves to make this offseason, which could drastically alter the course of the franchise in one way or the other.
Keeping that in mind, here’s a look at where other outlets are ranking Tennessee with the offseason upon us.
Barry Werner, The List Wire: 18
A bleak finish to a season in a weak division. Mike Vrabel and the Titans are in a division that offers opportunities for mediocrity. However, that isn’t what the Titans head coach expects from his players.
NFL Nation, ESPN: 24
Offseason in three or fewer words: Retool the offense
The Titans’ offense was 28th in the NFL last season with an average of 17.5 points per game. Derrick Henry remains a legitimate threat running the ball, but Tennessee must find a way to balance things out. The Titans promoted Tim Kelly to offensive coordinator, filling that void, but uncertainty about QB Ryan Tannehill, possibly having to replace three starters on the offensive line and the lack of receiving game leave big questions.
David Helman, FOX Sports: 23
It’s fair to wonder if the Titans have reached their ceiling as currently constructed. We know they’re good enough to compete for the playoffs at their best, but even that hasn’t gone according to script. It’ll be interesting to watch what moves they make, as those should inform us whether they intend to take a step back and pivot.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 20
This is another team that has issues at quarterback. They don’t seem as sold on Ryan Tannehill as they used to be.
FanDuel: 24
Season literally ended less than 24 hours ago…
Where did we go wrong? 😅 pic.twitter.com/51u9CbZTjt
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) February 13, 2023
Dan Hanzus, NFL.com: 22
Who are the Titans going forward? Derrick Henry will likely remain the center of the universe, but recent results suggest he might no longer be the force of nature he was during his 2018-2020 heyday. Ryan Tannehill’s future with the team remains very much up in the air, while Malik Willis — a third-round pick last year — scuffled in a late-season audition before being benched in favor of journeyman Josh Dobbs. The offensive line could see significant changes, and the wide receiver room is still in shambles after the short-sighted decision to trade A.J. Brown away last offseason. There is reason for trepidation here.
MMQB: 20
The Titans took a massive step backward in 2022, trading away A.J. Brown, firing their GM midseason and losing seven straight games to close out the year. This could be a pivotal offseason for a team that could decide on which direction it wants to go.
Scott Bair, AtlantaFalcons.com: 24
Darren Hartwell, NBC Sports: 22
Expect more of the same in Tennessee this season: a steady diet of Derrick Henry, a hard-nosed defense and a mediocre passing attack. That could get Mike Vrabel’s Titans to .500, but it’s hard to see them making any real noise in the AFC unless they make drastic changes. Those drastic changes could come after this season, when Tennessee can part with Ryan Tannehill and his bloated contract.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: 25
It might feel like Mike Vrabel’s team is due for a major drop off but their brand of physical play and knowing how to battle through attrition will keep them more competitive than expected. Just keep in mind there’s enough limitations, especially with passing game and pass defense, the ceiling is still rather low.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports: 23
The Titans are teetering on the edge of falling off. Ryan Tannehill might not even be around for another season. Derrick Henry is unbelievable but he can’t last forever. Mike Vrabel is an outstanding coach and we can’t underestimate his ability to get more out of the Titans than seems possible, but the roster has some big questions.
