With the 2023 season now officially in the books after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, experts from different media outlets are releasing their way-too-early NFL power rankings, all of which have the Tennessee Titans near the bottom of the league.
We start with our friends over at USA TODAY’s For The Win, where Robert Zeglinski and Christian D’Andrea have the Titans at No. 31. Here’s what they had to say about it:
Brian Callahan will have to work the magic that made Jake Browning an above-average quarterback on Will Levis… or maybe Malik Willis? Either way, it’s a wholesale rebuild in Nashville, and expectations will be low for 2024.
For the record: Assuming Malik Willis actually sticks with this team into the start of the season, he will not sniff the starting job in 2024, barring an injury to Will Levis.
With so much uncertainty and a lot of work to do to improve their roster, it’s no surprise that everyone is down on the Titans ahead of the offseason.
However, Tennessee can turn this thing around sooner rather than later with the assets the team has this offseason.
Not only do the Titans appear to have a franchise quarterback in Will Levis, they also have a ton of cap space and a pair of top-40 picks in the 2024 NFL draft, including No. 7 overall.
Now, the rest of our round-up:
NFL Nation, ESPN: 28
Offseason in three words: Fix the O-line
The Titans’ offense was paralyzed last season by poor play in the trenches. Tennessee’s 64 sacks allowed were tied with the Jets for the third most. All of the blame can’t be placed on the offensive line. But Jaelyn Duncan (16, third) and Andre Dillard (13, sixth) were among the top 10 offensive linemen in sacks given up. The Titans will need to upgrade at least two of their five offensive line starters. Expect Tennessee to make a move in free agency. The Titans will also likely address the position in a draft class that is very deep there.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports: 30
The NFL is mostly about the coach/quarterback combination. Maybe Brian Callahan and Will Levis are a championship combination. But there’s a long way to go to prove that. Callahan might be the biggest unknown of all the new head coaching hires. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s hard to project him. Here’s something going in the Titans’ favor: they currently have the second-most salary-cap space ($73.9 million) and that will help to add talent.
Bleacher Report: 29
Like many of the teams toward the bottom of these power rankings, the Tennessee Titans are in the midst of massive changes. Mike Vrabel has been replaced at head coach by Brian Callahan. Will Levis has taken over under center for Ryan Tannehill. Derrick Henry’s time with the team may well be drawing to a close.
While speaking to reporters, defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said he believes the hiring of Callahan could a huge boost for the organization.
“I think coming up this season for us is it’s going to be one of those seasons where we have to really reestablish ourselves in Tennessee. Having a chance to meet Coach Callahan in person, when I was in the building, I could tell that he is ready, he wants to win. And I am excited for the staff he is bringing in, especially with DC [Dennard Wilson] from Baltimore. I am excited, man. I think it is going to be good for us as an organization.”
No team in the AFC has more cap space this year than Tennessee, and the team also possesses the seventh overall pick in the 2024 draft.
But with multiple starters from an average defense set to hit free agency, an offensive line that badly needs to be upgraded and a new offensive system coming to town, the Titans can use all the offseason resources they can get.
Eric Edholm, NFL.com: 26
The hiring of Brian Callahan felt like a vote of support for Will Levis to have a shot at locking down the starting quarterback job and building something in Nashville. The Titans will have plenty of money to spend and own the seventh overall pick in the draft, and the bulk of those resources should be spent on offense. This is a big offseason for GM Ran Carthon, who received roster control after the firing of Mike Vrabel as head coach. The Titans need at least two new starters on the offensive line. Wide receiver could use some sprucing up. And if Derrick Henry’s time in Tennessee is at an end, the team will need RB help to complement Tyjae Spears. This isn’t a complete teardown, but the Titans also must improve the surrounding cast quite a bit for Callahan to compete right away.
David Helman, FOX Sports: 28
The good news for new head coach Brian Callahan is that Will Levis showed a few flashes as a rookie. But the Titans need help all over the place — particularly on offense. And that’s before you remember that Derrick Henry and Azeez Al-Shaair could be gone in free agency. Don’t forget that the AFC South suddenly looks like a loaded division. It could be a tough turnaround.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: 32
The Titans were quick to move on from Mike Vrabel once the winning playoff-bound luster was gone. They’ve got fo fix plenty around Will Levis to field a necessary efficient offense. At least Brian Callahan’s hire is a good start there.
