The Tennessee Titans still aren't garnering much respect from the national media despite piecing together an offseason to remember.
General manager Ran Carthon has done well to fill in the Titans' many cracks with veteran talent in the free agency pool. But in the first year of a new regime led by head coach Brian Callahan, there are plenty of questions Tennessee needs to answer in 2024.
"The Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans are two sneaky teams that I'm looking at this season..
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The Titans stole Calvin Ridley from a division rival and they got quietly better" ~ @PSchrags#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/7ZNGPTideD
NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund recently released her 2024 NFL win projections. As of May 15, Frelund ran 50,000 simulations for all 272 regular-season games. She lists the Titans with the fifth-lowest number at just 6.2 wins mentioning quarterback Will Levis as the team's biggest question mark heading into the season.
From NFL Network: "Will Levis threw four TD passes in his rookie debut, then just four more over his other eight games last season. That is just one indicator of why we still don’t have a clear picture of his potential, and I certainly don’t think we have a statistically relevant sample yet. Also muddling the forecast is a new coaching staff and the offseason departure of Derrick Henry, both of which signal a big identity change for Tennessee's offense. The Titans close out the campaign with four of their final five contests against division opponents, which gives them plenty of influence in how the AFC South shakes out down the stretch. Unfortunately, my models suggest they're more likely to play the role of spoiler than playoff contender."
Frelund notes Levis' inconsistency down the stretch as a primary reason to support her opinion. Though it's a fair question to raise about the first-year full-time starter, his supporting cast is much improved from just a season ago.
Not only is Levis' protection going to take a step with additions such as C Lloyd Cushenberry and rookie LT JC Latham working under offensive line guru Bill Callahan. But he now has a head coach with a master's degree in quarterback play and a trio of wide receivers each capable of taking over a football game.
Even if Levis finishes as a middle-of-the-road signal caller, the Titans could surprise some folks in the 2024 NFL season.
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