Teams experience change every year. The Tennessee Titans turned the page by importing new personnel and finding their quarterback of the future. After a flurry of moves, the Titans have become the AFC’s most interesting team.
How the Tennessee Titans Became the Most Interesting Team in the AFC
Turning the Page on Players and Personnel
One could argue that the Tennessee Titans began their transformation after trading away A.J. Brown in 2022. The move was surprising but kicked off a rebuild that few expected in Tennessee. The Titans were coming off three consecutive playoff births when Brown was traded. Under head coach Mike Vrabel, the team did not post one season where they finished with a minus-point differential (per pro-football-reference). The AFC South was Tennessee’s to lose. Once Brown got traded though, the offensive production dipped and the team struggled. Vrabel could not coax higher production out of his offense without an elite receiver like Brown, and the organization finally cut ties with their coach. Before moving on from Vrabel, the Titans fired Jon Robinson. As General Manager of the Titans, Robinson architected a quality roster but the decision to trade Brown and other moves did not age well.
Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry were next to go, kick-starting an abrupt rebuild in Tennessee. Both players were cornerstones for the franchise and helped carry them to big playoff wins. In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Titans used a handful of early picks on offense, ushering in a new era of football in Tennessee.
Ushering in A New Era
Before officially moving on from Tannehill, the team tapped Will Levis as his successor. The Kentucky product had inconsistent tape coming into the 2023 NFL Draft but flashed enough to give Tennessee reason to move up for him in the draft. In nine starts last season, Levis had ups and downs. His first start was arguably his best performance as a pro, but Levis cooled off as the season wore on. One thing that stood out about Levis’ game was his willingness to test defenses on deep throws. The Titans might not have a star receiver like Brown on the roster, but the team has put effort into building around Levis. Signing Calvin Ridley in the off-season gave the Titans receiver room an instant boost. Ridley has been a number-one receiver in both Atlanta and Jacksonville, and he has the potential to be the same in Tennessee.
To maximize the potential of Levis and the offense, the Titans made a strong hire in Brian Callahan. The former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator comes to Tennessee with a proven track record of architecting potent offenses. Under his watch in Cincinnati, the Bengals became an explosive offense behind Joe Burrow. While Levis has yet to show he can play up to Burrow’s level, there are traits to his game that give reason to believe he can be an upper-level starter. After revamping their offense in the 2023 NFL Draft, the team went heavy on defense in their last draft. While they’re relying on young talent to help them win now, the pieces are there for Callahan and Levis to succeed. With the way they tore down their roster and quickly rebuilt it, the Titans became the most interesting team in the AFC.
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