Cornerback Caleb Farley showcased his talent during his two collegiate seasons with the Virginia Tech Hokies. Like many others, Farley’s collegiate career was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he opted out of his Junior season. After the messy 2020 football season, Farley declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite limited playing time, Farley was a projected first-round pick. These lofty projections arose because he accrued six interceptions and nearly 20 pass defenses through his short stint in college. Some mock drafts showed him going high in the first round, but others placed him lower due to his lengthy injury history. Ultimately, the Tennessee Titans decided to take a chance on him and picked him 22nd overall, hoping that he could solidify their defensive secondary. Although it has only been a few years, Farley has not demonstrated his talents at the NFL level.
Titans Caleb Farley Has Not Been Able to Meet NFL Expectations
Rookie Injury Woes
The Titans knew about Farley’s scary injury history, as he tore his ACL in 2017. He also had minor injuries that kept him off the field in college, making it risky to draft him. Farley could not even participate in his pro day because of a back injury. The Titans hoped his numerous injuries would cease upon entering the NFL, but they were sorely mistaken.
After finally making his first start against the Buffalo Bills in October of 2021, Farley tore his ACL again. This injury was the worst-case scenario for both the Titans and Farley. He just had his first pass defense in his NFL career one week prior. However, the ACL injury forced him to remain on the sideline until the 2022 season. Although Farley’s season was cut short, he showed potential during the minimal game action he saw in his rookie campaign.
Struggling When Healthy
Entering the 2022 season, the Titans received news that their star linebacker, Harold Landry III, would miss the entire season with an ACL injury. Landry was one of Tennessee’s best defensive players, putting more pressure on Farley to perform well. The 2022 season for Farley was not an improvement, as Farley struggled during his game action through the first four games. Not only did his production decrease, but Farley also experienced another season-ending injury midseason. Instead of another ACL, Farley was dealing with more back problems. Surprisingly, the back injury had Farley miss more game time than his ACL.
Farley’s 2023 Season with Titans
Heading into the 2023 season, Farley was still unable to play due to his back injury. Many fans had to watch a poor Titans secondary struggle to defend the pass, which was also likely hard for Farley to watch. The Titans secondary still had great talent in cornerbacks Kristian Fulton and Roger McCreary, but they underperformed in 2023. Farley finally got to practice for the first time in late December but did not play in a game. With the numerous players heading to free agency from the Titans this offseason, combined with the substandard secondary play, the Titans need Farley to stay healthy and showcase his full potential in 2024.
Some good news for the Titans is that Farley has stayed hopeful throughout his NFL career, as he recently said he was optimistic and confident in his abilities. The Titans are rebuilding in 2024, but fans should watch Farley during his final contract year next season.
Main Photo: Geoff Burke – USA Today Sports
