The Titans looked to the future during the draft, trading their best wide receiver for a rookie and taking Ryan Tannehill’s potential replacement, so what does that mean for the now?
Strength
When looking for a strength of the Titans, you only have to look back to their divisional round playoff loss to Cincinnati. They had a ridiculous nine sacks that game and it symbolised their season. Harold Landry had a breakout season with 12 sacks, Jeffery Simmons was a menace and Denico Autry had a career year at age 31 with nine sacks. The pass rush is going to be fierce again with all three returning and should help this secondary produce.
Weakness
Just like the strength, the Titans’ weakness was evident in the playoff loss and that was turnovers. Ryan Tannehill threw three bad interceptions, undoing all of the defence’s great work on the other side of the ball. This wasn’t a one-off though, the Titans had six games last season with three or more turnovers, losing five of them. With the loss of both his starting wide receivers over the off-season, Tannehill is going to have to be extremely careful with the ball.
Player to watch
Caleb Farley was a projected top-five pick in the 2021 draft before reports came out he required back surgery. The Titans took the chance and picked him at 22 and just as he was getting up to speed, tore his ACL. He has come out recently and declared he is physically ready for the start of the upcoming season. He is an awesome talent and if he can stay healthy, he is a breakout player to watch.
Who’s under pressure?
Tannehill crumbled on the playoff stage last season, throwing those three interceptions mentioned earlier, and the Titans reacted by taking Malik Willis in the draft. Willis is not ready to be a starting quarterback, however the message is clear: Tannehill is on thin ice and if he can’t produce this season, there could be big changes in Tennessee this time next year!
Projection
The theme of the offseason so far has been AFC teams getting significantly better. Like the Patriots, the Titans are one of the few teams that went the opposite way. Tannehill has gone from throwing to Julio Jones and AJ Brown to now Robert Woods coming off ACL surgery and rookie Treylon Burks, who is already struggling with injury. Mix in the fact Derrick Henry’s body broke down last season and will struggle to carry this offence like usual and Tennessee miss the playoffs.
Win-loss: 7-10
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Tannehill's an odd QB. He never looked like a superstar during 7 years in Miami (well, it was Miami!) but he suddenly turned into one of the league's best QBs in his first 2 years in Tennessee. His numbers dropped off last year, but even with Henry out for half the season the Titans still won 12 games, which shows that he's effective even if not playing well (and a rating of 90 isn't exactly bad!). But he's now 34 and Malik Willis really shouldn't have been available at #86 - he was rated potentially being a top 3 pick - so I think the Titans have grabbed Tannehill's replacement for a steal and will be happy to have him sit and learn for this season, maybe playing mop-up at the end of games to help get him up to speed. But the key to the Titans' season will be Henry; if he's healed and ready to go then they'll be significantly better than 7-10, if he's not then they lost his replacement (D'Onta Foreman) to the Panthers and none of the other RBs on their squad look capable of carrying the load.
Jake Smith
Roar Rookie
Yeah you’re absolutely right, but I think after 15 weeks on the sidelines (for example) he would be ready enough to have a couple of starts! I trust his skill and the coaching staff under Vrabel
Rellum
Roar Guru
If he is not up to a certain level of readiness they could destroy him if they out him in early. That is what I worry about with Willis
Jake Smith
Roar Rookie
Willis certainly isn't ready for a pro-style offence now, but if the Titans struggle this season as much as i expect them too, he is the future! Why not throw him in for a few games to end the season? And if he performs, Tannehill knows where he stands
Jake Smith
Roar Rookie
Thank-you Frankie for the support!
Rellum
Roar Guru
I completely forgot about Malik Willis. I can't see him pushing Tannehill even if he is struggling.
Frankie321
Roar Rookie
Good analysis. Thanks.