Tennessee
Titans Receive Humbling Evaluation Ahead of NFL Offseason
The Tennessee Titans have a busy set of months ahead of them with the NFL offseason now officially underway.
Looking at the current state of Tennessee, it’s a team that might have a bit of catching up to do compared to the rest of the league. The Titans ranked 27th in scoring offense and 30th in scoring defense across the 2024 season, hence their 3-14 record to show for it and a number one pick on the horizon for later this offseason.
This team is at its depths and needs a few pick-me-ups over the coming months. And when polling across those at ESPN, they agree with the majority on the Titans’ outlook.
When stacking up each team 1 through 32 in their way-too-early NFL power rankings, ESPN didn’t hold back on the Titans –– placing them in dead-last at 32nd further exemplifying the work needing to be done to the roster.
Paired with Tennessee’s lowly ranking, ESPN insider Turron Davenport kept it simple when evaluating what the Titans need to do this offseason in three words: find a quarterback.
The Titans took a swing on Will Levis as their franchise quarterback. It didn’t work,” Davenport said. “Now they must turn to a free agent or use the No. 1 pick in the draft on one of the top QBs. They could pursue a hybrid approach by signing a bridge quarterback and drafting someone who could learn behind the veteran. But that situation requires a special player who will allow their eventual replacement to take over. New general manager Mike Borgonzi saw it play out successfully through the Chiefs’ Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes. Pulling off another successful quarterback selection process could restore the Titans to respectability.”
After putting together a 3-14 finish with many lapses on both sides of the football, there are several areas to address on the roster that need some work before reaching their aspired championship heights.
Yet, the most important of those moves might come down to how Tennessee and their new regime approach the quarterback situation.
After the second year of the Will Levis experience, the former second-rounder didn’t have a strong showing, leading to many questioning if he’ll be the guy under center to lead the Titans back to glory. While he’s still young at 25 years old, he didn’t show much promise or upside during his sophomore campaign and the questions only get louder with Tennessee’s number one pick looming.
Therefore, the focus now turns to how the Titans front office will make worthwhile improvements to the most important position on the field. Could taking a top quarterback prospect at the number one pick make sense? Maybe a trade down the board and selecting another guy on day two or three of the draft? Perhaps a veteran free-agent pickup could be the best option on the table.
It’s a massive question with many possible solutions, but one the Titans have time to sort out. Whether Levis remains on board or not, expect some changes to be made at the quarterback position in Tennessee one way or another.
Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!
Tracking the opt outs for both Tennessee and Illinois before the Music City Bowl on December 30 (5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville:
Tennessee
Linebacker Arion Carter: Carter over the last seasons had 96 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 31 career games. He had a team-high 76 tackles this season, with 6.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while appearing in 10 games. He missed two games and was limited against Oklahoma in November while dealing with turf toe injuries. Carter had 68 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in 13 games last season and 17 tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss in eight games as a freshman in 2023.
Wide Receiver Chris Brazzell II: He a breakout senior season in his second year with the Vols, catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 19 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, after transferring from Tulane. In 15 games at Tulane he caught 45 passes for 722 yards and five touchdowns. Brazzell is ranked No. 7 at wide receiver on Mel Kiper Jr.’s NFL Draft Big Board. He’s ranked No. 34 overall on ESPN’s list of the best available prospects in the draft.
Cornerback Jermod McCoy: Did not play this season after tearing his ACL during offseason training in January. He was a star last season with 44 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions. He had 31 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee.
Illinois
Offensive Tackle J.C. Davis: Bret Bielema said the Illinois starting left tackle is opting out of the Music City Bowl. He was an All-Big Ten First Team pick by the league coaches this season and the No. 3 left tackle this season according to Pro Football Focus grades. He had made 49 straight starts before opting out of the bowl game.
EDGE Gabe Jacas: The Illinois outside linebacker declared for the NFL Draft on Friday night. He led the Big Ten this season with 11.0 sacks. He had 13.5 tackles for loss and 43 total tackles in 12 games this season. He finishes second in Illinois program history for career sacks, with 27.0, trailing only Simeon Rice. Jacas had 74 tackles, 8.0 sacks and 13.0 tackles for loss last season, after combining for 8.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in his first two seasons at Illinois.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Tennessee employers laid off more than 8,500 workers in 2025 compared to 7,320 last year, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
This is about a 19% increase in layoffs, with WARN notices impacting 8,691 Tennesseans to date. As of 2023, 5,168 Tennessee workers were laid off through WARN notices.
Counties in Middle Tennessee impacted include:
- Davidson
- Sumner
- Maury
- Rutherford
- Williamson
- Wilson
- Coffee
- DeKalb
- Bedford
- Lawrence
- Putnam
The largest layoff this year was in Maury County. Come January, 710 employees will be laid off from GM Ultium Cells’ Spring Hill facility. Research Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville Michael Kofoed tells FOX 17 News that the facility is is likely impacted by the rise on steel tariffs ruled out by the Trump administration. He adds steel tariffs raise input costs for employers which directly impacts employees’ salary or employment.
The second largest layoff impacted 658 workers at Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC in Rutherford County with 615 workers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center permanently laid off. WARN notices are reports a company is required to file with the state to give workers time to find future employment.
Kofoed states that Tennessee is seeing a troubling trend, with layoffs skyrocketing since 2023.
“That is a very big and concerning number,” Kofoed said.
According to CNBC, more than 1.1 million U.S. employees were laid off this year, the highest 11-month total since 2020.
Tennessee
Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) is asking for donations after rescuing 11 animals Friday.
ARC said it was contacted by law enforcement in an unidentified rural Tennessee area to rescue five dogs and six cats in what the nonprofit is calling “Operation Cold Snap.”
In the rescue, the nonprofit took in two emaciated Great Danes, three Pit Bulls and six cats. ARC said some of the animals are emaciated and suffering from untreated bite wounds and infections.
The nonprofit said the animals were kept without heat or regular care.
ARC shared a video of the rescue. In it, you can see the property s in disarray with trash littering the floor and overturned furniture.
This rescue comes just days before Middle Tennessee is expected to see its coldest temperatures of the season.
Now, ARC is asking for donations to help the 11 animals rescued Operation Cold Snap. Those interested in donating can do so on the nonprofit’s website.
Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.
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