There is no shortage of skepticism surrounding the Tennessee Titans ahead of the 2023 campaign, and rightly so, this team has several question marks up and down the roster following a 7-10 season.
While depth is certainly an issue, health remains the bigger concern after the Titans have been the most injury-plagued team in the NFL the past two seasons, something that derailed their 2022 campaign.
Lest we forget, the Titans were actually 7-3 and in first place before their epic collapse that was spearheaded by injuries to several key players, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
The Titans cut a lot of dead weight this offseason, and while the offense still has its issues at receiver and could certainly use an addition like DeAndre Hopkins, the defense has enough talent to be among the league’s best if healthy, which will no doubt keep this team competitive.
Adding to that, the Titans have a great head coach in Mike Vrabel who knows how to get the most out of whatever he’s working with.
If Hopkins comes to Nashville, I see no reason why this Titans team won’t be considered neck-and-neck with the AFC South favorites, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Even with Hopkins in tow, the Titans’ offense may not be better than the Jags still, but it would be pretty darn close. On the other side of the ball, give me Tennessee’s group all day, everyday, and twice on Sunday.
Now that you’ve heard my optimism, check out the pessimism coming from ESPN’s Mike Clay and Seth Walder, who recently ranked Tennessee’s roster among the worst in the NFL at No. 28.
Clay believes the safety position is the team’s strongest unit, while also calling wide receiver and offensive tackle the team’s weakest units.
Walder then goes on to call wide receiver Treylon Burks the team’s X-factor and labels running back Tyjae Spears as the non-starter to know. Here are their write-ups for each:
Strongest unit: Safety. Kevin Byard has two All-Pro seasons on his résumé, yet it still feels like he’s underrated. The 29-year-old is one of the top safeties in the league and is joined in the secondary by versatile Amani Hooker. Hooker’s big breakout came in 2021 (he was PFF’s third-highest graded safety then, whereas Byard ranked first) prior to an injury-plagued 2022 campaign. A healthy season from this duo will go a long way for a team that can use all the help it can get. — Clay
Weakest unit: Offensive tackle and wide receiver (tie). This one was too close to call. Tennessee inexplicably handed former first-round pick Andre Dillard a three-year, $29 million contract to man left tackle after he failed to make an impact in four seasons in Philadelphia. Nicholas Petit-Frere is the right tackle after underwhelming as a rookie. At wide receiver, the team failed to add impact players behind unproven Treylon Burks and appears set to roll with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Philips and Chris Moore atop the depth chart. — Clay
X factor for 2023: WR Treylon Burks. If he doesn’t breakout, then we can give up on this offense. Burks had just 444 receiving yards last season, but his 1.83 yards per route run ranked 33rd out of 104 WRs with at least 200 routes run. — Walder
Nonstarter to know: RB Tyjae Spears. At 5-foot-10, 200 pounds Spears may be much smaller than Derrick Henry, but at some point the former Tulane RB could take over for the legendary back. — Walder
The AFC South got absolutely hammered in these rankings, with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts ranking No. 29 and No. 30, respectively. To compare, the Jags came out smelling like a rose at No. 15.
Safety is definitely one of the strongest position groups Tennessee has going into 2023, as Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker have played like an elite duo when the latter has been healthy.
But running back with Derrick Henry leading the way and the defensive line that sports a potent trio of Jeffery Simmons, Teair Tart and Denico Autry are right there with it, if not better.
When it comes to safety and defensive line, both positions are strong at the top of the depth chart but have depth issues, which is especially important to note at safety thanks to Hooker’s past injury woes.
It remains to be seen if the Titans will be able to avoid the kinds of injury issues they’ve had the past two years, but if there was ever a team due for a healthy season, it’s Vrabel’s squad, right?
RIGHT?!