Coming off a 6-11 season, the Tennessee Titans had money to spend and a roster to turn over entering the offseason, and general manager Ran Carthon did not mess around.
After the firing of former head coach Mike Vrabel and the hiring of new head coach Brian Callahan, the Titans went on to upgrade at several positions.
Most importantly, Tennessee beefed up its offense to put second-year quarterback Will Levis in a better position to succeed after he had to deal with a lackluster receiving corps. and a terrible offensive line in 2023.
On defense, Tennessee made additions at every level, and the cornerbacks room in particular was massively upgraded. While the Titans still lack depth along the defensive line, there's no question this defense is markedly better on paper.
But is that enough to create some believers in the national media? Let's find out as we take a tour of NFL power rankings going into Week 1.
Tennessee Titans NFL power rankings Week 1
Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports: 28 (+1)
Schwab: "It appears DeAndre Hopkins' knee injury won't keep him out of the opener, which is big news. The Titans are an interesting team this season. They're going to be passing a lot more, as we saw in the preseason. Maybe that change will be good, maybe it won't, but it will be a big culture shift under Brian Callahan."
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 21 (no change)
Prisco: "Will Levis will have a good season under Brian Callahan, which will keep them in a lot of games. But the real success will come next year in Callahan's second season."
Nate Davis, USA TODAY: 28 (no change)
Davis: "Parfum de Mayonnaise? We promise this won't be the defining moment of the 2024 Titans … even if they probably jumped the gun with all these insane free agency expenditures."
Bleacher Report: "As is the case with most of the teams toward the bottom of these power rankings, the Tennessee Titans face a number of sizable questions in 2024. Will Levis is hardly a proven commodity under center. With Derrick Henry gone, a Titans run game that was the offense's backbone for years is a far less certain commodity.
"The Titans ran the table in the preseason, but new head coach Brian Callahan made it clear to reporters that once the team takes the field in Chicago on Sunday, that won't matter much."
Josh Kendall, The Athletic: 24
Kendall: "The Titans, at least, think they can be good. They signaled that by making a training camp trade for linebacker Ernest Jones. If Brian Callahan was the right coaching hire, and if second-year quarterback Will Levis is the real deal, and if Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley return to peak form, Tennessee might be a surprise playoff team. That’s a lot of ifs, though."
Wirth: "Will Levis could have a decent supporting cast around him if/when DeAndre Hopkins is healthy. The rest of the roster, though, is pretty mediocre."
Pamela Maldonado, Sharp Football Analysis: 26 (no change)
Maldonado: "The Titans are optimistic about Will Levis’ potential, especially with the support of a strong running game. Acquired to replace Derrick Henry, Tony Pollard is expected to be a key player in the Titans’ rushing attack. Despite coming off a down year due to injury, Pollard’s explosiveness and ability to contribute in the passing game make him a versatile threat."
Lee: "It almost never works out for the team making several big-splash signings in free agency, but almost every addition Tennessee made this spring patched up a major hole in this roster. If DeAndre Hopkins is healthy enough to suit up for Week 1, he and Calvin Ridley could provide an interesting combination of skill sets—even if Hopkins isn’t as dominant as he used to be. The addition of JC Latham should pay immediate dividends in the run game, and while Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears create some redundancy, splitting carries should keep both fresh enough to find explosive gains in an outside zone scheme. Will Levis has just enough of a supporting cast to allow for a clear evaluation of whether he can hack it as a starting quarterback.
"I like the middle of this defense; rookie T’Vondre Sweat is flanked by Sebastian Joseph-Day and Jeffery Simmons, and Ernest Jones IV came over in a recent trade with the Rams. I’m curious to see how L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie work as a pair of corners, but new play caller Dennard Wilson should bring over some of the coverage schemes that worked well in Baltimore. The AFC is too loaded to expect Tennessee to make the playoffs, but this year’s team should be much easier on the eyes (ugly jerseys aside)."
