The Tennessee Titans made several important additions in the offseason but they will enter the 2023 season needing to answer a few questions. Can they exceed their projected win total of 7.5 games? Or are they the team that came crashing down and ended last season on a seven-game losing skid?
Either way, the Titans will be a fascinating team to watch in 2023 and here are five predictions ahead of training camp.
5. Rookie TE Josh Whyle will beat Chigoziem Okonkwo for the Titans' TE1 job
Can you really call a player a veteran if he's just entering his second NFL season? Chigoziem Okonkwo is no longer a rookie but he hasn't probably gotten fully acclimated to the pros. Regardless of the label you give to sophomore tight end, he will probably have to fend off rookie Josh Whyle in training camp to keep his job in 2023.
And that's the thing, Okonkwo might have a hard time holding Wayle back. The former was a fourth-round pick in last year's draft who should in theory become TE1 for the Titans with Austin Hooper joining the Las Vegas Raiders. However, there's nothing stopping Whyle from seizing the starting job.
Whyle, a third-round selection in this year's draft, has the versatility to become a key cog on the Tennessee offense in his first NFL season. At 6'6 1/2" and 245 pounds, the Cincinnati product needs to refine his footwork as a blocker but has the size and power to hold his own in pass-blocking situations. Similarly, he's got the athleticism and size to reel in catches in the middle of the field and his route-running is pretty polished coming out of college.
Okonkwo might not give up without competing but Whyle has more upside and if he shows out in training camp, he'll be in the starting lineup against the Chicago Bears in the opener.
4. The Titans will get safety help in free agency before the regular season
Tennessee has built a stout defensive line, and with outside linebacker Harold Landry III expected to return at some point in the 2023 season, their front seven should be able to consistently wreak havoc at the line of scrimmage. This is good news for a secondary that might be lacking depth at the safety position.
Make no mistake, the Titans have a pretty good safety tandem in Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker but if either goes down next season, their defensive backfield will be vulnerable. To make matters worse, Byard isn't really on good terms with the team's brass.
Byard skipped the early portion of OTAs because they reportedly ask him to take a pay cut and only returned for mandatory workouts because it was important for him to "show up and be a leader".
The Titans could always re-sign Joshua Kalu, who appeared in 44 games over the last four years with five starts in 2022. Another option is signing John Johnson III, who would give their secondary a huge boost.
A third-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, Johnson signed a three-year contract worth $33 million with the Cleveland Browns in 2021. However, he was released this past March as a way to free up cap space since his salary for 2023 wasn't guaranteed. Even though Johnson has ample experience, having played 86 games with 80 starts, he still remains unsigned.
The fact that Johnson can also line up in the slot makes him an appealing option to add depth to the Titans' safety group, which is why general manager Ran Carthon should have him on speed dial.
3. Titans RB Tyjae Spears will push for a featured role in training camp
Running back Tyjae Spears was an intriguing talent that generated a lot of buzz during the pre-draft process. But due to the supply at the position, he slid to the third round, where the Titans took him at No. 81.
An ACC Offensive Player of the Year selection in 2022, the Tulane product toted the rock 229 times for 1,581 years with 19 touchdowns. On top of that, he added 256 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 22 catches.
In Tennessee, Spears will most likely begin his rookie season behind Derrick Henry, who showed in 2022 that he's still the best running back in the league. But Henry's reign could come to an and Spears should vie for playing time in training camp and eventually challenge him for the throne.
Spears turned heads during offseason workouts and has gotten rave reviews from his teammates. Similarly, the young running back doesn't seem to be fazed by whatever the coaching staff is throwing at his plate, routinely staying after practice to catch 100-plus balls.
Simply, it will be hard to keep Spears out of the running back rotations and it wouldn't be shocking to see the Titans' brass opt for a backfield committee for 2023. And once Spears hit his stride, he will give the coaching staff no option but to keep feeding him the football.
2. The Titans will sign WR DeAndre Hopkins before the 2023 season
Tennessee could use help at wide receiver, with Treylon Burks being their only reliable target, and even that's a stretch. Even though he's made strides and has been dubbed an offseason standout, expecting him to become a bonafide No. 1 might be a bit much to ask.
Sure, the Titans have a solid 1-2 punch at tight end om Chig Okonkwo and rookie Josh Whyle. However, they also need some that can stretch the field and prevent opposing teams from loading up the box. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins could be that player.
Hopkins reportedly met with the Titans' brass and later visited the New England Patriots but remains unsigned. It's possible that he's looking for the best fit or maybe clubs haven't met his salary demands. Either way, head coach Mike Vrabel should pound the table for him. After all, the former Clemson Tiger is still a pretty good receiver, one that could take some pressure off Burks' shoulders in 2023.
You could argue that Hopkins hasn't eclipsed the 800-yard market these past two seasons and his best days are behind him but he was dealing with injuries and inconsistency at quarterback. Finally healthy, he would immediately become the No.1 receiver in Tennessee.
Ultimately, signing Hopkins might not be cheap but he would make everyone around him better, so the Titans should be ready to go to the nearest bank ready to make a big withdrawal.
1. The Titans will trade Ryan Tannehill before the start of the 2023 season
Ryan Tannehill is a clear example that a change of scenery can be highly beneficial for players. A first-round pick in the 2012 draft, the former Texas A&M Auggie spent his first six NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins but was shipped to the Titans in 2019. Originally expected to back up Marcus Mariota, Tannehill eventually became the starter and led Tennessee to an AFC Championship appearance.
Tannehill has provided stability at quarterback over the last four years but his stint with the Titans will come to an end sooner rather than later. Projected to select a signal-caller in the first round of this year's draft, Tennessee managed to land Will Levis at No. 33. While the former Kentucky Wildcat is expected to sit and learn behind Tannehill, he could also be given the reins in training camp if he shows promise early on.
Keep in mind that the Atlanta Falcons were reportedly interested in Tannehill as recently as this past May and it wouldn't be shocking to see them get on the phone with Ran Carthon to inquire about the veteran's availability. While moving on from Tannehill would leave the Titans' quarterback room without a proven option, it would also pave the way for Levis to start and learn on the job.
In the end, how much longer can Tannehill fend off Levis? Last year, injuries forced the veteran to miss a handful of games but even early in the season, his numbers weren't particularly great. This is why the team's brass might opt not to wait any longer and give way to the Levis era in 2023.