The Tennessee Titans have had a bit of a rough time generating excitement over the last few months and there are a handful of reasons why. First, they finished last year on a seven-game losing streak. Similarly, they weren't able to make splash signings due to salary cap constraints.
Last but not least, Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry — two of their most prominent players — have been the subject of trade talks over the last few months.
Then again, not getting the spotlight could turn out to be a good thing for the Titans. Projected to win 7.5 games in 2023, they could exceed expectations if any of these five dream scenarios take place next season.
Titans dream scenario No. 5: WR Treylon Burks makes a leap in Year 2
Nobody will bat an eye if say that Treylon Burk's rookie season was a disappointment. Drafted 18th overall last year, the former Arkansas product got off on the wrong foot, raising concerns about weight and conditioning issues during offseason workouts. He then dealt with a toe injury that forced him to miss six games and finished the year with a measly 33 catches for 444 yards with one touchdown.
Burks is surely ready to put last season behind and there are reasons to believe he'll improve in 2023. Even though the Titans don't currently have WR2 that can consistently draw coverage away from Burks, tight ends Chigoziem Okonkwo and Josh Whyle should be an important part of the offense and help the sophomore wideout get more favorable matchups.
Also, weight and stamina should no longer be issues, having shown up to OTAs in great shape. All things considered, expecting Burks to double the numbers he put up last season is reasonable.
Titans dream scenario No. 4: OLB Harold Landry gives the pass rush a boost
Outside linebacker Harold Landry, a 2018 second-round selection, was an important piece of the Titans' defensive puzzle in his first four NFL seasons. That's why losing him to an ACL tear last year was a huge loss for the Titans' pass rush. Despite the fact that there's no timeline for his eventual return, head coach Mike Vrabel told the media in March that he should still be really good when he comes back from injury.
Landry should be back at some point in the 2023 season but he's not the only defender the Titans are counting on to bolster the pass rush. Earlier this year, the team's brass poached defensive end Arden Key from the division rivals Jacksonville Jaguars.
Key got a three-year deal worth $ 21 million in free agency. Even though he only tallied 4.5 sacks last season, his ability to line up at different spots across the defensive line helped other Jaguars find favorable matchups. The former LSU Tiger should have a similar impact under defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, who will look for different ways to maximize his skill.
With a healthy Landry and the addition of Key, defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons should be able to wreak havoc in the trenches. The 2019 first-round round pick has gotten progressively better over the last three years and he should be even better in 2023.
Losing defensive end DeMarcus Walker to the Chicago Bears definitely stings but Denico Autry and Rashad Weaver, who combined for 123.5 sacks last year, are back, so expect the Titans to consistently get after the quarterback next season.
Titans dream scenario No. 3: Derrick Henry, Tyjae Spears form a 1-2 punch at RB
You have probably heard that all good things must come to an end and heading into the 2023 season, it feels like Derrick Henry's reign is closer to an end. King Henry showed last year that he's still got gas in the tank, toting the rock 349 times for 1,538 yards with 13 touchdowns. However, the Titans know that they can't perpetually rely on Henry, so they drafted Tyjae Spears earlier this year.
Spears is a dynamic rusher that can take on a featured role despite the fact that he's 5'1" and 201 pounds. While he needs to work on his route running and possibly add a bit of bulk in the upcoming months, he should be able to contribute to the Titans' offense right off the bat.
Even though there's still a chance Henry will end up being traded before the 2023 season, he's focused on being the best football player he can be. And if he's back as expected, he should once again have a big workload with Tennessee. The difference is that he will no longer have to carry the team on his shoulders due to the addition of Spear and that's a good thing.
Henry's workload could experience a dip but because he won't get as much playing time as he did in previous seasons, his effectiveness should increase. Conversely, the Titans' coaching staff might feel inclined to give Spears more carries if he delivers as expected.
Titans dream scenario No. 2: Ryan Tannehill has a bounce-back season in 2023bounce-back
Just like Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill played a pivotal role in the Titans reaching the AFC Championship in 2019. However, his play left a bit to be desired last year, which led to questions about his long-term suitability as Tennesse's starting quarterback. Even if Tannehill performs well next year, the Titans already started planning for the future, having selected Will Levis in Round 2 of this year's draft.
In fairness, Tannehill has never been viewed as an elite passer and has instead gotten the game-manager moniker. That's not a bad thing though. Ever since he replaced Marcus Mariota in the starting lineup, the 2013 first-round pick has kept mistakes at a minimum and has consistently put Tennessee in a position to win games.
Although wins aren't a quarterback stat, Tannehill racked up 30 wins and just 13 losses in his first three years with the Titans. Sure, he went 6-6 in 2022 but he dealt with injuries and had a subpar supporting cast.
With better weapons at his disposal and a revamped offensive line, it's easy to see Tannehill bouncing back next season. While flirting with the 5,000-yard/40-touchdown mark isn't realistic, he should have no trouble tallying something close to 4,000 passing yards and 20 to 25 touchdown passes.
If that ends up being his stat line, Levis can then remain on the sidelines while he works on his craft and gets acclimated to the NFL. The bottom line is that Tannehill playing well in 2023 can benefit everyone.
Titans dream scenario No. 1: The Titans make the playoffs as a wild card in 2023
Make no mistakes, the Jacksonville Jaguars are the team to beat in the AFC South next season. Sure, they were in the cellar of the league throughout most of the 2010s and they were more often than not an easy win on the Titans' schedule are recently as 2021. But that all changed last season when Tennessee got swapped by their division foes and knocked out of playoff contention in the finale.
From an objective perspective, it's hard to see the Titans dethroning Jacksonville as division leaders in 2023. Led by Trevor Lawrence and poised to have one of the best wide receiver corps in the league, the Jaguars have enough talent to take on conference powerhouses such as the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills, and the Cincinnati Bengals, teams they're set to face next season.
Having said that, not everything is gloom and doom for the Titans in 2023. As noted in previous entries, their offense isn't perfect and they have to answer several questions in the next few months but they have just enough firepower to put points on the scoreboard. On defense, they have enough playmakers at every position group, with the exception maybe of linebacker. But even then, the defense should be able to make a few crucial stops and keep the Titans in close games.
This is to say, that Tennessee might have a chance to post a winning record and perhaps earn a Wild-Card berth in the playoffs next season. It might be a tall order but not impossible and that should give Titans fans a reason for optimism in 2023.