Nobody will blame you if have had a bit of a hard time following the NFL since the end of the 2022 season. Chatter about free agency and the draft dominated the early offseason. Then, minicamp and Organized Team Activities took place. Now, training camp is set to start and the Tennessee Titans will be reporting on July 22 (rookies) and July 25 (veterans).
While the Titans have to address a few questions, such as who will start at right tackle while Nicholas Petit-Frere serves a suspension, there are several reasons to be ecstatic about Tennessee, including the next five:
No. 5 The Titans are (mostly) healthy ahead of the 2023 season
Injuries are an inherent part of football and there's not much teams can do but prepare to the best of their capabilities. Having said that, the Titans' injury report during the 2022 season was long enough to make a nurse faint after giving it a glance. By the end of the year, they had a league-high 34 players on the Injured Reserved list. That's simply too much. The good news is that Tennessee is entering training camp with a relatively clean bill of health.
The only major injury the Titans are dealing with is outside linebacker Harold Landry III, who is still recovering from the ACL tear he suffered last year and has yet to practice. However, he's making strides and should return at some point of the regular season.
Leaving Landry aside, the Titans are entering training camp in good shape and it would be great if it can carry over into the regular season.
No. 4 The Titans have a true No. 1 receiver in DeAndre Hopkins
Derrick Mason notwithstanding, there aren't many distinguished wide receivers in Titans' history. A.J. Brown was starting to make a name for himself but former general manager Jon Robinson believed a first-round pick was more valuable than having a proven weapon and shipped him to the Philadelphia Eagles last year.
Similarly, Andre Johnson, Julio Jones, and Randy Moss — former Pro Bowl receivers — all played for Tennessee and all of them flopped. Sure, they were near the end of their respective career when they joined the Titans but the point still stands. Fortunately, there's a chance DeAndre Hopkins can buck the trend.
Hopkins, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, met with the Titans and the New England Patriots before ultimately choosing the former and that's great news for pretty much every offensive player in Tennesee. Veteran Ryan Tannehill will have a bonafide No. 1 receiver, something he lacked last year. Similarly, sophomore Treylon Burks will have more favorable matchups with Hopkins drawing coverage away.
On top of that, opposing defenses won't be able to stack up the box, which should lead to bigger gains on the ground when running back Derrick Henry gets the ball.
You could argue that Hopkins hasn't had a 1,000-year season since 2020 and you would be right. However, there are reasons to believe he'll bounce back with Tennessee. For starters, the Arizona Cardinals were in a state of disarray the last two years, and most of their players, including Hopkins, were affected. Also, the former Clemson Tiger deal with injuries and missed time after getting slapped with a suspension for PED violations.
With injuries and his suspension in the rearview mirror, Hopkins should benefit from a fresh start in the Titans.
No. 3 The Titans defense has the talent to be among the best in the NFL
Harold Landy may or may not be ready for the start of the 2023 season but the Titans don't have to thrust him back into action until his ready. But once he steps foot on the field, Tennessee could have one of the best defenses in the league.
Just a couple of months ago, general manager Ran Carthon ensured defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons remains in the team's long-term future when he gave him a four-year deal worth $94 million. Also returning in 2023 are nose tackle Teiar Tart and defensive end Denico Autry.
The Titans need someone else to round out their defensive line rotation but the group should have no trouble wreaking havoc at the line of scrimmage next season. Furthermore, their secondary is stacked with enough talent to slow down opposing offenses.
Led by safety Kevin Byard, the defensive backfield has the potential to be among the best in the league. It's true that safety Amani Hooker and cornerback Kristian Fulton missed time with injuries last year but they're both healthy and will be joined by Sean Murphy-Bunting, a 2023 free-agent signing.
You could argue that the linebacker corps is the Titans' weakest link after David Long Jr.s departure earlier this year but Monty Rice and Azeez Al-Shaair are ready to fill the void. Simply put, if Tennesse's defense manages to stay mostly healthy next season, their opponents might have trouble reaching the end zone often.
No. 2 The Titans offense is set for the future
Former general manager Robinson took a long-term approach when building the roster in the later years of his stint at the helm of the Titans' front office, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The issue was that by not looking for players that could contribute right out of the gate, Robinson failed to address immediate needs.
Having left the roster devoid of playmakers, Robinson was kicked to the curb and the Titans brought in Ran Carthon to take his place. Although it's too early to assign Carton a grade for his work since he took over the front office, the early results are enticing.
In addition to moving on from players whose production wasn't on par with their contract and getting the Titans in healthy cap shape, Carton filled the team's biggest holes in the offseason.
Carton replenished the offensive trenches and added depth to most skilled-position units. Furthermore, he drafted Ryan Tannehill's potential heir apparent in Will Levis and other players that could earn significant playing time down the road.
And even if Levis doesn't see the field this year, there are other 2023 draftees who could have a huge impact for Tennesse right out of the gate. Running back Tyjae Spears can make a dynamic 1-2 punch alongside Derrick Henry. Similarly, rookie tight end Josh Whyle has the potential to eventually get a feature role on offense.
While it's hard to see all the picks the Titans made in 2023 pan out, many of them seem many of them should have a favorable chance of becoming key contributors.
No. 1 The Titans can overachieve in 2023 with Mike Vrabel leading the way
Ran Carthon's work since taking over the Titans' front office is commendable and you will be hard-pressed to find a player that isn't willing to run through a wall for head coach Mike Vrabel. But let's be real: Tennessee's odds of seizing back the AFC South crown from the Jacksonville Jaguars are slim.
Heck, the Titans are projected to win around seven or eight games in 2023, which won't be enough to clinch a playoff berth. When you take into account the upgrades other teams in the division made, Tennessee might have a hard time keeping up in the arms race.
The Houston Texans restocked their roster and came out of the draft with several foundational pieces. Moreover, first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans will keep his players motivated and won't let them stop until the whistle blows.
Similarly, the Indianapolis Colts should experience an offensive renaissance under head coach Shane Steichen. On top of that, they'll get several difference-makers — running back Jonathan Taylor and linebacker Shaquille Leonard among others — will return after missing significant time with injuries last year.
Having said that, not everything is doom and gloom for the Titans. In fact, flying under the radar could be the best thing that could happen to them in 2023. Without having to deal with the burden of expectations, they could focus on playing football without having to worry about any potential outcome. Similarly, Vrabel could use the lack of respect as a motivational tool to make his players give their best week in and week out.
You have probably heard that the most dangerous teams are those without anything to lose. That seems like an apt description for the 2023 Titans.