The Tennessee Titans have seen a massive change this offseason, and at this point, it is easier to talk about what hasn't changed over the last five months.
Right now the rumors are that former Cincinnati Bengals slot receiver, Tyler Boyd is trending toward signing with the Tennessee Titans now that rosters are starting to settle.
If he does sign with the Titans, it will be because Brian Callahan is planning to have him as a plug-and-play starter in the slot and it would mean another new starter for the Tennessee Titans.
So, let's say that happens. Assuming that we have a pretty good idea of which rookies and free agents are going to start next year barring an unforeseen issue, just how different will this team look?
Returning starters on offense (4):
WR: DeAndre Hopkins (758 snaps)
TE: Chig Okonkwo (693)
LG: Peter Skoronski (863)
RG: Daniel Brunskill (768)
DeAndre Hopkins was dominant last year as the Tennessee Titans' top receiver, and he was a huge part of the growth of Will Levis. It is hard to believe that there was ever a plan where he wasn't going to be a key piece in the offense.
Chig Okonkwo had a disappointing season in 2023, but don't write him off yet. If you can get the early drops out of your head, he actually had a nice stretch at the end of the season and there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about him with a new coaching staff.
The Tennessee Titans offensive line was abysmal last season, but the main culprits (Andre Dillard and Aaron Brewer) are gone and the team has gone to great lengths to make sure that their replacements will be big upgrades.
New starters on offense (7):
QB: Will Levis
RB: Tyjae Spears/Tony Pollard
WR: Calvin Ridley
SWR*: Tyler Boyd
LT: J.C. Latham
C: Lloyd Cushenberry
RT: Nicholas Petit-Frere
Will Levis and Tyjae Spears join Peter Skoronski as the young players on offense who are most likely to get a second contract with the Tennessee Titans.
Meanwhile, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd look like Kevin Nash and Scott Hall coming in to make Hulk Hogan look like a superstar again. If the Boyd deal does happen, it would give the Tennessee Titans their most experienced trio of wide receivers...maybe ever. It would certainly be the most talented trio that the group has ever had.
Earlier I talked about the biggest issues with the Titans offensive line being Aaron Brewer and Andre Dillard. Well, the Titans went out and added one of the highest-paid centers in the league and they spent the 7th-overall pick on J.C. Latham who was Bill Callahan's favorite offensive lineman in this draft class. They also get NPF back from a suspension and then an injury shortly after, so hopefully he can forget the 2023 season and get back on track with what he looked like he could be as a rookie.
Returning starters on defense (5):
EDGE: Harold Landry (840 snaps)
EDGE: Arden Key (727)
DT: Jeffery Simmons (657)
SCB: Roger McCreary (934)
S: Amani Hooker (867)
This is a small list of returners, but this is a very solid core to build around. Landry and Simmons are both Pro Bowlers, and Roger McCreary was one of the best slot corners in the NFL last year.
New talent and coaching around Arden Key should help him find some consistency and Amani Hooker just has to continue to prove that he can stay healthy.
It should be noted that the average age of those defenders is 26 years old, so this is a much younger core of returning starters than the Tennessee Titans had on the other side of the ball. All five could be here for the next 4+ years in the right circumstances.
New starters on defense (6):
NT/1-tech: T'Vondre Sweat
LB: Kenneth Murray
LB: Cedric Gray
CB: L'Jarius Sneed
CB: Chidobe Awuzie
S: Elijah Molden? (This will probably change)
The Tennessee Titans upgraded at wide receiver and on the offensive line, but no group in the NFL has improved as much as the Titans cornerbacks.
L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie are two of the most physical cornerbacks in the NFL, and they also have the reputation of being two of the best leaders at their position as well. This new Titans defense under Dennard Wilson is going to rely heavily on the corners to do their job while players like Murray and Gray get to blitz more.
Upgrading at that position was a must and Ran Carthon took that as a challenge and attacked the corner market picking up two players who should be crucial for this defense.