Stepping back and looking at the Tennessee Titans massive offseason

The Tennessee Titans have gone through a massive overhaul this offseason, and now that the draft is over it is time to take a step back and see how it all went.

Two months ago the Titans were gearing up to start this process, and I did my best to outline their biggest needs. Since every team needs depth, I tried to limit my focus to positions where Brian Callahan would need new starters heading into the 2024 season.

I came away with 10 starting spots that needed a clear starter or better competition for training. Those positions were LT, C, RT, WR2, playmaking WR, DT (1-tech), LB, CB1, CB2, and S.

With their cap space, my optimistic goal was to come away from the offseason with:
-6 starters signed in free agency (including two premium free agents)
-2 starters in the draft
-2 positions with added competition for training camp battles.

Not only did Ran Carthon meet that bar, but he went above and beyond in a free agent period that I thought was a home run for the Tennessee Titans.

Needs filled:
-C: Lloyd Cushenberry, 4 years/$50 million ($12.5 million AAV)
-LB: Kenneth Murray, 2 years/$18 million ($9 million AAV)
-CB1:L'Jarius Sneed, 4 years/$76 million ($19 million AAV)
-CB2: Chidobe Awuzie, 3 years/$36 million ($12 million AAV)
-WR2: Calvin Ridley, 4 years/$92 million ($23 million AAV)
-WR (vertical threat/playmaker): Calvin Ridley, (he fills both roles)
-DT (1-tech): Sebastian Joseph-Day

Remember, I never said that all of the needs had to be filled with a clear starter before training camp. Even before free agency started I knew that was too much to ask, and I think any level-headed Titans fan would agree.

What is said was that 8 of the 10 needs should have a clear starter, and two positions just need competition for training camp with decent options.

So, the Titans entered the draft needing to find one clear answer and either left tackle, right tackle, or safety. The Titans accomplished that with the 7th pick when they drafted former Alabama tackle J.C. Latham.

That wasn't all they did in the draft, they added a pure nose tackle in the second round with T'Vondre Sweat, a linebacker who will almost certainly start for them this year in Cedric Gray, and then after that, they added depth at wide receiver, cornerback, EDGE, and linebacker.

Going back to that original needs list, the final (for now) results look like this:

Needs filled (*denoted rookie, +denotes a premium addition)
-C: Lloyd Cushenberry
-LB: Cedric Gray*, Kenneth Murray,
-CB1: L'Jarius Sneed+
-CB2: Chidobe Awuzie
-WR2: Calvin Ridley+
-DT (1-tech): T'Vondre Sweat*, Sebastian Joseph-Day
-LT: J.C. Latham*
-RT: Camp competition between Nicholas Petit-Frere, Jaelyn Duncan
-S: Camp competition between Elijah Molden and a free agent that they will certainly sign

There are still questions on this roster, specifically along the offensive line. Bill Callahan is going to have to put his status as an elite OL coach to the test after pulling for J.C. Latham in the first round. By choosing to take the right tackle and move him to left tackle, Callahan ended up sticking his neck out for the rookie and for whoever wins the other tackle position.

Also, they have been hinting at it for a while, but there has to be another starting job filled in free agency. Either one of the safeties or possibly a tackle like Andrus Peat would make sense, but you could also make the case for another EDGE if the Titans want to reduce Arden Key's role.

Either way, it just feels like hat is something to keep an eye on.

Outside of some of the Titans fan base, no one loved the draft for Ran Carthon, but everything else this offseason was fantastic. We are about to learn whether or not that be enough to help the Titans get back in position to compete for the AFC South.