The last eight months have been a whirlwind for the Tennessee Titans, but as the dust settles it looks like Mike Vrabel and Ran Carthon might have been able to pull off the rare single-offseason rebuild.
From the minute the Tennessee Titans fired Jon Robinson last season, the message was consistent from ownership and the coaching staff. They insisted that every move the team made would be geared around the idea that this is a team that should compete for an AFC South title in 2023.
As the process has played out in the GM search, free agency, and the 2022 NFL Draft, there were some up-and-down moments where they weren't doing a good job convincing fans that there was going to be something to play for in 2023.
However, that all shifted when the Tennessee Titans signed DeAndre Hopkins. In the aftermath, the Tennessee Titans got a new deal done with Kevin Byard that has opened up plenty of cap space for the team to operate with going forward.
In fact, rumors came out late last week that the Titans weren't finished adding starters to their offense. Swing tackle George Fant has a workout for the team on Saturday and it seems like the Tennessee Titans are intending on signing him if the workout goes well. If that happens, not only would Fant likely start in NPF's place, but he could take his job for 2023.
As teams put the finishing touches on their preseason rosters, now is a good time to ask whether the Tennessee Titans have fulfilled their promise of reloading this roster.
Did the Tennessee Titans pull it off?
Looking at where they are heading into training camp, this Tennessee Titans team is a playoff team.
The core of a playoff team was always there and when we specifically talk about the 2023 season, there should never have been any questions about the starters at quarterback, running back, defensive tackle, EDGE, or safety.
When you look at what Vrabel and Carthon have done at the rest of the positions, you have to start with the offensive line because that was where they poured the majority of their resources.
There will be a new starter at every offensive line position this season, and those changes include their biggest planned free agent signing (Andre Dillard) taking over at left tackle and the 11th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (Peter Skoronski) starting at left guard.
Even though it isn't confirmed, a veteran pairing of George Fant at right tackle and Daniel Brunskill at right guard gives the Tennessee Titans two battle-tested starters who should be able to help even out the young left side of the offensive line.
Shifting gears to the skill positions, everyone knows about the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, but the Tennessee Titans also added two tight ends in Treyvon Wesco and Josh Whyle, who complement Chig Okonkwo's skill set really well.
Throw in the wildcard of Tyjae Spears who was getting reps at running back and receiver during OTAs and a height/weight/speed wildcard in seventh-round rookie Colton Dowell, and it is an interesting group with potential.
Defensively, the Titans just focused on adding solid players like Azeez Al-Shaair, Arden Key, and Sean Murphy-Bunting to round out a group that has Pro Bowl/All-Pro players like Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry, and Kevin Byard.
On paper, this group looks very good but they will obviously need to prove that they can take that to the field. There are also going to be questions about what the team looks like on special teams now that they have a new kicker, a new kick returner, and a new punt returner.
However, after a few really lucky breaks the Tennessee Titans seem to have done exactly what they said they were going to do and they deserve a lot of credit for setting themselves up for success this season.