The Tennessee Titans are relying on several ascending playmakers to perform throughout 2024. There's obviously a ton of pressure on sophomore quarterback Will Levis. The Titans have spent the offseason surrounding Levis with more favorable surroundings as they search for an answer to the question whether or not he's a legitimate franchise QB.
Levis can't achieve his goals without benefiting from better protection up front. Tennessee's rookie quarterback was under pressure on 44.5 percent of his dropbacks last season, per Pro Football Focus' charting. Brian Callahan's offense can't hit the ground running in Year One with a repeat of that performance.
Better results are expected. The Titans invested some premium resources into their new-look offensive line this offseason, none more costly than spending the No. 7 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft on offensive tackle JC Latham. Given how hamstrung this offensive has been by shotty left-tackle play two years in a row, Latham is under considerable pressure to perform in 2024.
The left tackle position was a massive issue for the Titans in 2022 and 2023 that nearly single-handedly derailed the offenses. Last season, Tennessee's four players that earned snaps on the blind side - Andre Dillard, Dillon Radunz, Nicholas Petit-Frere, and Jaelyn Duncan - allowed league-highs in sacks (25) and pressures (92) from that spot.
General manager Ran Carthon failed in his quest to find a solution at left tackle, a problem he inherited from Jon Robinson the year before when Dennis Daley allowed 52 pressures and a league-high 7.0 sacks. Carthon's answer, Dillard, wasn't an upgrade. The Titans released Dillard earlier this offseason.
Carthon decided against taking another half measure. Latham was the second offensive tackle selected, going just two picks after the Chargers took Joe Alt. And despite arguably needing a right tackle as well, Latham's position at Alabama, he's making the transition to left tackle in an attempt to solve Tennessee's Achilles heel.
Latham will almost certainly be more effective at the position than Dillard and Daley were, but how much more effective is a fair question worth asking. He's impressed offensive line coach Bill Callahan all offseason long, and the start of training camp represents new opportunities to continue making gains. Rookie offensive linemen often experience ups-and-downs, and Latham is being asked to acclimate to a new position (albeit a familiar one from his school days) while learning his first NFL offense.
The early indications are that Latham will perform above a starting-caliber level as a rookie. If he reaches those heights, Tennessee's offensive line should be a much-improved unit that allows Levis enough time in the pocket to find DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd with routine success in the passing game.
If Latham initially performs at a below-average level, the Titans will likely possess multiple sore spots across the offensive line, given the existing questions at right guard and right tackle. Struggling in 2024 wouldn't immediately disqualify Latham from being a successful first-round pick, as tackles often get better as they go, but it would likely place a ceiling on the Titans' offensive production while ensuring Levis is under more pressure than he’d prefer.
Latham's rookie-year form is going to be significant to the Titans' 2024 outlook.