The Tennessee Titans started their rebuild last season, and the development of their 2024 draft class will be crucial for the future of this roster.
As Mike Borgonzi and Chad Brinker continue to clean house and get their vision in place, it feels like a worthwhile exercise to hand out superlatives to a potentially foundational class.
We've identified four fitting superlatives for that class, analyzing both positive and negative potential outcomes. Here is what you can expect to see from Tennessee's second-year players.
Most likely to make a Pro Bowl: T'Vondre Sweat
Jeffery Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat formed one of the best defensive tackle duos in the league last season. This year, people are going to tune in to see how Cam Ward is doing, and they might stick around and notice two of the more dominant tackles in the NFL.
Most nose tackles aren't potential Pro Bowlers, but Sweat is in a unique situation. For now, the Titans have the worst EDGEs in the NFL, so Simmons and Sweat are going to be the most disruptive players on the defensive front. That means they should end up padding their stats, and that matters to Pro Bowl voters.
Plus, Sweat has the perfect narrative to make the national media fall in love with him. He is one of the biggest human beings playing football, and he delivered the best stiff arm in the NFL last year.
Most likely to take a big step forward: J.C. Latham
JC Latham enjoyed a fine rookie season in 2024. However, "fine" isn't what you want from a top-10 pick at offensive tackle. The good news is all signs are pointing to a better year in 2025.
The Titans played Latham at left tackle last season, but it was a mistake. Latham was a career right tackle in college, and he was always viewed as a prospect whose best fit was at right tackle, despite their protests that he played left tackle in high school.
Latham will be a right tackle in 2025 after the Titans signed Dan Moore Jr. to play left tackle. The Titans are also fixing his weight, the one red flag the former Alabama standout had as a prospect. Offensive tackles as heavy as Latham usually bust, and clearly, he and the team felt like he was too heavy last year because he has shown up to OTAs significantly smaller this year.
A more agile Latham, playing in his natural position, could be very dangerous. He gets to play next to one of the best guards in the game in Kevin Zeitler. Latham possesses the perfect mix of talent, work ethic, coaching, supporting cast, and opportunity to make a massive leap this year.
Most likely get cut: Jha'Quan Jackson
This came down to Jha'Quan Jackson or Jaylen Harrell. Both players performed like guys the Titans should want to see less of in 2025. Jackson ultimately "wins" this superlative because the Titans did much more at receiver than they did at EDGE, including drafting Chimere Dike, who the Titans are going to use primarily as a backup "Z" behind Calvin Ridley.
Most likely to exceed expectations: Cedric Gray
People seem to have forgotten about Cedric Gray, but there was a time when he was believed to be the best value of the Titans' 2024 draft class. Gray led North Carolina in tackles for three straight seasons while also totaling 30 TFLs, 18 pass breakups, 8.5 sacks, and five interceptions.
If not for an injury in training camp, Gray could have pushed for a job as a role player on defense last year. Since then, the Titans have shipped off Ernest Jones and Kenneth Murray, and there is a starting position waiting to be claimed by someone. Even if Gray gets edged out by James Williams or Otis Reese, he has the aggressive tendencies and traits to earn a job as a sub-package linebacker whose primary responsibility is to attack downhill or to drop into zone coverage.