The NFL released the list of players that qualified for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games on Thursday. The Tennessee Titans were among a handful of teams that did not have a single player named to the annual all-star event. It's a warranted shortcoming for a lackluster 3-13 Titans organization that must focus on acquiring worthy talents this offseason.
The Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and New Orleans Saints were the three other teams that failed to land a Pro Bowl selection. If you're thinking some small-market bias was involved, Miami and New York are humongous markets, and the Titans own the worst record among the four Pro Bowl-less teams. It simply captures the sad state of Ran Carthon's roster.
The Titans did have four alternates named to the backup roster. Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, running back Tony Pollard, punter Ryan Stonehouse, and safety Amani Hooker earned the honors. Simmons is a two-time Pro Bowler. Pollard ranks 12th in rushing, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards despite dealing with a nagging injury. Hooker's five interceptions are a career-high number, tied for sixth-most in the NFL. They're all worthy alternates.
There's a decent chance at least one of them will end up featuring in the Pro Bowl, due to an injury or drop-out. That's not the point.
No @Titans were named to the initial Pro Bowl roster.
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) January 2, 2025
Four Titans were named alternates:
Jeffery Simmons
Amani Hooker
Tony Pollard
Ryan Stonehouse
The Titans are painfully short on legitimate game-changing talents. Every week in the NFL, superstars swing momentum and results while rightfully capturing national attention. If Simmons is Tennessee's closest player to reaching that status, they don't have anything close to a true superstar.
The Titans are entering Sunday's Week 18 regular finale versus the Houston Texans slated to own the No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. A defeat would guarantee a top-two pick, and if that loss is paired with a New England Patriots victory, the Titans will move up to No. 1 overall.
By all accounts, the 2025 NFL Draft features a weaker class of prospects than most, but there are two-blue chip talents that play positions of need for Tennessee. Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter are arguably the two best players available in April. A loss to the Texans would guarantee the Titans an opportunity to select one of them.
The 2024 Titans aren't totally devoid of talent. On paper, they're nowhere near as pathetic as Ken Whisenhunt's 2014 Titans were. That's perhaps why their current shortcomings are especially frustrating, but it's worth noting Carthon's roster is thin on high-end talent at premium positions like quarterback, offensive tackle, wide receiver, and EDGE rusher. That sentiment is proven by their record, inability to take over games, sustain leads, dig themselves out of holes, and in their lack of Pro Bowlers.
Carthon inherited a flailing roster from Jon Robinson, but he's received too many pardons for his failure to add legitimate superstars in two offseasons as the general manager. That has to change this offseason if Tennessee's long-term outlook is to improve. If Carthon and president of football operations Chad Brinker survive Black Monday, they need to focus on adding talents worthy of national recognition this offseason.