Apparently, both good things and bad things comes in threes.
After reaching the playoffs each year from 2019-2021, the Tennessee Titans have followed that up with campaigns of 7-10, 6-11, and 3-14, respectively. The last set of numbers on that list belong to current sideline leader Brian Callahan. He began his NFL head-coaching career with three losses, and 2024 ended with six consecutive defeats.
There is plenty of blame to go around. From poor quarterback play that was the biggest factor in Callahan's club tying for the NFL lead with 34 turnovers. From a promising defense that fell apart late in the year, to shaky special teams that have been an issue in recent years.
It’s already been an offseason of change in Nashville as general manager Ran Carthon was dismissed after two years with the organization. Who knows what other moves lies ahead for a club that has made the AFC South basement home these last two seasons?
Biggest Positive from 2024
It may not have seemed like it was the case, especially late in the season as the defense wore down, but the Titans have the makings of an impressive defensive front thanks to a two-time Pro Bowler, a 2024 second-round draft choice, and a veteran free-agent addition this offseason.
Jeffery Simmons (8th), T’Vondre Sweat (15th), and Sebastian Joseph-Day (tied for 20th) all found a home near the top of Pro Football Focus’ rankings of interior defenders. Simmons also ranked third on the team with five sacks. Again, the Titans’ defense was gashed on the ground late in the year, but this is a very promising unit.
Potential UFA that needs to be re-signed
Wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has been a bargain. Via Spotrac, the former undrafted free agent from Indiana University signed one-year deals for $1.26 million in 2023, and $2 million in 2024. He played for less than $1 million in each of his first three seasons. Now he comes off a highly-productive 2024.
While he finished fifth on the club in receptions, and his 497 receiving yards were second behind Calvin Ridley (1,017), he totaled a career-best and team-high nine TD grabs—all of those scores in the final 13 games. It’s worth noting that Westbrook-Ikhine had a combined 10 touchdown catches in his first four seasons.
Needs Fixing
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a cohesive group of blockers in the National Football League. Via Pro Football Focus, the Titans owned the bottom-ranked offensive line in both 2022 and 2023. Although some progress was made in ’24, the move up the Pro Football Focus chart stopped at No. 28.
Via PFF’s Zoltán Buday: “Due to good play from rookie left tackle JC Latham and a late-season emergence from 2023 first-round pick Peter Skoronski, the Titans took a step forward from being the worst offensive line in football. However, there is still a long way to go until the unit can be considered even average…”