2024 offseason primer: Titans rebuild begins under Ran Carthon, Brian Callahan

1. Here’s what you need to know about Tennessee’s offseason:

PROJECTED 2024 CAP SPACE: $73.9 million (second-most in NFL)

FREE AGENTS: Offense: QB Ryan Tannehill, RBs Derrick Henry, Julius Chestnut; FB Trevon Wesco; WRs Chris Moore, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine; OL Aaron Brewer, Chris Hubbard, Corey Levin, Calvin Throckmorton; Long snapper Morgan Cox 

Defense: DEs Denico Autry, Trevis Gipson, T.K. McClendon; DTs Marlon Davidson, Ross Blacklock; LBs Azeez Al-Shaair, Joe Jones, Jack Gibbens; CBs Kristian Fulton, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Chris Williamson; Safeties Terrell Edmunds, K’Von Wallace

Outlook: Fortunately for the Titans, they already have Tannehill and Henry’s heir apparents on the roster in Will Levis and Tyjae Spears, respectively, and none of the team’s remaining offensive free agents are key pieces to ignite a Titans rebuild. However, defensively, there are a handful of players who can be of value to Tennessee in 2024.

Al-Shaair led the Titans with a career-high 163 tackles this season, and at 26, he’s young enough that he can add a youthful exuberance to the defensive unit while also serving as a veteran leader. Autry totaled a career-high 11.5 sacks and 36 hurries in 2023, and though he’s 33, he plays a key role in setting the edge for Tennessee’s pass rush and he’s also good enough to be flipped at the trade deadline to a contender should the team decide to go that way. 

Murphy-Bunting was the Titans best cover corner this year (eight passes defensed, two interceptions), and he’s another player at 26 who’s both young enough to help key a rebuild while also serving as a leader of a defensive position group. All three players should be retained, and Tennessee has the cap space to do so while also adding younger, cheaper pieces along with them.

2024 DRAFT PICKS: Round 1 (No. 7 overall) | Round 2 | Round 4 | Round 5 (via Tampa Bay) | Round 6 | Round 7 (via Carolina) | Round 7 (via Philadelphia)

TOP DRAFT NEEDS (in order): OL, WR, CB, Edge-rusher, RB — There’s no question Tennessee’s biggest area of need is offensive line, with wide receiver a close second. In addition to 263 pressures, 154 hurries and 58 QB hits, the Titans allowed the fourth-most sacks (64) in the NFL.

Drafted a cornerstone offensive lineman like Notre Dame’s Joe Alt or Penn State’s Ola Fashanu is a great way to keep Levis upright and make sure Spears has lanes to run through. Conversely, if Tennessee’s preferred tackle is off the board at No. 7 (there’s good depth and it can get a quality tackle in Round 2), don’t be surprised if LSU receiver Malik Nabers or Washington’s Rome Odunze is the pick. 

Levis needs more weapons aside from DeAndre Hopkins, and either wideout would be a perfect complement on the outside.

DRAFT PROSPECTS TO WATCH: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame; Ola Fashanu, OT, Penn State; Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State; J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama; Jordan Morgan, OT; Arizona; Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia; Troy Fautanu, OG, Washington; Malik Nabers, WR, LSU; Rome Odunze, WR, Washington; Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU; Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

THREE 2024 STORYLINES TO WATCH:

• How will the new-look offense perform with Callahan calling plays?
• Does Will Levis look as impressive as he did during his eight-game run as the starting QB in 2023?
• How big of a loss will Derrick Henry actually be?