The 2024 season presents a big opportunity for many players on the Tennessee Titans. The team has several position battles across starting positions that will come down to training camp. The roster isn't particularly deep, providing opportunities for contributors across the depth chart.
Whether these are recent acquisitions, players trying to bounce back from injury, or younger players looking to take the next step, the Titans have the opportunity and need for players to showcase development. With that in mind, here are five players who could seize that opportunity and provide larger than anticipated results for the Titans in 2024.
5. Rashad Weaver
Rashad Weaver heads into the final year of his contract with a chance to make a big impact on a thin group of pass rushers. Coming off a disappointing 2023 season that resulted in zero sacks or QB hits, the former Pittsburgh standout now gets a fresh start with a new head coach, defensive coordinator, and position coach. While Harold Landry and Arden Key look to start for the Titans at outside linebacker to begin the season, Weaver looks to be in a position to lead the group of rotational players behind them. His main competition for depth snaps come from Jaylen Harrell (a seventh-round rookie), Caleb Murphy (2023 UDFA), Thomas Rush (2023 UDFA), and Khalid Duke (rookie UDFA).
Last year, the Baltimore Ravens had three edge rushers with five-or-more sacks. If Weaver can win that third pass rusher role in new DC Dennard Wilson's scheme that he's bringing over from Baltimore, he could have a similar impact. Playing next to Jeffrey Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat and with an improved secondary giving the pass rush time to get home, this year is a big opportunity for Weaver to bounce back from a down 2023.
4. Sebastian Joseph-Day
When Sebastian Joseph-Day signed with the Titans during the first week of free agency, it was thought that he could plug in as a starter on the interior next to Jeffery Simmons. Joseph-Day is coming off a career high in both sacks (3) and QB hits (11) while playing all across the defensive line primarily for the Chargers before playing a rotational role for the 49ers down the stretch.
With the addition of T'Vondre Sweat in the draft, Joseph-Day shouldn't be a consistent presence in the middle of the field. Despite that, the Titans are still paying him $3.575 million guaranteed this season, per Over The Cap, and have a potential opening for rotational snaps at defensive end when they align in a 3-4 scheme. Think of Joseph-Day as a potential replacement for past players such as Kyle Peko or Larrell Murchison while Sweat replaces the Teair Tart role at nose tackle in this alignment.
As a former team captain for the Chargers, Joseph-Day brings a solid veteran presence to the defensive line room. If he can continue to provide a pass rush in a rotational role next to Simmons and Sweat, the defensive line could go from good to elite quickly.
3. Saahdiq Charles
Another free agent acquisition for the Titans this offseason, Saahdiq Charles, heads into his second contract at just 24 years old. Charles spent the previous four seasons with Washington after being selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but only has 18 games of starting experience during that time spread across the both guard, and right tackle positions.
Charles looks to compete in a wide open position battle at right guard against last year's starter, Daniel Brunskill, and another young player fighting to keep their career alive in Dillon Radunz. Charles should benefit from learning under new offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who he narrowly missed working with in Washington. Charles also may have a leg up by having experience next to new Titans center Lloyd Cushenberry. Cushenberry was the starting center at LSU for the 2018 and 2019 seasons while Charles started 19 games at left tackle during that span.
Charles has a chance to make a big impact with high-end coaching in Callahan, a familiar face and solid player next to him in Cushenberry, and an opening at right guard. Even if Charles doesn't win the starting job, he should be able to provide valuable swing experience as a backup guard and tackle. For what it's worth, Charles is excited to get to work in Nashville with his new coach and teammates per AtoZ Sports:
2. Otis Reese
Otis Reese came to the Titans as a UDFA last offseason and was able to work his way into valuable defensive snaps down the stretch in weeks 16-18, including a career-high 10 tackle effort vs. Houston in Week 17. Reese now takes aim at becoming a full-time starter for perhaps the weakest starting position group on the Titans' roster.
With the offseason departure of Azeez Al-Shaair, the Titans have two openings at off-ball linebacker. Free agent addition Kenneth Murray should have the first chance to take over one of those spots, but his struggles in pass coverage have been well documented during his time with the Chargers. Draft additions Cedric Gray and James Williams could push for snaps, but asking day-three rookies to come in and be full-time starters in Week 1 may not be prudent to their development. Jack Gibbens started 13 games last season, but it remains to be seen how he'll adjust to the new scheme brought in by Dennard Wilson.
Reese is my personal dark horse candidate to take on a starting role out of this group. Reese played well in both run defense and coverage down the stretch last season, even earning PFF Team of the Week honors for his work against the Texans. If Reese can make a year two leap, his change of direction ability and violent playstyle lend well to being a potential starter next to Murray to open the 2024 season.
1. Caleb Farley
While this is by far the most controversial name on this list for Titans fans, hear me out on Caleb Farley. I don't believe that Farley ever lives up to his draft status of being a first round pick or even a full-time starter. With that said, there's an opening for depth corners to make an impact on this roster behind L'Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie, and Roger McCreary. Given the NFL's shift to increased passing volume and the injury history of both Sneed and Awuzie, the Titans will need to have at least four or five corners capable of giving them quality snaps- enter Farley.
Farley has plenty of competition for these depth roles including holdovers Tre Avery, Eric Garror, and Anthony Kendall, as well as newcomers Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and Gabe Jeudy-Lally. One thing that can help Farley separate himself from this group is his size. Only he and Jeudy-Lally stand at six-feet tall or above, making him a strong depth piece to handle larger receivers on the outside. Given their size, players like Garror and Brownlee Jr. may be much better suited for slot snaps when the Titans go with four corners or if McCreary misses time. That leaves Farley as a potential option to play a large number of snaps if/when the outside vets miss time.
Entering this season fully healthy, Farley will have the chance to earn meaningful snaps in a contract season. Having a strong training camp and preseason will be key for Farley to earn a depth spot on this roster, but his size and athleticism are a rare combo for a potential fourth or fifth corner. Given Farley's injury history and tragic loss of both of this parents, he's an easy guy to root for in his career and could be a surprise contributor to this roster that a lot of fans have written off.
