NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans got their guy and are expected to hire Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their next head coach.

Callahan brings a lot to the table for the Titans. His offensive mind and adaptability helped Zac Taylor and the Bengals build one of the most explosive offenses in the sport. His experience with quarterbacks will be beneficial to Will Levis. 

As the son of a coach, Callahan’s lifetime around the game and connections around the league will help him navigate the challenges of being a head coach and bring in a strong coaching staff to support him.

What about players? Are there players that Callahan could bring with him to Tennessee? It’s not uncommon to see a coach or general manager bring in players they are familiar with when they switch organizations. Just look at Ran Carthon with the Titans last season when the team went out and signed Arden Key, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Daniel Brunskill.

Here’s a look at 4 players the Titans could steal from the Cincinnati Bengals pipeline now that they have Brian Callahan as their head coach.

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1. WR Tee Higgins

Tee Higgins is the name on the mind of every Titans fan right now. While he missed five games during the 2023 season, the 25-year-old wide out and Tennessee native posted back-to-back seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards in 2021 & 2022.

Since Higgins entered the League in 2020, he is 19th amongst all wide receivers in yards per game with 63.5. That’s more than Brandon Aiyuk, Michael Pittman Jr., and Diontae Johnson. That production also comes with Ja’Marr Chase getting the majority of targets in Cincinnati.

Titans fans have every reason to want him. He’d be the perfect guy to play opposite of DeAndre Hopkins and would give Will Levis another much-needed weapon that can create explosive plays. The only problem is the franchise tag.

If Higgins has the freedom to sign with any team on the open market, the Titans would be in. Really good spot. But it’s not going to be that easy. The Bengals could simply place the franchise tag on Higgins, opt to pay him $21.6 million in 2024, and would have him under contract next season. Will they choose to do that? Time will tell. But the Titans may not even get a chance at stealing Higgins away.

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2. WR Tyler Boyd

If Higgins does get hit with the franchise tag or the Titans come up short in free agency, fellow Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd would be a nice consolation prize. 

In his eight-year NFL career, Boyd has accumulated 513 catches, 6,000 receiving yards, and 31 touchdown catches.

While Boyd wouldn’t give the Titans the same elite receiving ability that Higgins would, he would still be a significant upgrade over the current players in Tennessee’s receiving room. There’s a world where the Titans target a wide receiver with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft or perhaps with one of their day two draft selections.

A receiving core that starts with DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd, Treylon Burks, and a rookie talent would immediately be a massive improvement from where the organization was just a year ago. I feel confident that Brian Callahan and Will Levis could lead a productive offense with that group.

If the Titans choose not to swing for the fences at wide receiver in free agency, I think they make a call to Boyd and try to reunite him with his former offensive coordinator.

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3. OT Jonah Williams

Another position I expect the Titans to target during free agency is the offensive line. Outside of Peter Skoronski likely being positioned at left guard, the Titans don’t have many pieces in place for their 2024 O-Line. Tennessee is especially thin at tackle.

Offensive tackle is another position the Titans may choose to address in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Picking seventh overall, there should be some elite talents still on the board by the time Tennessee is on the clock. But I also wouldn’t bat an eye at them spending big on one in March. 

Even if the Titans were to select a left tackle like Joe Alt or Olu Fashanu at the top of the draft, Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams would still be a great fit.

Williams played right tackle for the Bengals in 2023 after spending his first three seasons in the NFL at left tackle. He has started 49 games for Cincinnati over the last three seasons. Titans right tackle Dillon Radunz played 774 offensive snaps in 2023 and allowed 36 pressures. Jonah Williams allowed 41 pressures on 1,087 snaps played. But Williams has also played better historically on the left side while Andre Dillard and Jaelyn Duncan gave up a combined 21 sacks this season alone. 

Spotrac has the market value for a Williams free agent deal at $75 million over five years. I'm not sure I go to that number if I'm Ran Carthon, but I definitely pick up the phone and see if he has interest in joining Callahan.

Imagining an offensive line with Joe Alt, Peter Skoronski, Daniel Brunskill, and Jonah Williams blocking for Will Levis feels too good to be true. But it’s a scenario that could become reality if things fall into place for Tennessee.

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4. CB Chidobe Awuzie

While Chidobe Awuzie plays on the defensive side of the ball and did not work directly with Callahan in Cincinnati, that does not mean the Titans can't take a shot at signing the veteran cornerback.

There's still a chance Callahan brings some of the Bengals coaching staff to Tennessee with him. Some of those coaches moving could be defensive coaches that have worked with Awuzie over the last two seasons.

Either way, Callahan has seen Awuzie in practices for two seasons now and should be very familiar with his game. Given the Titans' need for help at corner, checking in with Awuzie makes all the sense in the world.

Over a seven-year NFL career, Awuzie has played for the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals and started 74 games. He has six career interceptions, four forced fumbles, and 369 tackles. 

According to PFF, Awuzie allowed 488 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in 15 games on the 2023 season. For reference, Kristian Fulton allowed 577 receiving yards last season for the Titans while playing 58 less coverage snaps. 

Awuzie is not going to change the landscape of the Titans defense, but he's an upgrade that's familiar with the Titans; new head coach and has experience in the playoffs. It would be a wise, low-risk signing for Tennessee.

Titans locking up their new head coach per report

They have their guy.