The Tennessee Titans faced multiple needs across their roster as they entered the offseason. The approach of their new GM, Ran Carthon, was uncertain – whether to rebuild the team entirely or make a final push for contention.

Carthon opted for a middle ground, retaining crucial veteran players while simultaneously injecting youth throughout the roster.

As training camp looms closer, let's examine the rankings of each positional group within the Titans' lineup.  

1. Running Backs

The Tennessee Titans offense will once again be led by star running back Derrick Henry. He has been an elite running back for five straight years now, and I project that to continue this upcoming season. Henry has a proven track record of shouldering the team’s success and stands out as a one-of-one player on the field.

The Titans also strengthed their RB room during the draft with the selection of Tyjae Spears. Spears is a versatile player who could make an early impact. Keep an eye out for Hassan Haskins, too, as he showed flashes in limited playing time last season. 

2. Defensive Linemen

When discussing the Titans’ defensive line, Jeffery Simmons undoubtedly takes the spotlight. A proven star, he has established himself as the cornerstone of the Titans’ formidable defense.

However, Simmons is not the sole standout in this exceptional position group. Teair Tart and Denico Autry, often overlooked, have played pivotal roles in shaping the Titans' defense over the past few seasons. Their contributions were instrumental in propelling the team to possess the top-ranked rushing defense in the NFL last season.

Together, these three formidable players form the core of the Titans' defensive line and make a significant impact on the team's overall performance.

3. Safeties

Heading into the previous season, Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker were widely hailed as one of the premier safety tandems in the NFL. However, fast forward to the present, and while Byard continues to be recognized as one of the elite players in his position, Hooker’s value has suffered setbacks due to recent injuries.

Byard, once again, delivered a remarkable season, leading the team in both tackles and interceptions. As long as he remains healthy, the Titans can take solace in their safety position, knowing they have an exceptional talent anchoring their defense.

If Hooker can't stay healthy, the safety depth behind him is not amazing. Rookies Josh Thompson and Mike Brown are currently listed as Hooker and Byards' backups. 

4. Special Teams

The Titans have arguably the best punter in the league, Ryan Stonehouse. He is coming off a phenomenal rookie season and looks to be the Titans’ punter for the foreseeable future. 

When it comes to long snapper, the Titans are also set. Morgan Cox is a seasoned veteran who has earned All-Pro honors and is entering his 13th season. 

However, the situation becomes somewhat uncertain at the kicker position. The Titans opted to part ways with Randy Bullock earlier in the offseason, leaving two undrafted free agents, Caleb Shudak and Trey Wolff, vying for the starting role. As the competition unfolds between Shudak and Wolff, the battle for the kicking spot will be something to closely monitor heading into the upcoming season.

The Titans' special teams unit presents a mix of stability, with standout performers like Stonehouse and Cox and a hint of unknown surrounding the kicking position. 

5. Outside Linebackers

This position group is mainly tied to the productivity of one individual, Harold Landry. When Landry last took the field, his performance was nothing short of stellar, boasting career highs in sacks (12), tackles for loss (41), and overall tackles (256).

However, before the start of the 2022 season, Landry suffered an ACL tear, sidelining him for the entire year. Should Landry regain his pre-injury form, his impact as an outside linebacker could significantly elevate the group's standing in future rankings.

Joining forces with Landry is the newly signed free agent, Arden Key. Although Key has proven himself as a dependable backup throughout his career, this marks his first venture as a full-time starter. The spotlight now shines upon him as he steps into this expanded role.

Rashad Weaver is the third string and showed plenty of promise last season. He is still a relative unknown, but he should provide the Titans quality depth at the position. 

With Landry's potential resurgence, Key's newfound opportunity, and Weaver's emerging talent, the Titans' outside linebacker position possesses the potential to thrive, making it a compelling group to monitor this season. 

6. Cornerbacks

The Titans’ cornerback room is full of talent and full of players that can’t stay healthy. In three of the past four seasons, the Titans spent either a first or second-round pick on a cornerback. Those cornerbacks are Kristian Fulton, Caleb Farley, and Roger McCreary.

Fulton is the most successful of the bunch, as he was ranked one of the top cover corners in the NFL last season and has shown flashes of elite play throughout his career. 

McCreary, a standout rookie cornerback, exhibited promise while receiving considerable playing time early on. His performances showed potential and hinted at a bright future in the league.

Farley, on the other hand, represents a wildcard within the group, having been limited to just 12 games since being drafted due to various injuries.

In addition, the return of Elijah Molden and the signing of Sean Murphy-Bunting should give this group a major boost. The key for most of these players is staying healthy. When they are on the field, it is a very formidable group, however, almost all of these players have missed significant time with injury. 

7. Quarterbacks

Ryan Tannehill has shown his ceiling as a Tennesee Titan. He is a solid and reliable QB who can get you to the playoffs but isn’t winning a Super Bowl. However, he is still an above-average starter in this league and still has some gas left in the tank. 

While his numbers have experienced a decline over the past two seasons, it is important to consider that this downturn can be attributed as much to the circumstances surrounding him as to his individual performance.

The intrigue deepens when we examine the quarterback depth behind Tannehill. Malik Willis and Will Levis are currently competing for the backup QB role. These two prospects entered the draft with significant hype, yet both slipped in the draft for various reasons. 

While their potential is undeniable, both players are still in the process of refining the skills necessary to play quarterbacks at this level and are mostly raw talent at this point in the process. 

8. Tight Ends

Chigoziem Okonkwo already looks like a steal and was one of the bright spots on last year’s Titan team. Many think he is set to explode this year, and it looks like the Titans have another gem at tight end. 

However, beyond the talents of Chig, the depth at tight end is relatively thin. In this year's draft, the Titans invested a fifth-round pick in rookie Josh Whyle from Cincinnati to add depth to the position.

Additionally, the Titans brought in Trevon Wesco to take over the Geoff Swaim role. While Wesco may not contribute significantly to the passing game, his prowess as a solid blocking tight end adds value to the team's offensive scheme.

Ultimately, the success of the Titans' tight end position hinges mainly on Okonkwo and his expected breakout season. 

9. Offensive Lineman

Last season, the Titans’ offensive line endured a woeful performance, surrendering the fifth-highest number of sacks in the NFL and eventually becoming a source of ridicule for the team.

However, the Titans spent this offseason overhauling the line. Among the projected starting five, only two players from last season's roster remain: Aaron Brewer and Nicholas Petit-Frere. The remaining positions have undergone significant changes.

Taking their places are free-agent signings Daniel Brunskill and Andre Dillard, as well as first-round draft pick Peter Skoronski. It was clear that the goal this offseason was to get younger and more athletic across the offensive line. While many of these players are still question marks, it should be an improved unit from last season. 

10. Inside Linebackers

The inside linebacker position for the Titans raises several uncertainties. Currently, the projected starters are Azeez Al-Shaair and Monty Rice. Both individuals displayed promising potential in backup roles last season and appear prepared to step into starting positions. Al-Shaair, in particular, operated in the shadows of highly talented linebackers in San Francisco, making him a player worth closely monitoring.

In terms of depth, the Titans possess several players who have the potential to make an impact this season. Luke Gifford, Ben Niemann, Jack Gibbens, and Chance Campbell fall into this category. With neither Al-Shaair nor Rice guaranteed the starting job, any of these players could seize the position if they stand out during training camp or preseason.

11. Wide Receivers

This one was obvious. All offseason, the talk around the team has been about their lack of talent at the wide receiver position. Many thought the Titans would address their wide receiver room with a big free agent signing or a high draft pick, yet neither occurred. 

Heading into the 2023 season, the Titans rely heavily on second-year player Treylon Burks as their clear number-one wide receiver. Burks demonstrated flashes of brilliance during his rookie year, but consistency remains an area for improvement if he aims to emerge as a reliable lead receiver.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is somehow back and is now the team's wide receiver two. Westbrook-Ikhine showed he could be an ok NFL receiver, but he is not up for being the second wide receiver on a depth chart. 

Kyle Philips brings some hope to the unit, as he flashed in training camp as well as Week One of last season before injuries kept him out for the remainder of the year.  

Further down the depth chart, seventh-round rookie Colton Dowell and third-year wideout Racey McMath are expected to step up. Neither has shown much of anything to this point, but both have some sleeper potential. 

To elevate the wide receiver group from its current state, a significant move (hint: Deandre Hopkins) could provide the necessary boost. However, without such an acquisition, the team may face another challenging year at the wide receiver position.

Featured Image via: © George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK