The Tennessee Titans had gone through a tough stretch in recent seasons, but it looks like they will turn the corner sooner rather than later. That said, they still have a long way to go before they can be a legitimate threat to compete with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the rest of the AFC South. A recent prediction confirms that belief.
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report took a look at the weakest link in every NFL division and surprisingly didn't pick the Jags. Instead, he projects the Titans to finish last in the AFC South, pointing out that Cam Ward gives them a reason for optimism, but the team around him could ultimately hold him back.
"Tennessee Titans fans should be excited about No. 1 overall pick Cameron Ward," Moton wrote. "He can make throws all over the field, extend plays with his legs and finish drives on quarterback keepers. However, Tennessee has a below-average supporting cast around him. Besides wide receiver Calvin Ridley, the Titans don't have a receiver playing at peak performance in his prime years."
Moton continued, "Van Jefferson hasn't recorded more than 24 receptions in a season since 2021. Tyler Lockett has seen a sharp decline in receiving yards over the last three years. Treylon Burks has battled injuries, hindering his ability to establish consistency in three seasons. By the way, Titans left tackle Dan Moore Jr. allowed 12 sacks with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, per Pro Football Focus."
Later, Moton goes on to say that Chig Okonkwo is a solid albeit unremarkable starter, pointing out that he hasn't averaged more than 10 years per catch in each of the past two years and has a combined six touchdowns dating back to 2022.
Heading into training camp, Tennessee's win totals sit at 5.5, per BETMGM, so Moton's prediction isn't particularly shocking. Head coach Brian Callahan is entering his second season with the Titans, but Mike Borgonzi replaced Ran Carthon as the general manager. Based on their projected wins and their youth movement, you could argue that they're still in the midst of a rebuild.
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The 2025 Titans could be the 2021 Jaguars all over again
Cam Ward has garnered rave reviews ahead of the regular season and could give the Jacksonville Jaguars fits for years to come. However, it may not be this year, because the Tennessee Titans have a long way to go to catch up with the rest of the division. In fact, the rookie quarterback is entering a situation reminiscent of Trevor Lawrence in 2021.
That year, the former Clemson Tiger was a promising rookie. However, the Jags hired the incompetent Urban Meyer as the head coach and didn't build a solid team around him. To nobody's surprise, Lawrence struggled in his first season,k but that had plenty to do with the dearth of help the organization provided him.
Once the Jags gave Lawrence a more qualified coach in Doug Pederson and a better supporting cast, he showed a notable improvement. He once again slid when Pederson stopped getting actively involved in his development, but that's a story for another time. The point is that Ward is dealing with similar circumstances as a rookie. Working in his favor is that Brian Callahan isn't as dreadful as Meyer. Heck, he could turn out to be a fine head coach down the road.
On the other hand, Calvin Ridley gives the former Miami Hurricane a bona fide No. 1 receiver to throw the ball to. Moreover, Tennessee has a solid backfield tandem in Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, so the cupboard isn't totally bare. That said, Ward is still missing a few more weapons.
Then again, the Jaguars cannot overlook the Titans simply because Ward is a rookie or his supporting cast leaves much to be desired. Divisional bouts are always tough, and Tennessee could take things to the wire. Heck, nobody would be surprised if they split the series in 2025.
Having said that, the Titans won't take the Jags by surprise if they don't take them lightly. Simply put, they aren't very good right now.
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