The beginning of the 2024 NFL season is right around the corner. The team will kick off the season on Sept. 8 against the Chicago Bears, when the Titans will get the NFL’s first look at Caleb Williams as a professional.
There will be several new starters on this roster. The team spent a ton of money this offseason to upgrade a team that went 6-11 last season, but there are a few holdovers from the 2023 roster who could be gearing up for career years in 2024.
Today, let’s identify the three players on the roster who are in a good position to have their best season yet. This list obviously won’t include rookies, but any other player on the roster is fair game.
Tony Pollard has some big shoes to fill, literally and figuratively. Derrick Henry departed for the Baltimore Ravens in free agency, and Pollard was brought in to help replace that lost production.
Henry was just 500 yards shy of becoming the Titans’ all-time leading rusher and the franchise legend had 1,000-plus yards in five seasons.
Pollard has crossed the 1,000-yard mark twice in his career, doing so in 2022 and 2023. However, the former Dallas Cowboy could easily cross that mark again in 2024.
Pollard will split time with Tyjae Spears, but the Titans paid him handsomely and he will have a ton of opportunities. Expect the veteran to be factored into the passing game, as well.
It would not surprise me to see Pollard set a new career-high in receptions and rushing yards.
Roger McCreary is in an interesting position.
The young corner was the best cover guy on the team last year, but the Titans added proven veterans Chidobe Awuzie and L’Jarius Sneed this offseason.
While some may see that as a sign that McCreary will make less of an impact, I believe it will be just the opposite. McCreary can now stick as the permanent nickel and will have less pressure on him with the veteran additions.
McCreary has collected one interception in each of his two seasons thus far. He’ll get at least two this season, and could even break his previous career-high of 86 tackles.
Chig Okonkwo has been a frustrating player. Everyone has been waiting for the tight end to break out, and that just hasn’t happened yet.
The tight end’s career-high in receptions is 54 and his career-high in receiving yards is 528. Both of those numbers came in the 2023 season.
New head coach Brian Callahan has mentioned a desire to add to the TE position. However, the only additions this offseason were a couple of undrafted free agents and a veteran journeyman. This means that Callahan could be trying to motivate Okonkwo to break out in 2024.
Quarterback Will Levis has several options to throw to. Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, and Tyler Boyd make up an improved WRs room. However, the No. 1 spot at TE is Okonkwo’s to lose, and the TE could rise to the occasion.
