Lifting Levis: Have The Titans Done Enough At WR?

When the Tennessee Titans selected Will Levis in the second round of the 2023 draft, a team used to trying to win now started to nod towards leaving it’s past behind.

With nine games left into the season, Levis took the reins from long time starter Ryan Tannehill and the Titans turned a corner towards the future.

That continued when Derrick Henry wasn’t re-signed after dominating the Titans backfield for the last nine seasons while accruing 9,502 yards on the ground and 90 touchdowns.

Titans have looked like a team embracing a rebuild at times, but have also spent a lot of money in the off season to improve it’s offense. That leaves the question of just what exactly is Tennessee’s goal for this year's team. The AFC South is certainly a gettable division though the Houston Texans appear to be on an upward trend with C.J. Stroud and the Colts and Jaguars both have their QB’s of the present and future.

All of a sudden, the Titans find themselves in a division restocked with young QB talent.

So perhaps that explains why the Titans have spent money in the wide receiver room in the offseason, highlighted by doling out $92 million for Calvin Ridley for 4 years on the first day of free agency. Ridley spent the 2022 season suspended for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, and was then traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars where he caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns.

Ridley’s play for Jaguars was up and down, he struggled to be a dominant #1 receiver or return to his 2020 form where he caught 90 receptions for 1374 receptions.

But after nearly two seasons off with a COVID shortened season and a year-long suspension, Ridley might be poised for a breakout 2024.

Considering that the Titans new offensive coordinator Nick Holz was the passing game coordinator at the Jaguars when Ridley was there, Ridley should be familiar with the system and the Titans offensive coordinator will be familiar with how to get the most out of Ridley.

The Titans weren’t done spending money on pass catchers.

The Titans also signed former Bengals slot receiver, Tyler Boyd for $4.5 million.

Boyd has been one of the best slot receivers in the NFL during his eight seasons in Cincinnati.

He will now join a receiving room that already had Deandre Hopkins, signed the previous off-season, and former first round pick Treylon Burks.

Burks has struggled to produce and stay on the field after being drafted 18th overall by the Titans in 2022. He has had seasons of 444 yards and 221 yards in his first two seasons with just one touchdown.

So why are the Titans spending money on proven veterans like a win now team?

Titans appear to be a team that’s not given up competing this season, but more importantly, they’re a team that’s giving Will Levis the weapons to show if he’s the QB of the future or not.

Levis started hot last year, tossing four touchdown passes in a 28-23 win over Atlanta, but would throw four more touchdowns the next eight games.

Brian Callahan takes over the Titans with a QB he didn’t draft, but Callahan and new offensive Coordinator Nick Holz appear to be giving Levis experience and talent at the wide receiver position to prove that he’s a potential franchise quarterback.