The Good

All-pro running back Derrick Henry once again led the NFL in rushing attempts at 349 in 2022. It’s understandable why considering the issues at quarterback and the lack of explosiveness on offense. The Titans ranked 2nd to last in avg. explosive run rate and avg. explosive pass rate according to Sharp Football. Despite the below average offense, Henry was still able to rack up 1,936 all-purpose yards in 16 games. Henry is still in his prime but in order for him to continue to be successful he needed some help.

The Titans decided to turn to the 2023 NFL Draft to get Henry the help he needs. They selected Tyjae Spears from Tulane in the 3rd round. Spears is exactly the type of change-of-pace back this offense needed. It’s hard to judge too much from preseason games but Spears was impressive in his first action with the team. If you watched Tulane closely this isn’t a huge surprise as Spears averaged 4.10 YAC in his college career. At 5’10” size is a concern but as of now, he will be an ideal backup for Henry.

The Bad

In back-to-back drafts now the Titans have drafted quarterbacks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. First, it was Malik Willis last year and then it was Will Levis in this year’s draft. It appears that Tennessee like the rest of us has doubts about Ryan Tannehill going forward. I don’t mind that the Titans are looking for their next quarterback but if they really felt it was a weakness they should’ve moved up in the draft. Willis still doesn’t look ready and there are questions about Levis and if he can succeed at this level.

The Prediction

The Titans are one of the toughest teams to predict for the upcoming season. On one hand, they have several all-pro players including Jeffery Simmons and the recently acquired DeAndre Hopkins. On the other, all of that won’t matter if Tannehill can’t provide better production from the QB position. I do think they will finish slightly above .500 but it will be just short of the playoffs.

2023 Record: (9-8 2nd in the Division)

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When DeAndre Hopkins was released by the Arizona Cardinals in May, many believed he would sign on with a contender. While the Titans may not be in contention for a Super Bowl, bringing in Hopkins will certainly help their chances. The Titans have built their team around Derrick Henry and a defense that brings Head Coach Mike Vrabel’s intensity.

Offensive Woes

Trading A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles last season left a giant hole on the Titans offense that they couldn’t recover from. In fact, the Titans finished the 2022 campaign with one of the worst offenses in the league. They lacked a true balance and defenses were able to stack up in the box to stop the run. Now with the addition of Hopkins, the Titans should become a more balanced offensive unit.

DeAndre Hopkins the Leader

There is also a leadership role that Hopkins will get to take on. The Titans drafted Treylon Burks in the 2022 NFL Draft with hopes that he could be their #1 going forward. It didn’t go as planned as Burks struggled in his first season in Tennessee. He will now get the chance to learn from one of the best and in turn, should get more open looks. Taking the pressure off of Burks will help his development in this system.

The only question now for the Titans offense is at the quarterback position. Can Ryan Tannehill bounce back next year? If not expect it to be Will Levis time in Tennessee.

The post DeAndre Hopkins and the Tennessee Titans are a Perfect Match appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Houston Texans: How much will C.J. Stroud show in his rookie season?

The C.J. Stroud drama is over and I’m very happy for him. The Texans QB of the future will have a tough road as the Texans have a subpar roster. The good thing is that they are trying to build a young core that will grow together. With this roster, Stroud will have his bad games. His reps will be valuable as I predict there will be some rookie Trevor Lawrence moments. I hope as the season progresses, the Texans will let him do more so he can show potential growth for his sophomore season.

Indianapolis Colts: Will Anthony Richardson be the starter in Week 1?

The Colts took their QB of the future in the raw prospect out of Florida. Anthony Richardson appears to have the highest ceiling among all the QBs but he’s probably the least NFL-ready. This gives the Colts a conundrum. With a roster that was unlucky last season, it has potential to be better than expected. They have Gardner Minshew who is ready to lead the Colts to some wins early on. The question is when they’ll give the keys to AR. He will grow with the reps, but the wins won’t be guaranteed. He’s not Andrew Luck who led the Colts in his rookie season. Training camp will give us a glimpse on the landscape of the Colts.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Is Trevor Lawrence primed to rule the AFC South for years to come?

The Jacksonville Jaguars had a run to remember as they ended a strong second half of the season with a come-from-behind Wild Card win over the Chargers. A lot of this is also on the immense growth of Trevor Lawrence. He looked like the generational QB out of Clemson and was making smart plays. Now, the roster is a year older, and with the addition of Calvin Ridley, the Jaguars look much more impressive compared to their division rivals. There is a scenario where the other three will all start rookie QBs and Trevor is the most experienced. Another strong season with a convincing division win lead will make the Jaguars THE team in the AFC South.

Tennessee Titans: When will Ryan Tannehill give the reigns to the future?

The Titans feel very close to a rebuild. Derrick Henry is getting older and this team doesn’t feel like the team it was before. Ryan Tannehill did lead Tennessee to the playoffs multiple times but it appears he has reached his ceiling. Drafting Malik Willis and Will Levis in conscutive drafts isn’t a good sign either for his Titans career. Once they let either become the starter, it looks like a new era in Tennessee will be happening.

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Will Levis with the First Pick?

Thanks to an anonymous Reddit post, Will Levis to the Carolina Panthers is gaining steam. The post is claiming that Levis is telling friends and family that Carolina is taking him with the first overall pick. Take the post with a grain of salt but it’s important to note that his betting odds have changed dramatically over the past 24 hours. I am not yet buying it as it seems like the Panthers are set on selecting Bryce Young. If Levis doesn’t go number 1, I expect him to go to he Colts.

Jalen Carter to the Seahawks is a Perfect Match

By now we all know the drama surrounding Jalen Carter and his off the field incidents. This will cause him to fall slightly but he is still the best prospect in this year’s draft. Seattle is the perfect fit for Carter and I projected him there in my latest mock draft. Pete Carroll is just what Carter needs as he will motivate and challenge him in the right ways.

Bijan Robinson in the Top 10?

Say what you want about taking a running back in the first round but Bijan Robinson is a different animal. He is the best overall offensive talent in this year’s draft. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield along with his explosiveness sets him apart from the other running backs. Robinson to the Eagles at 10 makes too much sense. The Eagles said goodbye to Miles Sanders this offseason and picked up Rashaad Penny. Penny will be their bruiser but Robinson will be the playmaking RB they are looking for.

Titans Trade for a Quarterback

Tennessee looks like they want to move on from Ryan Tannehill and they have the ammo to make a big draft day trade. We have talked about it before as rumors have Derrick Henry on the trade block. Henry as part of a draft day package should be enough to get the Titans into the top 10 and allow them to select a QB.

Commanders Trade Back Again

In last year’s draft the Washington Commanders traded back in the first round and it was on of the best moves of the draft. They ended up using the draft capital to pick up Jahan Dotson, Brian Robinson Jr. and Sam Howell. These three are the young core the Commanders are now building on as they look to the future. I expect them to trade back again and focus on a CB or an OL. Both are big needs for the Commanders going into next year.

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By: Jake Rajala

The NFL has profoundly magical quarterbacks in Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott, and Matt Ryan. After the first wave of gifted quarterbacks, there is an abundance of quarterbacks that have made flashes of greatness but are still regarded as overrated in my opinion. With that stated, I’m going to untwine five overrated quarterbacks entering 2022.

Ryan Tannehill

The Tennessee Titans signal-caller, Ryan Tannehill, looked worse than the 2020 version of Mitchell Trubisky last season. Tanny only unveiled 21 passing touchdowns (to 14 interceptions) & completely sunk in the playoff contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Titans QB threw one touchdown, three interceptions, and finished with a QBR of 66.7. I believe the Titans made a mistake hanging onto Tannehill this off-season, especially after shipping away A.J. Brown and witnessing Derrick Henry age a bit more. I foresee Malik Willis having the keys to the offense by the mid-point of the season.

Baker Mayfield

I believe the Carolina Panthers made too desperate of a choice to bring in Baker Mayfield this off-season. Mayfield hasn’t made a single Pro Bowl in his career. He’s also thrown 13+ interceptions in three of his four seasons. I don’t believe the outlook is pretty for Matt Rhule and Mayfield in the loaded NFC South. I have an itch that CAR will bring in a new, offensive-minded HC and a QB early in the 2023 draft next off-season.

Zach Wilson

The New York Jets quarterback receives a ton of hope and buzz (mostly for his infamous hand gesture and touchdown), but he honestly had a dreadful rookie campaign: nine passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and 2,334 passing yards. It was a complete surprise to me that the Jets only brought in Joe Flacco to pair with the former BYU signal-caller this off-season. Wilson must have a 2022 season similar to the 2021 version of Mac Jones (at least) with the Jets weapons (Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, and Garrett Wilson).

Jameis Winston

I am jumping from the bandwagon on Jameis Winston being an underrated QB to him being an overrated QB. He undoubtedly was an efficient QB in his seven-game stint last season. However, it is yet to be seen if he can be consistent and clutch over a 17-game span in the upcoming season. Furthermore, he doesn’t have Sean Payton in his corner moving forward. Let’s not forget that he will certainly miss LT Terron Armstead – as the rookie Trevor Penning has already displayed growing pains as a pass-blocker. Winston should continue to be better than his days in Tampa Bay, but can he bring the Saints back to the post-season?

Jalen Hurts

The Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has garnered a lot of praise and very favorable projections. Nonetheless, it’s vital to remember that he didn’t exactly blow defenses out of the building in 2021 (3,144 passing yds, 16 passing TDs, 9 interceptions). With DeVonta Smith AND A.J. Brown, he needs to crack his first Pro Bowl nod and bring his team back to the NFC playoffs.

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By: Andy Davies

The AFC South has been won by the Tennessee Titans, but the addition of Matt Ryan by the Indianapolis Colts and the loss of A.J. Brown for the Titans means the division is as usual, very wide open.

Since 2013, all four teams in the AFC South have won the division. However, who has the best quarterback?

In our final quarterback ranking list, here are your AFC South quarterback rankings.

1. Matt Ryan (Indianapolis Colts)

The only MVP winner in this list, Ryan joined the Colts this offseason after over ten years with the Atlanta Falcons.

In 2021, he still managed to throw for 3,968 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.  Unless injury strikes, Ryan will reach the 60,000 career passing yards mark, currently being 265 away. Only seven players have previously reached the 60,000 mark and Ryan , who is currently eighth on the list for most career passing yards, can eclipse Phillip Rivers into sixth place on the list should he throw at least 3,705 yards or more.

A really good season, where he throws at least 33 touchdowns will also allow Ryan to reach 400 career passing touchdowns. He would become just the eighth player in NFL history to reach the 60,000

Whilst he showed signs of ageing last season, he still makes it as the best quarterback in this list, in what is a bad bunch.

2. Ryan Tannehill (Tennessee Titans)

Tannehill was an eighth overall pick in 2013, when he was selected by the Miami Dolphins. However, injuries and inconsistent play (as well as bad coaching) saw him eventually traded to the Titans in 2018.

He came in for Marcus Mariota mid-season and ended up winning Comeback Player of the Year. Over the course of his career, he has thrown for over 30,000 passing yards, 199 touchdowns and 102 interceptions. Despite this, he has shown signs of decline in the past twelve months. 

In 2021, he threw for 3,734 touchdowns, 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. This is a stark contrast to the 33 touchdowns and 7 interceptions he threw in 2022.

His position as the Titans’ starter is also in question, with the team choosing to draft Liberty QB Malik Willis in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He showed his potential in Thursday night’s preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, completing 6 of his 11 passes for 107 yards  as well as a 7-yard touchdown run.

Tannehill has proved to be a good quarterback for Tennessee, excelling in particular when using RPO plays. However, he has yet to prove he can be the guy to take the Titans to the next level. 

This was proved in their Divisional Round when the number one seed Titans lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, despite Joe Burrow being sacked nine times. Tannehill threw three costly interceptions, and his future has been questioned ever since.

Despite having running back Derrick Henry and a brilliant head coach in Mike Vrabel, the loss of A.J. Brown could end up being the final nail in the Ryan Tannehill Titans coffin.

3. Davis Mills (Houston Texans)

Houston could be a realistic destination for Tannehill should the team decide they don’t want to pursue long term with their current starter Davis Mills. 

Mills was drafted 67^th overall out of Stanford and actually had a solid first NFL season in 2021. He was arguably the second-best rookie quarterback in a class that albeit did not exactly light up the league. In 13 games, he threw for 2,665 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. 

These are neither outstanding nor terrible stats. He did a solid job in a season of turmoil, with everything that went on off the field. 

Solid is exactly why Mills is third on this list. He wasn’t terrible but also hasn’t quite done enough to break into the top two.

4. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)

The 2021 first overall pick had a torrid rookie year but is now free from a dysfunctional Urban Meyer. He threw for 3,641 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions.

However, he can no longer use the Meyer excuse with new head coach Doug Pederson. Should Lawrence have another bad year, there will be more and more usage of the word “bust”. 

Right now, it is hard to put him anywhere but the bottom of this list. Despite this, should he fulfill the potential that we all saw in Clemson, then he will certainly be a lot higher than fourth.

The post Ranking the AFC South Quarterbacks right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Detroit Lions understand that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they shouldn’t be too patient with growing their team. They should acknowledge that it isn’t best to keep Jared Goff placed in the driver’s seat (also known as QB1) forever. With that said, I’m going to simply untwine five quarterbacks that are logical trade targets for the Lions at this point in time.

Jimmy Garoppolo

The 49ers veteran signal-caller, Jimmy Garoppolo, has been stuck in Alcatraz this off-season. Jimmy G will likely be traded prior to the trade deadline, but it’s unclear which team will acquire the former Patriots QB. Per SI, the Bucs have “real interest” in acquiring Jimmy G to return as “the heir to Tom Brady”. I believe the Lions, who certainly have more attractive draft compensation, could outbid the Brady bunch for Garoppolo’s services.

Ryan Tannehill

I believe Ryan Tannehill may not be the sexiest QB trade option, but he is a step above Goff in my opinion (33 passing touchdowns in a slightly above-talented offense in 2020). The Lions also wouldn’t have to break the bank for Tanny. The Indianapolis Colts brought in the 37-year-old Matt Ryan to help the Colts win a Super Bowl. The Lions may opt to push out Goff and acquire the somewhat old (33-year-old) Titans QB that may be replaced by Malik Willis soon.

Daniel Jones

Daniel Jones has been in a brutal position since his first game as a rookie. Danny Dimes flashed greatness as a pocket passer in his first season, but he hasn’t been able to find consistent, success. To be fair, he has often been behind a dreadful offensive line in each phase of his career. Furthermore, he has missed Saquon Barkley far too often. The 25-year-old that is a UFA still might be a fantastic value pickup for the Lions.

Gardner Minshew

Minshew Mania could honestly be the most underrated QB2 in the NFL. I love his competitive fire and floor, but he might not have the most exciting ceiling. He doesn’t possess the same arm talent as Jimmy G or Minshew, but I believe he can be an upgrade over the recent displays by Goff (20 TDs in 2020 and 19 TDs in 2021). He would certainly be less expensive than the 49ers QB, too.

Taysom Hill

Taysom Hill isn’t Steve Young, but he does absolutely have starting potential at the QB position. I understand that Jameis Winston is better than Hill, but it doesn’t mean that Hill can’t be a starter elsewhere. Hill is penciled in as a “joker” on the Dennis Allen-led team, but the Lions (and Hill’s friend in Dan Campbell) should dig up the cost of his services and potentially insert him as the new QB. If a 2023 rookie edges him out as the Lions starting QB, Campbell would still know how to utilize him as a pass catcher and occasional QB.

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By: Jake Rajala

The AFC South may have the most complex group of quarterbacks in the league. With that said, I’m going to simply rank the AFC South quarterback bunch and untwine the outlook for each mysterious AFC South signal-caller.

Matt Ryan

The former Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan is unequivocally the top QB in the AFC South. Ryan has averaged 4,338 passing yards per season over the last three seasons. Aaron Rodgers lost his best friend in Davante Adams, while the veteran Ryan gained Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr, and Alec Pierce. The former NFC Champion honestly has a strong chance to return to the Super Bowl in the near future in my opinion. Ryan is also 37 years old, so he could absolutely play for 4-5 more seasons.

Trevor Lawrence

I really believe the 22-year-old Trevor Lawrence will have a monster sophomore season. Lawrence will have a wiser head coach in Doug Pederson — who won a Super Bowl trophy with Nick Foles. T-Lawrence will also have Christian Kirk, who ousted career numbers in receptions (77), yards (982), and catch rate (74.8) in 2021. He will also have the underrated Evan Engram — as Pederson will look to utilize in a similar way that he incorporated Zach Ertz. Last but not least, Lawrence will enjoy witnessing a healthy Travis Etienne exploit defenses. To be honest – Lawrence could edge out Ryan in passing yards and/or passing touchdowns, but I feel like Ryan will be more efficient and likely have more victories than Lawrence in 2022.

Ryan Tannehill

It may be very hard for Ryan Tannehill to return to Pro Bowl form in 2022 — as he won’t have A.J. Brown and a potentially Top-3 performance from Derrick Henry. Yet, he still should make occasional magic happen with Robert Woods — as the former Rams WR averaged 1,096 yards a season from 2018 to 2020. Furthermore, I expect him to take care of the football and have more success than Davis Mills (who is in a worse situation).

Davis Mills

The Houston Texans second-year quarterback Davis Mills was one of the biggest surprises last season. Mills only had two wins, but he certainly stood out amid the rookie QB class. He had a 66.8 completion percentage and 16 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in 11 games. It may be quite difficult for him to keep pace with fellow AFC South and AFC teams, but I trust that the Mills-Brandin Cooks connection will be electric in 2022.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Tennessee Titans were shockingly able to select former Liberty quarterback Malik Willis in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Titans Wire stated that he was the Titans biggest steal of the 2022 NFL Draft and he may even unveil to be the best value draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Willis, also known as Mina Kimes’s biggest fan, will look to hit the ground running this off-season as the QB2 in Tennessee. There may be countless Titans fans that want to virtually sacrifice Ryan Tannehill for his pedestrian 2021 performance, but the Titans veteran QB that threw 33 touchdowns to 7 interceptions in 2020 still has a strong foot in the door in Tennesee.

Although, if Tanny does struggle or repeat his 2021 performance in the A.J. Brown-less offense in 2022, his future could be very murky in a Titans uniform in the 2023 off-season. Per FansNation, the Titans could save $27 million next off-season (while taking on $9.6 million in dead money) by cutting him after June 1st.

If the soon-to-be 34-year-old, expensive Tannehill is mediocre this season with an aging Derrick Henry (28 years old), and a thin WR unit, it’s not hard to foresee Mike Vrabel axing the once surprise QB. If Willis can be a comfortable pro passer, excel with his legs, and master the scheme, the Titans should feel comfortable giving him the opportunity to start in 2023. I would still expect TEN to sign a veteran QB or potentially a rookie QB to compete with the sophomore QB. Perhaps the Titans third-round draft pick will carry a grand chip on his shoulder, earn the keys to the Titans starting offense beyond 2022, and join Joe Montana and Russell Wilson as incredible, third-round draft steals.

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By: Girvane Nola

The Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill had another productive year as the Titans finished the 2021 season atop of the AFC with a record of 12-5. They were tied with the Kansas City Chiefs though they had a better head-to-head record. The last two years have seen Tannehill explode with 33 touchdowns in 2020 and 21 in 2021. However, his playoffs last season were one to forget. 

Tannehill threw three interceptions, notably one on the first play to Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson. The worst thing about these interceptions was that these came at the most important periods of the game. With 20 seconds left on the clock, He fired a ball that was tipped by Eli Apple and intercepted by Wilson again on the Bengals’ 47-yard line. Bengals go on to win thanks to an Evan McPherson game-winning field goal. 

This was a game that has affected Tannehill mentally as he has since called the loss ”˜a scar that I’ll carry with me the rest of my life. It doesn’t help that he will go into the new season without AJ Brown, who left in free agency. However, gaining Treylon Burks through the draft is promising and with healthy star RB Derrick Henry back, Tannehill’s Titans will certainly win their division. 

What Tannehill must improve on to enhance the Titans’ chances of being Super Bowl contenders is the turnovers, which are too many. He had 14 INTs last season, more concerning is that his previous two seasons before 2021 combined for fewer INTs, with 13. This may show that while Tannehill is not the problem at Tennessee, last season showed he was not a great solution. This may change but time will tell.

However, many of these shortcomings were due to the Titans having an injury-riddled season. For most of the season, pass protection was a worry. Tannehill’s percentage of time sacked when attempting to pass went from 4.8 in 2020 to 8.1 in 2021. The Titans’ fundamental issue has been a widespread and persistent inability to remain healthy. Except for Tannehill, nearly every major offensive skilled player missed multiple games, notably Henry. 

This should not happen again this year. I expect the Titans and Tannehill to find their form again with many of the starters back and running for Week One. Derrick Henry should have another All-Pro season and continue cementing his status as the best RB in the league and expect Tannehill to work on the turnover part of his game and be better protected by his offensive line. 

I feel comfortable for Tannehill to record fewer INTs for this season compared to last. I see the QB recording 28-9 throughout the season. This could be a realistic stat summary for Tannehill should Henry remain healthy and have Tannehill do less than what he needs to do. Last season showed he had to be the solution for a team damaged by injuries. 

This season should not see so many players bruised at the same time. Tannehill and the Titans should return to their very best next year. Whether the Titans’ failure to impress represents his own shortcomings will be something to behold in the 2022 season.

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