NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans open the 2024 NFL regular season on the road against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 8 at Soldier Field.
After investing $318 million in the team this offseason, the expectations will be for Tennessee to improve on its 7-10 record last season. Titans general manager Ran Carthon added the No. 1 free agents at center and wide receiver in Lloyd Cushenberry and Calvin Ridley, respectively.
Other big additions include starting cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and L'Jarius Sneed (whom the Titans acquired via a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs). The big spending, along with what appears to be a strong draft class, created some tough decisions for Carthon and first-year coach Brian Callahan.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday. Here is the 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Will Levis, Mason Rudolph, Malik Willis
Levis is undoubtedly the guy at quarterback. Rudolph was signed to be the backup and veteran presence for Levis. Willis has shown improvement and makes it as QB3.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Tyjae Spears, Tony Pollard, Hassan Haskins, Julius Chestnut
Tennessee's backfield won't have a feature back for the first time in seven seasons after the departure of Derrick Henry this offseason. Spears and Pollard will be the 1-2 punch. Chestnut had another solid preseason showing and could add some punch in short-yardage situations. Haskins was a solid third-down option and alternate to Henry his rookie year in 2022. His key area of input will come on special teams.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Jha'Quan Jackson
Receiver is now a strength for the Titans. Ridley and Boyd will challenge for the team lead in yards and catches, respectively. Hopkins is a front-runner to lead in touchdown receptions. Things get interesting on the back end, with Burks and Westbrook-Ikhine fighting for game reps when the starters need a breather. Things started to click over the last two weeks of camp for Jackson with big plays in joint practices. He also earned a spot because of his dynamic punt return ability.
TIGHT ENDS (4): Chigoziem Okonkwo, Josh Whyle, Nick Vannett, David Martin-Robinson
Okonkwo and Whyle will see the bulk of the action at tight end. Entering Year 2, Whyle appears to be more comfortable and ready for a bigger role. Vannett was a late addition during the offseason but provides a veteran presence to what is otherwise a relatively young group. Martin-Roberson came alive when the pads came on and showed himself to be a better blocker than expected in addition to a valid option catching the ball.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): JC Latham, Peter Skoronski, Lloyd Cushenberry, Dillon Radunz, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Daniel Brunskill, Jaelyn Duncan, Andrew Rupcich, Geron Christian
It didn't take much to make improvements from last year's unit. But here we are. Latham and Skoronski appear to be the answer on the left side for years to come. Cushenberry instantly strengthens the interior at center. Radunz and Petit-Frere won the starting jobs at right guard and right tackle. New offensive line coach Bill Callahan said he coaches everyone to be the starter, but the depth is where the question marks arise.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (5): Jeffery Simmons, T'Vondre Sweat, Sebastian Joseph-Day, TK McLendon Jr., Keondre Coburn
Sweat and Simmons appear to be a destructive duo. Joseph-Day will be a steady presence up front as well. The depth behind them is where things get muddy. McLendon and Coburn are experienced backups who could get snaps in the rotation. Quinton Bohanna narrowly missed the cut.
LINEBACKERS (9): Harold Landry III, Kenneth Murray Jr., Jack Gibbens, Arden Key, Rashad Weaver, Caleb Murphy, James Williams, Jaylen Harrell, Chance Campbell
Inside linebacker turned out to be a position of depth after being a question mark entering training camp. Fourth-round pick Cedric Gray's shoulder injury could land him on injured reserve, thus saving a roster spot. Otis Reese IV flashed during the preseason and becomes the "54th roster player" who gets a practice squad spot but will be elevated the maximum three times for game days.
CORNERBACKS (5): L'Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie, Roger McCreary, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Gabe Jeudy-Lally
Sneed and Awuzie didn't see much time on the field during camp, and rookies like Brownlee and Jeudy-Lally took full advantage. It helped Jeudy-Lally cement a roster spot. Caleb Farley is another candidate for injured reserve because of a hamstring injury. Veterans Anthony Kendall and Eric Garror have been special teams contributors in the past, but they will likely end up on the practice squad.
SAFETIES (5): Amani Hooker, Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams, Elijah Molden, Matthew Jackson
Diggs quickly vaulted to the top of the safety depth chart alongside Hooker. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson called him a true post safety and tone setter. Adams gives Wilson another option to send after the quarterback on blitzes. The late additions of Adams and Diggs muddied the roster options for some of the younger safeties like Mike Brown and Shyheim Carter. Jackson narrowly gets the nod over Brown and Carter because of his special teams prowess.
SPECIALISTS (3): Ryan Stonehouse (P), Nick Folk (K), Morgan Cox (LS)
Stonehouse makes his return after a season-ending knee injury in Week 13 last year. Folk, a 17-year veteran, returns on a one-year deal after making a career-high 96.7% of his field goal attempts last season. Cox is back for Year 3 with the Titans, his 14th overall.