Not many teams have overseen as many changes over the last two season as the Tennessee Titans have. A year ago, they drafted their successor at quarterback and made a switch at general manager. Then this offseason, they overhauled their coaching staff and personnel. That coaching staff will be responsible with getting the most out of a young roster with new faces in key roles.
Having said that, there are some Titans sleepers who could break out during the 2024 NFL season if coached and used right, including Will Levis and Chig Okonkwo.
A true gunslinger
Will Levis started the 2023 season on the bench watching and observing behind the veteran Ryan Tannehill. When he did get his chance, however, he performed quite well. Levis put his bazooka of an arm on full display in his first start, where he threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns.
That was just the start of Levis' aerial exploits. He really loves to push the ball downfield. Levis averaged 10.4 air yards per attempt according to playerprofiler.com. That ranked first among all qualified quarterbacks in the NFL last season. He made good on those attempts, too. Levis finished 13th among quarterbacks in deep ball accuracy rating and second in deep ball catchable pass rate.
Levis is set up well to maintain that level of success down the field and perhaps even improve upon it. The Titans have surrounded Levis with excellent and proven weapons in the passing game with DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard are excellent receivers out of the backfield as well.
In addition to that, Tennessee has bolstered their offensive line and philosophy on that side of the ball. New head coach Brian Callahan has emphasized wanting to be potent in the passing game all offseason long since being named head coach. He helped himself realize that goal by signing Ridley and Boyd and drafting Alabama offensive lineman JC Lathan in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Levis has everything he needs to come through with a breakout season for the Titans. It wouldn't be a major surprise if he made good on his situation and delivered during the 2024 season.
Getting Chiggy with it
Chig Okonkwo was supposed to build off of a very successful rookie campaign in 2023. The year prior, Okonkwo averaged 3.26 yards per route run, which paced all tight ends in the NFL. He's had flashes looking like a legit weapon in the passing game from that position.
Granted, the sample size wasn't massive, as Okonkwo played at least 50% of the Titans' offensive snaps in a game just twice. He also ran only 138 routes playing behind the veteran Austin Hooper.
Okonkwo got more opportunity in 2023 and, while he played well, he didn't quite break out the way many hoped. His yards per route run average dipped to 1.39 and he finished with just 528 yards in 17 games. No one would say that averaging 31 yards per game qualifies as a breakout season.
Okonkwo's competition for targets has grown tremendously this offseason, but a rising tide could lift all boats. If the Titans are going to throw the ball more frequently this year and Okonkwo is on the field, he should get more looks and chances to grow as a player.
Okonkwo should have plenty of opportunity. The Titans' depth chart at tight end beyond him consists of players (Josh Whyle and Nick Vannett) who combined for 10 receptions, 97 yards and a touchdown last season. Thomas Odukoya is also on the roster but he has never appeared in an NFL game.
With such little competition at his position on the Titans' roster, there's no reason for Okonkwo to not have a major role in 2024. If the Titans' offense improves, his numbers should too. Okonkwo is one of a few sleepers on this Titans roster and someone to watch out for in the 2024 season.
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