The Tennessee Titans are coming off what has to be considered by most a pretty successful offseason. It was also one that looks to completely change the entire construct of the franchise.
No longer is the team led by the hard-nosed head coaching of Mike Vrabel, who some believed was setting the team back. But there certainly looked to be proof in the proverbial pudding in the team's regression from playoff contender to two straight losing seasons.
Titans general manager Ran Carthon went out and pretty much found the complete opposite version of Vrabel in former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to hopefully fix that problem. Vrabel's descent came from his lack of innovation — or refusal — at the offensive level, where Tennessee ranked 30th and 28th in total offense over the last two seasons.
So, to no surprise, the Titans went out and made a lot of their focus on the offense this offseason, particularly through free agency. And they were by no means shy about it.
The Titans first went out and outbid the Jacksonville Jaguars for wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Then they took the Cowboys' last remaining true running back of merit in last year's starter, Tony Pollard. And then perhaps with their most important piece of the offensive puzzle, they went out and grabbed veteran center Lloyd Cushenberry, who will be a part of the massive overhaul to the offensive line.
They did sprinkle in some defensive signings in there, too, but they saved most of their new additions to that side of the ball for the 2024 NFL Draft.
As exciting as it is for the Titans to take on these new players, some are not without their inherent risk. That comes with any new free-agent signing. For the Titans, that player this offseason is former Cowboys' running back Tony Pollard.
Tony Pollard is the Titans' riskiest free agent move of the 2024 offseason
First and foremost, let's not discount what Carthon and Callahan did by signing Pollard. When you consider just how badly the running back market has become, Pollard's signing of three years, $24 million ranks him as the 10th best-valued contract, per Spotrac. But again, in comparison to the rest, the Titans didn't go out and break the bank for him (they saved that for Calvin Ridley).
Even though former Titans running back Derrick Henry was still proving productive in his last year, the wear and tear on his body is bound to catch up sometime, and the team didn't want to commit to another excess deal. So, yes, this deal on paper seems solid. However, there are risks.
For one, even though Pollard had become the No. 1 back in Dallas, it's hard to say he was ever a true No. 1, though he did exceed just over 1,000 yards in the last two seasons, besting Ezekiel Elliott by almost 200 yards in 2022.
But you have to consider what was in front of Pollard the last two years, that being one of the better offensive line units in the NFL. Last year, the Titans had one of the worst offensive lines (per, PFF) in the league, though that did mostly come from pass-blocking. They still averaged the 18th-best 108.6 yards per game on the ground. But that was with Henry, who has been one of if not the best backs in the NFL the last several years.
The good news is… well, sort of … is that the offensive line is in reconstruction, albeit under Callahan's father, Bill, coaching it (one of the best in the league). Cushenberry will be at center now, along with first-round selection JC Latham out of Alabama. Those will be two of the guys that will look to make lanes now for Pollard and Tyjae Spears in a one-two punch.
Again, on paper, you look at Pollard and his career 4.8 yards per carry and last two 1,000-yard seasons and see promise. But there still feels like there's a lot to prove with him entering his fifth year with a team in a rebuild.
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