The Tennessee Titans struggled in 2024, finishing dead last in a putrid AFC South.
The Jacksonville Jaguars weren't far ahead of the Titans with four wins while the Indianapolis Colts had eight, allowing the Houston Texans to cruise to a division title with just 10 victories.
The Texans were a fourth-place team in 2022 before winning the division in 2023, so it's possible for a team to go from last to first within a year, but it will be a tall task for the Titans to achieve that goal.
"You can't expect rookie QBs to have good seasons. Yes, this is even true for first overall picks like Cameron Ward. After all, Chicago's Williams finished 28th out of 32 qualifying quarterbacks in QBR last season," ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz wrote.
"Then again, Will Levis was dead last out of 32 qualifying quarterbacks in QBR last season. So, even a below-average season for Ward will likely be an improvement for Tennessee.
"Like New Orleans, the Titans have bigger issues on the other side of the ball — their defense projects at 30th in DVOA. There's a lot of hope around veteran cornerback L'Jarius Sneed bouncing back from injury or a big season from unheralded additions such as edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones. But the Titans really didn't gain much defensive talent this offseason and haven't drafted many contributors in recent years. They haven't used a first-round pick on a defensive player since Jeffery Simmons in 2019."
Ward will be the biggest key towards the Titans' success. If he comes out like a cannonball and helps the team right away, they could be in play for a division crown. The Colts and Jags look like they could struggle this season, and the Texans aren't a slam dunk to win the AFC South themselves.
It will take a lot, but the Titans certainly shouldn't be counted out.
Titans HC Pleased With Cam Ward's Progress
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward has a lot to learn before taking the field in the NFL for the first time.
The Titans are giving him some sort of crash course in the offseason trying to get him ready for the next level.
Titans head coach Brian Callahan is happy with the progress Ward is making as the offseason rolls along.
""It's just the recognition part, understanding what's being thrown at him from a defensive perspective," Callahan said via team reporter Jim Wyatt. "The protection game is always really important, so you're getting reps at that. (Tuesday was) a big third down day, so he'll see lots of different pressures, understanding where your answers are. Those things have progressed. Happy with that process so far."
"And then he's seeing different types of space and field defense that — throws that maybe he might've made in college that don't show up in the NFL the same way and he's learning from those. I think it's been great. He's had a lot of learning that has occurred from just the act of doing and things that he's maybe used to doing that are different at this level and that's always for young quarterbacks the case, it's always going to feel different. So pleased with where he's at, he's picking it up pretty quickly as far as the mental part goes and we're learning every day he's out here."
Ward proved in college why a team should take him with the No. 1 overall pick, so the talent is certainly there. The question remains as to whether he will be able to take the small differences between being a college star and a true NFL franchise quarterback and alter his game to make it possible.
