The Tennessee Titans are in the midst of their general manager search after firing Ran Carthon just two years into his stint. After finishing the 3-14 season, this is a crucial time for the franchise.
With the team holding the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft, the team needs some clarity and stability in their front office. The roster lacks depth and talent at many positions and there are many tough decisions ahead. Still, 2024 wasn’t a total loss, especially with some bright spots from the 2024 NFL draft.
JC Latham, T’Vondre Sweat and Jarvis Brownlee all played major roles in 2024, while Cedric Gray, Jha’Quan Jackson, James Williams and Jaylen Harrell all logged playing time and gained valuable experience.
Three of those players, though, performed better than many expected and played their way onto Dane Brugler’s regular-season All-Rookie Team for The Athletic.
Offensive tackle
Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 1, No. 5); JC Latham, Tennessee Titans (Round 1, No. 7)
The Chargers passed on Nabers, but I don’t know many who believe they made the wrong choice. That is how good Alt has been.He is incredibly consistent with his steps, hands and body movements to frame up rushers and win with leverage. And he is doing all this at a position he hadn’t played before this season. This is going to sound hyperbolic, but based on Alt’s performance and development, it wouldn’t be surprising if he ascends to be the league’s top right tackle at some point the next few seasons.While Alt moved from the left side to the right, Latham made the reverse transition and played well in his first season at left tackle. It was far from perfect, and he had understandable struggles for a rookie, but Tennessee can feel comfortable it has its long-term left tackle.
Latham was far from perfect, especially down the stretch, but he did show the talent to be a solid NFL lineman. There were some bumps with his transition to left tackle, although he did hold up. The Titans have options moving forward if a better left tackle prospect comes along, with his ability to slide back to right tackle and be a dominant force that solidifies arguably their biggest hole.
Braden Fiske, Los Angeles Rams (Round 2, No. 39); T’Vondre Sweat, Tennessee Titans (Round 2, No. 38)
Fiske finished as the rookie leader in sacks (8.5) and collected 51 pressures, three behind Quinnen Williams. He always had the twitchy urgency and quickness to make an impact in the NFL, but the continued development with his hands was awesome to see.Selected one spot before Fiske, Sweat generally was viewed as a potential first-round pick based on size and ability, but questions about his weight and off-field consistency removed him from several boards. The Titans rolled the dice and, so far, that gamble has paid off. Sweat might never be a playmaker as a pass rusher, but he destroys gaps in the run game and has better range than his 360-pound size would suggest.
Sweat out-played all of the noise surrounding him coming out of Texas and proved to be a force in the middle of their defense. While there is room for growth in technique, you cannot teach his natural combination of size and athleticism. Sweat appears to be an anchor for the defense and was a big hit in the second round.
Brownlee did not finish in the top four cornerbacks on this end of the season list, but was given an honorable mention nod by Brugler and rightfully so. He was thrust into action and delivered. Yes, it wasn’t the smoothest year and he had a rollercoaster season, but no one expected him to jump into the starting role early in the season. When L’Jarious Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie were out, Brownlee stepped in and held his own. If Sneed can return healthy in 2025, the Titans cornerback room looks to be in good hands.
While none of the rookies were perfect, they showed signs with their performances that they can be foundational pieces for the future. With the Titans holding the No. 1 overall selection, fans hope that the next general manager can select players that will have a similar impact in 2025 and beyond.