NFL power rankings: Training camp edition
By Brad Weiss
Tennessee Titans
, AFC South
The Tennessee Titans finished up the 2016 regular season with a 9-7 record, and many believe that is just a stepping stone to them taking the next step in 2017. Armed with one of the better young quarterbacks in football, the Titans have the pieces in place to make a nice run this season, having put together one of the better offseasons in football. People will need to stay healthy, butt he talent is there for them to take over dominance in the AFC South this season.
The AFC South is going to be good this season, and we actually have the Houston Texans ranked ahead of the Titans. Still, they head into 2017 with a healthy Marcus Mariota, who had the team scratching at a playoff berth before being injured late in the regular season. During the 2017 NFL Draft, the Titans added some weapons for Mariota on offense, including spending a first round pick on Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis.
Davis should slide in atop the depth chart at the wide receiver position, where he will be joined by free agent pickup Eric Decker, and guys like Rishard Matthews and Tajae Sharpe. Delanie Walker is still a solid tight end, and the tandem of Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray at running back is still one of the best in the AFC. The team did not stop at only bringing in offensive free agents, as the addition of Logan Ryan in the secondary could prove to be a big one.
In a possible playoff matchup, the Titans open up their season at home against the Oakland Raiders, whose young quarterback was also injured late last season. They then travel to Jacksonville before hosting the Seattle Seahawks. By the time they play the Houston Texans in Week 4, we should have a good barometer of how good the Titans will be in 2017.