5 breakout stars to watch for Tennessee Titans in 2020

The Tennessee Titans have made a habit out of finishing 9-7 but in 2019 made a deep playoff run. Could a few players emerge this fall and elevate the club?

Remember the days when the Tennessee Titans could barely buy a win? From 2014-15, the franchise was an abominable 5-27. The past four seasons, the club has finished 9-7 each of those years and reached the playoffs twice since ’17.

Of course, this year’s postseason run was pretty impressive. Mike Vrabel’s squad bested both the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and 14-2 Baltimore Ravens on the road. And Tennessee owned a 10-point lead at Kansas City in the ACC title game before falling, 35-24.

This offseason, the team has parted ways with a few familiar names but re-upped with 2019 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Ryan Tannehill and also franchised running back Derrick Henry – who has already signed his tender. But despite last year’s impressive stretch run, the Titans haven’t won at least 10 games or a division title since 2008. Could the following five players have big years and change all that in 2020?

5. T Dennis Kelly

Back in 2016, the Tennessee Titans made a wise choice by selecting Michigan State University tackle Jack Conklin with the eighth overall pick in the draft. The standout performer would go on to earn All-Pro honors in his rookie campaign. And his four-year stay in Nashville included three seasons of which he started all 16 regular-season games. But in the team’s 2017 playoff loss at New England, he suffered a knee injury that affected him the following season, one in which he played in only nine contests. And the Titans somewhat surprisingly refused to pick up the fifth year option on Conklin, who is now a member of the Cleveland Browns.

Tackle Dennis Kelly is certainly not a newcomer to the league. The 30-year-old veteran was dealt to the Titans from Philadelphia back in 2016. With Conklin gone, the 6’8”, 321-pound pro has an opportunity here to make his mark.