We are here at the home stretch leading into training camp, and you can feel the excitement of a new NFL season building with every passing hour. 

When the Tennessee Titans enter training camp on July 22, they will be focused on redemption, out to prove that their dismal performance in 2024 was a mirage and that they were a better team than their 3-14 record indicated. Armed with a rebuilt offensive line, a new quarterback, and a retooled roster with a solid mix of veteran leadership and young talent, there is a renewed sense of enthusiasm emanating from the facility.

For those who follow the team, expectations of improvement are evident everywhere on social media, and on paper, the team appears to have made significant improvements. But will it translate to the field, and if it does, what are realistic expectations heading into 2025?

Those are both valid questions that remain unknown at this point, but the Titans do have a chance to improve. Even some outside the Titans’ orbit see the potential. Kevin Patra of NFL Media feels the Titans have a chance to surprise in 2025 and could potentially go from worst to first in the AFC South. 

Rank 4 – Tennessee Titans

AFC South · 2024 record: 3-14

When I started this exercise, I didn’t expect the Titans to be anywhere near this high up. Playing in the AFC South has its benefits. Like Houston two years ago, Tennessee could take advantage of a division littered with question marks. Cam Ward becoming the 2025 version of C.J. Stroud or Jayden Daniels could do it. The Titans buffered the young passer with veterans. Finally shoring up the worst offensive line in football was vital. I have concerns about Dan Moore Jr. and an aging Kevin Zeitler over the course of a full season, but they’re worlds better than some of the guys Tennessee employed last year. The Calvin Ridley-Tyler Lockett pairing gives Ward two receivers who know how to get open and help a young QB. The Titans’ defense, however, has significant question marks, particularly on the edge. If L’Jarius Sneed can’t stay healthy again, toss in corner as a question mark, as well. Brian Callahan’s club struggled alongside its first-year coach in 2024, but let’s not forget the Titans were in a slew of games where the quarterbacks bungled the end, losing six one-score tilts. If Ward can help flip those close Ls into Ws, Tennessee has a shot at turning things around in a division no club has put the clamps on.

This analysis by Patra hits on the reality of the 2024 season and reveals that the Titans weren’t as bad in 2024 as their record indicated, especially early in the season before injuries ravaged their roster. Tennessee had chances throughout the season, but could not close the door. 

To that end, General Manager Mike Borgonzi went out and added some veteran leaders who can help settle the team’s emotions when adversity arises. Players such as Tyler Lockett, Kevin Zeitler, Xavier Woods, and even Brandon Allen will likely have larger roles inside the locker room and on the sidelines in 2025. 

There are still questions that need to be answered in training camp, but this team has a chance to turn things around this season, and playing in the AFC South is an advantage. When you couple that with one of the weaker schedules in the NFL, becoming the surprise team of 2025 is a distinct possibility. 

The journey begins when players report to training camp on July 22. 

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: NFL insider: Titans have ‘a shot at turning things around’ in 2025