Three reasons Titans TE Josh Whyle will have a big 2024 season

NASHVILLE - With a new coaching staff implementing a new offense for the Tennessee Titans in 2024, there will be an opportunity for growth for many different players.

One of Tennessee's many young players hoping to earn a bigger role and impress the new coaching staff is tight end Josh Whyle, who was drafted by the Titans in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Whyle is often forgotten when discussing the Titans' offensive weapons in 2024, but the 24-year-old might have a much bigger impact than people expect. Here are three reasons why.

1. Relationship with QB Will Levis

One thing Josh Whyle definitely has working in his favor is his chemistry with Titans quarterback Will Levis. Whyle and Levis were both members of the 2023 draft class and hit it off from the moment they arrived in Music City.

That relationship has only gotten stronger over time. Levis was singing his tight end's praises as recently as OTAs in June.

"I love Josh [Whyle]. He's a juice guy that we've got on this team. He has come along as one of those guys this year that's been cool to see come out of his shell and be a cool and fun presence in the locker room," said Levis of his teammate. "He works his tail off. He's prepared every day. He puts a lot on himself and I feel like that's why we're pretty similar. Ever since we came in here as rookies we've been kind of hip to hip."

Whyle is part of the group of Titans players that are vacationing together in Cabo, Mexico. He has been working out with Levis, DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and a few others.

Chemistry with the quarterback is essential for any pass catcher, but it seems to be even more important for tight ends. If Whyle can become a target that Levis regularly trusts, his frame and athleticism could make him a go-to option on third downs.

2. Second year jump

It's not easy to come in and contribute on Day 1 as an NFL tight end. It's a position with a steep learning curve and one that consistently sees a jump in production when players get into their second and third year.

Just look at the careers of George Kittle, Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, or Cole Kmet. Those are some of the top tight ends in the league, and all of them took at least one season before really hitting their stride in the NFL.

Other tight ends in Whyle's draft class such as Luke Musgrave, Michael Mayer, or Luke Schoonmaker also got out to a slow start. So it's reasonable to think that Whyle will improve just from having a full year under his belt.

"I mean, Josh (Whyle) has really put together a nice first offseason really as a pro. Obviously your first year coming in as a rookie is hard. Tight end’s a hard position to contribute to immediately. It takes some time. There's a lot of nuance. There's pass game, there's run game. There's a lot to it," said Titans head coach Brian Callahan of his second-year tight end. "He's really done a nice job taking that step and growth in the second year. He's big, he's got a large catch radius and he can run. And so, those guys are fun tools to have, and if he keeps progressing. I'm really excited about what he can bring for us. He's done a really nice job."

3. Unique traits

Anytime I'm looking for a player with breakout potential, I look for a player with a unique skillset that his teammates do not have. That can help identify players who are more likely to earn playing time. If you can do something better than every else on the team, there's a good chance you'll get opportunity.

Whyle has one of those unique skillsets. His combination of size and ball skills make him a viable red zone threat. He's difficult for opposing defenses to match up with and he can go get a jump ball over defenders. None of the other tight ends on Tennessee's roster have that ability to the same extent as Whyle.

"Whyle has really good ball skills for a big guy. So that kind of target, especially in the red zone and on third down and things like that. He's more of a matchup (problem) than he is probably given credit for," offensive coordinator Nick Holz told Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. "We'd love to get him in some of those 1-on-1 situations because he has so much height and he has really good ball skills."

Whyle's ability in the red zone was on full display during his college career. He set the school record at the University of Cincinnati for career touchdowns (15) by a tight end.

As Holz mentioned, I think the Titans are really going to value Whyle's size and play strength in the red zone. It will also come in handy on third down. Pairing that with his chemistry with Will Levis, and I think there's a world where Josh Whyle has much more significant impact on the Titans' offense than fans might be ready for.

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