The Titans’ five most interesting marquee player matchups on the 2024 schedule

NASHVILLE - The way this year's NFL schedule falls sets up the Tennessee Titans for an entertaining stretch of games during the 2024 season.

The Titans will be facing off with the highly anticipated Chicago Bears in Week 1, rematch with the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, and have a chance for head coach Brian Callahan to beat his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals.

I've already gone over the Titans games on the schedule that I find the most interesting, but what individual players are on the schedule that will be worth the price of admission alone? Here are five marquee matchups that the Titans have with opposing players on the schedule.

To be clear, these are five players that I think bring a unique and captivating storyline with them this season, each one for a different reason. These are not necessarily the best players Tennessee will face, but simply the individuals who make you say "that's interesting. I want to see them play."

Let's have at it in chronological order based on when they'll each match up with the Titans.

1. QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

This one is pretty self explanatory. It's Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and probably the most polarizing quarterback prospect to go first overall since Baker Mayfield.

Williams is walking into a great situation with the Bears who finished 7-10 in 2023 and spent big money over the offseason to bolster their roster. What rookie quarterback gets to throw to weapons like Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet?

Whether good or bad, Williams is going to command a lot of attention and discussion this season - especially playing in a big market like Chicago. The Titans heading to Soldier Field for his debut is a lot of fun. Must see TV.

2. QB Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets

The Bears are the team getting the most offseason hype this year, hence why they've been named the subject of HBO's 'Hard Knocks.' But just last year, all of that energy and attention was directed towards Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.

The Jets assembled one of the best young rosters in football with a promising head coach leading them in Robert Saleh, but always seemed to be a quarterback away from playoff contention. Rodgers was supposed to fix that problem, but his first season with the Jets lasted just four snaps before he tore his achilles.

It feels like some of that hype has subsided by now...but I'm intrigued to see what the Jets will look like if Rodgers is healthy. More importantly, I'm intrigued to see what Rodgers looks like. He's going to turn 41 before the 2024 regular season finale. He just tore his achilles. Is Rodgers still elite after all that? His mobility and improvisation skills have made him so dangerous for so many years. Does the injury and his age take that part of his game away? The Titans will see for themselves in Week 2.

3. WR Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

Tyreek Hill is always worth the price of admission. He's one of the most fun players to watch and if you blink, you could miss and game-changing play. The impact he has on the Miami Dolphins can not be understated, and the Titans aaw this first-hand just last season.

Hill was injured in the first half of last season's Monday Night Football game against the Titans with an ankle injury. When Hill was off the field, Miami's offense looked night and day different.

Had Hill stayed healthy for the entirety of that game, I don't think the Titans are able to stage that epic comeback and steal a win 28-27. Can Tennessee hang in there with Miami if Hill is playing at full strength? And how does the addition of L'Jarius Sneed (who has had success against Hill in the past) improve the Titans' chances?

4. OLB Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers

I will never not be fascinated to watch Khalil Mack play football. And for me, 2024 will be an especially interesting time to watch Mack go at it.

The 2016 AP Defensive Player of the Year found the fountain of youth in 2023 and recorded a career-high 17 sacks. That was the 4th best mark in the NFL. Tennessee managed to avoid dates with elite pass rushers T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett unlike last year, but the duo of Mack and Joey Bosa is scary when they're both healthy.

Does Mack still have it at age 33? How does the Titans' new offensive line handle the future Hall of Famer? Get your popcorn ready.

5. QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will be a fascinating matchup against the Titans for multiple reasons.

Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan is the QB guru that had been Burrow's offensive coordinator for every year of his career. Nobody outside of the Bengals organization knows Burrow better than Callahan.

But I can't talk about Burrow in 2024 without bringing up his wrist injury. A torn wrist ligament ended Burrow's 2023 season early, and the 27-year-old quarterback is still recovering well into the offseason.

Burrow is under contract with the Bengals through 2029, although his injuries have prevented him from consistently playing at the Super Bowl ceiling we once saw. He had a calf injury to start the 2023 campaign, and ended the year on the shelf with a separate issue. Can Burrow stay healthy long enough to even play against the Titans this fall? And if he's on the field, is he at full strength?

Related: ESPN gives Titans a puzzling dilemma in latest NFL mock draft scenario