Rich Eisen names surprising NFL sleeper team for coming season

The Tennessee Titans underwent a complete regime change as well as a revamping of much of their roster this offseason.

In addition to hiring former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as head coach, the Titans added his father Bill — widely regarded as perhaps the top offensive line coach in the NFL — to staff, signed running back Tony Pollard, receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, center Lloyd Cushenberry, cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie in free agency and drafted offensive tackle JC Latham and defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat.

For those reasons, NFL Network’s Rich Eisen has picked the Titans as his top sleeper team for the 2024 season.

“The wide receiver room — Calvin Ridley, [DeAndre Hopkins] and Tyler Boyd — this guy Brian Callahan, he’s from the (Sean) McVey (coaching) tree, people,” Eisen said . “The running game, I know everyone thinks Derrick Henry’s gone, it’s going to be garbage — [but don’t sleep on] Tyjae Spears and Pollard. I don’t know [if they’ll win the division[ but I just think they’re going to be better than you think.”

Eisen may have a point.

After all, Tennessee lost seven games last season by one score and an argument could be made the team was a few plays away from making the postseason rather than being left out in the cold.

Following the Titans' 6-11 season last year, the organization fired head coach Mike Vrabel and replaced him with a more offensively forward-thinking coach in Callahan. The team also invested more in offensive skill players and surrounded second-year quarterback Will Levis with a strong supporting cast.

The Titans do, however, have their work cut out. After adding All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs and bolstering their pass-rush and secondary, the Houston Texans are the favorites to repeat as AFC South champions.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts were one game away from the playoffs last season, too. Both should be right in the thick of the race again this year. Tennessee has some stiff competition in its own division if it is to compete in 2024.