Joe Heller | June 17th, 2020
Last season the Tennessee Titans surprised everyone, even their die-hard fans. After a quarterback change from Marcus Mariota to Ryan Tannehill, the team identity instantly changed. After a run that ended just one victory from playing in the Super Bowl, the team will likely stick with a similar game plan and hope to be playing in Tampa Bay on the last Sunday of the 2020 season.
Make sure to check out all of our other team award predictions here.
Last season’s run saw Ryan Tannehill taking home the Comeback Player of the Year. Running back Derrick Henry stiff-armed his way to the NFL Rushing Title, and through both the Patriots and the Ravens defenses in the playoffs. Many around the league also thought A.J. Brown was robbed of the Rookie of the Year Award that ultimately went to Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
Here are the Titans 2020 team awards predictions.
MVP: Derrick Henry
The team and Henry are still trying to get a long term deal done before the July 15th deadline. The Titans placed the franchise tag on him at the start of free agency.
For the last two seasons, the Titans offense has had success when Henry runs effectively and picking up big chunks of yards. This season they will continue to ride the Henry Express week in and week out. Henry will make a run towards a second straight rushing title and will flirt with the 2,000 yards rushing plateau.
Offensive Player: Ryan Tannehill
After assuming the starting job led the team to a 7-3 record. He threw for over 2,700 yards and 22 touchdowns through the air and four more on the ground. He also led his team on three fourth-quarter comebacks.
With the starting job being his Week 1, he will prove last season wasn’t just a fluke. With Henry likely being the focal point of the offense, Tannehill is unlikely to throw for 4,000 yards, but he will easily eclipse the 3,000-yard mark.
He along with Henry will lead the Titans to a double-digit win total and the AFC South Title. Their home fans will be delighted with a home playoff game at Nissan Stadium.
Defensive Player: Adoree’ Jackson
The team picked up Jackson’s fifth-year option, which shows they have confidence in him being their number one cornerback on their depth chart. The 18th overall pick in the 2017 draft, in turn, will post a Pro Bowl-caliber season.
The biggest thing in his favor is that he will no longer have to defend DeAndre Hopkins twice this season. While he won’t be in the shutdown corner conversation, he will surprise even his greatest supporters. He may even end the season with four or five interceptions.
Offensive Rookie: Isaiah Wilson
The Titans lost right tackle Jack Conklin in free agency, after declining to pick up his option prior to last season, the glaring need offensively became right tackle. While veteran Dennis Kelly is slated in that spot, first-round pick Wilson will likely see extensive playing time and ultimately claim the starting job. His 6’6″ 350 lbs. frame will be the bookend on the right side of the offensive line, the way Taylor Lewan is on the left side.
With a quarterback who can get the ball out of his hands quickly and a running back who needs minimal time to get to the edge, any slight struggle by the rookie will be masked pretty well. The chip on his shoulder that he should’ve been drafted higher will lead to a big season for him.
Defensive Rookie: Kristian Fulton
The Titans second-round pick out of LSU will take the biggest disappointment in this list’s job. The combination of he and Jackson will be among the best cornerback duos in the NFL. If the unanimous early favorite Chase Young doesn’t live up to expectations in Washington, Fulton may be in strong consideration for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award at season’s end.
Biggest Surprise: Corey Davis
Unlike Jackson, Davis didn’t have his fifth-year option picked up by the Titans this offseason. While defenses will be focusing more of their attention on second-year receiver A.J. Brown, Davis will finally put up the numbers the team was expecting when they drafted him fifth overall.
He will have such an impact the team will make every attempt to lock him up next offseason to make him and Brown a tandem for years to come in Tennessee. Which is what the team and their fans were hoping would be the case last season.
Biggest Disappointment: Malcolm Butler
In his two seasons in Tennessee, he has tallied five interceptions, but he hasn’t played up to his five-year $61 million contract, $30 million which was guaranteed. More often than not he was getting beat by his man, relying on safeties Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro to bail him out.
The Super Bowl 49 hero for the Patriots ended up in Bill Belichek’s “dog house” prior to signing with the Titans.
Butler will lose his starting job in favor of rookie Kristian Fulton, and will likely be released by the team after the season.
Questions and comments?
thescorecrowsports@gmail.com
Hit us up on the Socials:
Twitter @thescorecrow
Reddit at u/TheScorecrow
Facebook at The Scorecrow
Instagram at The Scorecrow
Check out our Facebook Group where you can read and post articles at The Scorecrow
Reddit Group where everyone can post without fear of being banned at The Scorecrow
Follow Joe Heller on Twitter @JerseyJoe317
Main Credit Image: [getty src=”1199072547″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”com”]
