The Tennessee Titans have quietly loaded up on talent this offseason. On offense, the team signed former Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley to pair with DeAndre Hopkins. They also added former Cowboys running back Tony Pollard. On defense, the team traded for L’Jarius Sneed from the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs. While there are still questions on the roster, they aren’t void of talent. The team is taking a flyer on another potential talent. The Titans have signed former first-round pick Shane Ray to a deal.
Tennessee Titans Sign Shane Ray
The Denver Broncos took Shane Ray out of the University of Missouri in the 2015 NFL Draft. He played in 14 games that season, and the team won the Super Bowl 50. His sophomore season was his best as he racked up 48 tackles, including six for loss, 21 quarterback hits, eight sacks, and one forced fumble. Then, the injuries started to pile up. Denver decided not to extend his rookie contract, and Ray has not seen any NFL action since 2018.
It was a shock to some that the Tennessee Titans signed the former Missouri standout to a deal. He had worked out for teams before but had been passed over. The Titans brought him in for a workout last week and must have liked what they saw. The 31-year-old outside linebacker will attempt an unprecedented comeback to the NFL.
This Year Is All About Levis
Give the Tennessee Titans some credit. They are making sure that the second-year quarterback, Will Levis, has no excuses. The former Kentucky quarterback is surrounded by a nice blend of young talent and veteran playmakers. They need to know whether Levis is their future or whether they need to look elsewhere. In his rookie season, he showed some promise. Some rookie quarterbacks come in and fall flat, but Levis showed that he could win some games at this level.
However, the team wants more than a mediocre starter. They need to see improvement across the board. The offensive line should be better as they have invested the last two first-round picks on the line. Hopkins is aging but still has elite hands. Pollard is now a season removed from a devastating leg injury and should be better this year. No matter how many games the team wins, the most important thing is evaluating Levis.
A Quick Side Note About The Broncos
It is worth noting the history of the Denver Broncos picking in the first round since taking Shane Ray in 2015. After taking Ray in 2015, they then took Paxton Lynch, Garett Bolles, Bradley Chubb, Noah Fant, Jerry Jeudy, Pat Surtain II, and Bo Nix. This doesn’t include three first-round picks they traded for Russell Wilson and Sean Payton. Outside of Pat Surtain II and Bradley Chubb, that’s not an impressive track record. The jury is still out on Bo Nix, but many are pessimistic about the pick.
Every NFL fan should be cheering for Shane Ray. Battling back from injuries is not just a physical task but a mental one, too. It will be interesting to see if he makes the 53-man roster or is just a training camp placeholder.
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