NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Ran Carthon became Titans general manager on Jan. 18, 2023.

He didn’t have the final say on personnel in his first year, but he was certainly involved. He's had total roster control in his second season, which included a large free-agent class that included $197.6 million in guaranteed money.
 
Indications are he will be safe after the final three games even as the Titans finish with 10-plus losses for the third consecutive season for the first time since 1983-86. If they don’t win out, it will be the first time in franchise history that they go three consecutive seasons posting increasingly worse records.

Ran Carthon
Ran Carthon/ Angie Flatt

One guy has followed a similar timetable. 

Monti Ossenfort didn’t get the Titans GM job from his role as director of player personnel, but did get the GM job in Arizona. There, the Cardinals have managed to follow up a 4-13 campaign in 2023 with a 7-7 2024 season where they are a game off the lead in the NFC West and three places out of the final Wild Card spot.
 
Understanding that Carthon’s had two cycles, one without full roster control, here is a look at the roster Carthon inherited and the one he’s got now.

Spolier: While some areas are better, working with the terrible group he inherited, it shouldn't have been hard to improve most position groups if he's got the eye for talent Amy Adams Strunk sold Titans' fans on both when he was hired and when his job responsibilities were narrowed a year later. 

He's not done nearly enough. The only major impact has come at receiver and corner.
 
QUARTERBACK
 
Then: (Ryan Tannehill), Malik Willis, Josh Dobbs
 
Now: Will Levis, Mason Rudolph
 
Tannehill’s game was fading, but in his final season, he was still better than Levis has been. Levis was just benched in-game and for the next game. The Titans trade up to get Levis 33rd in the second round for a swap of seconds, a swap of thirds and their 2024 third was not a good trade. What I’ve learned is that, while there may have been a Carthon faction and a Mike Vrabel/Ryan Carthon faction, everyone was on board with Levis as the choice there. They needed a Tannehill replacement, but chose poorly
 
Better or worse? WORSE

RUNNING BACKS
 
Then: Derrick Henry, Hassan Haskins, Julius Chestnut, Johnathan Ward, (Dontrell Hilliard), (Trenton Cannon)
 
Now: Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Julius Chestnut, Joshua Kelley
 
Henry remains a stud, but it was not unreasonable for the Titans to look to change directions in a new system. And people forget Henry was choosing his future too. Nevertheless, the conclusion here is clear..
 
Better or worse? WORSE
 
WIDE RECEIVERS
 
Then: Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Robert Woods, Chris Conley, Racey McMath, (CJ Board), (Cody Hollister), (Kyle Phillips)
 
Now: Calvin Ridley, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tyler Boyd, Bryce Oliver, Jha-Quan Jackson, Mason Kinsey, (Treylon Burks), (Colton Dowell)
 
The Titans also got 23 games of DeAndre Hopkins out of a Carthon/Vrabel signing, then acquired a fourth-round pick for him in a deal with Kansas City. Ridley took too long to get going and still makes some foolish plays, but he gives the Titans the vertical element they’ve long lacked. And NWI is reaching a new ceiling. Still lacking, but it's not hard to top that 2022 group.
 
Better or worse? BETTER
 
TIGHT END
 
Then: Austin Hooper, Chig Okonkwo, Geoff Swaim, Kevin Rader
 
Now: Chig Okonkwo, Nick Vannett, Josh Whyle, David Martin-Robinson
 
Mike Vrabel’s offenses pushed them to the forefront. While they get some production, they are more of an afterthought in this offense and you get no sense, while they kept five for a long time, that they really like any of them.
 
Better or worse? WORSE
 
TACKLES
 
Then: (Taylor Lewan), Nicholas Petit-Frere, Dennis Daley, Le’Raven Clark, (Jamarco Jones)
 
Now: JC Latham, Nicholas Petit-Frere, John Ojukwu, (Jaelyn Duncan)
 
Lewan was hurt in the second game and was not himself before that and Daley was a horror show. Latham is the best player in the time frames we are talking, but he’s struggling recently. Advantage now. NFP was a functional guy then and he’s Daley-level now. Advantage then. A really bad personnel conversation that Carthon’s not done enough to change. 
 
Better or worse? SLIGHTLY BETTER, clearly still needs work


 
GUARDS
 
Then: (Nate Davis), Aaron Brewer, Xavier Newman, Jordan Roos, (Dillon Radunz)
 
Now: Peter Skoronski, Dillon Radunz, (Andrew Rupcich), (Logan Bruss)

Davis was on a downswing and not interested in playing through injury, while Radunz is a backup being called on to start. That’s may be a wash. Coaches rated Brewer more highly than he deserved. Skoronski was not worth the 11th pick in the draft but he’s an improving starter and much better than Brewer.
 
Better or worse? BETTER, still needs work
 
CENTERS
 
Then: (Ben Jones), Corey Levin, Daniel Munyer
 
Now: (Lloyd Cushenberry), Daniel Brunskill, Corey Levin
 
Jones was in his last year and breaking down in 2022, and the Titans are functionally two-deep now.
 
Better or worse? BETTER

*Pretty remarkable the offensive line can be better at all three spots, still be faring so poorly and still qualify as such a need spot.
 
KICKER
 
Then: Randy Bullock
 
Now: Nick Folk
 
Bullock missed eight field goal attempts and three PATs in two seasons. Three games away from two years, Folk has missed two and two.
 
Better or Worse? BETTER
 
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
 
Then: Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry, Demarcus Walker, Mario Edwards, Teair Tart, Naquan Jones, Kevin Strong, (Da’Shawn Hand)
 
Now: Jeffery Simmons, T’Vondre Sweat, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Keondre Coburn, James Lynch, (Marlon Davidson), (TK McLendon).
 
Simmons had a slow start to the season and starts some games slowly too and while Sweat flashes he’s been inconsistent as a rush presence. Autry was a big-time player for the Titans who also functioned as an edge rusher and they’ve missed him in both places. The depth was also better in 2022.
 
Better or worse: WORSE
 
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
 
Then: David Long, (Zach Cunningham), Dylan Cole, Monty Rice, Jack Gibbens, Joe Jones, Andre Smith, (Chance Campbell)
 
Now: Kenneth Murray, (Jack Gibbens), Luke Gifford, Otis Reese, Jerome Baker, Cedric Gray, James Williams, (Chance Campbell), (Garrett Wallow).
 
No matter how much they thought they could shape things to Murray’s skill set, the position requires a certain level of coverage that he simply can’t provide. He was a questionable signing. David Long could cover. Ernest Jones was a good acquisition but also a good trade for the return after six games. If Gray or Williams pan out, they can get better here.
 
Better or Worse? WORSE
 
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
 
Then: (Bud Dupree), (Harold Landry), Rashad Weaver, Tarell Basham
 
Now: Harold Landry, Arden Key, Ali Gaye, Jaylen Harrell
 
Landry was out for the year and Autry played the edge a lot in 2022.  He’s the difference here. Bad depth both times, but hard to be worse than now.
 
Better or worse: WORSE
 
SAFETIES
 
Then: Kevin Byard, Amani Hooker, Mike Brown, Lonnie Johnson, Joshua Kalu, Josh Thompson, (Andrew Adams), (AJ Moore)
 
Now: Amani Hooker, (Quandre Diggs), Daryl Worley, Mike Brown, Kendall Brooks, (Julius Wood, suspended)
 
Byard was in his final full season in Nashville and wasn’t at the top of his game. But he still directed the back end of the defense, paired well with Hooker and moved better than Diggs. 
 
Better or worse: WORSE
 
CORNERBACKS
 
Then: Kristian Fulton, Roger McCreary, (Caleb Farley), (Chris Jackson), (Elijah Molden), (Terrance Mitchell), Greg Mabin, Tre Avery, Davontae Harris 
 
Now: (L’Jarius Sneed), Chidobe Awuzie, Jarvis Brownlee, Roger McCreary, Darrell Baker, Justin Hardee, Tre Avery, Gabe Jeudy-Lally
 
The growth of Brownlee and Baker has been a big story because Sneed has played five games and is likely done for the year and Chidobe Awuzie missed nine. This has shown to be a deep group with talent. Imagine what it might be if the Titans could rush the passer.
 
Better or worse: BETTER
 
PUNTER
 
Then: Ryan Stonehouse
 
Now: Ryan Stonehouse
 
Stonehouse’s net punting average is down 6 yards per punt from 2022. That’s at least in part a reflection of how messed up the coverage team has been. So yes, Carthon gets a "worse" here where he’s got the same player, because he either disregarded or misread the importance of true special team coverage players and the Titans are 31st in punt returns allowed.
 
Better or worse? WORSE

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