GM Ran Carthon's Strategy for Rebuilding the Tennessee Titans

Since taking over as general manager of the Tennessee Titans in 2023, Ran Carthon has outlined a clear, patient strategy for rebuilding the franchise—one that avoids quick fixes in favor of sustainable success. Faced with an aging core, salary-cap constraints, and a need to refresh key positions like quarterback and offensive line, Carthon’s approach balances honoring the Titans’ competitive history with laying groundwork for a new era. His strategy isn’t just about signing players or drafting prospects; it’s about redefining the team’s identity, aligning front-office and coaching priorities, and building trust with the Nashville fanbase. GM Ran Carthon's Strategy for Rebuilding the Tennessee Titans explores the four core pillars of his plan, his approach to quarterback development, how he’s managed the salary cap, his focus on cultural unity, and why this long-term vision positions the Titans for future contention.

GM Ran Carthon's Strategy for Rebuilding the Tennessee Titans begins with the foundational pillars guiding every decision: prioritize youth with upside, invest in the trenches, retain elite defensive talent, and avoid overcommitting to aging veterans. Carthon’s first major move was re-signing Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to a four-year, $94 million deal—a commitment to keeping a franchise cornerstone who anchors the defense. He then shifted focus to the offensive line, drafting tackle Peter Skoronski in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and signing guard Robert Hunt in free agency in 2024—addressing a position group that had struggled to protect quarterbacks in recent seasons. “The trenches win games in the NFL, especially in the AFC South,” Carthon explained in a 2024 press conference. “If you can’t protect your quarterback or stop the run, you can’t compete. That’s why we’ve made those positions a priority.” He also made deliberate choices to phase out aging players gracefully: reducing running back Derrick Henry’s carries in 2024 to limit injury risk while drafting his eventual replacement, Tyjae Spears, in 2023. This balance of retention and transition has kept the Titans competitive while avoiding the “tank” label that alienates fans.

GM Ran Carthon's Strategy for Rebuilding the Tennessee Titans delves into Carthon’s most critical focus: quarterback development. After Ryan Tannehill’s decline in 2023, Carthon rejected the urge to sign a high-priced veteran stopgap (like Kirk Cousins or Jimmy Garoppolo), instead committing to 2023 second-round pick Will Levis. His plan for Levis has been intentional: pairing him with offensive coordinator Tim Kelly (hired specifically for his track record with young quarterbacks), surrounding him with proven weapons (signing DeAndre Hopkins to a one-year, $11 million deal in 2024), and giving him consistent game reps to build confidence. “Quarterback development is not a six-month process—it’s a two- to three-year process,” Carthon told Titans ownership. “We’re not judging Will by one bad game or one good game; we’re judging him by his growth. Can he read defenses faster? Can he avoid turnovers? Can he lead in the locker room?” The strategy has shown early results: Levis reduced his interception rate from 3.2% in 2023 to 2.1% in 2024 and improved his completion percentage by 4 points. Carthon’s patience has also sent a message to the locker room: the Titans are building around young talent, not just chasing short-term wins.

GM Ran Carthon's Strategy for Rebuilding the Tennessee Titans covers Carthon’s meticulous salary-cap management, which has given the Titans flexibility to invest in key areas. When he arrived in 2023, the Titans were over \(20 million over the salary cap; Carthon addressed this by restructuring contracts (like Tannehill’s) to free up space, cutting underperforming players with high cap hits (like wide receiver Robert Woods), and signing free agents to team-friendly, short-term deals (like Hopkins’ one-year contract). By 2024, the Titans had over \)50 million in cap space—the fifth-most in the NFL—allowing them to sign Hunt and extend Simmons. “Cap space is freedom,” Carthon said during a 2024 front-office meeting. “It lets you keep your best players, sign impact free agents, and avoid being forced to cut talent because you’re overcommitted.” This flexibility will be critical in 2025, when the Titans can pursue long-term deals with emerging stars like Levis and defensive end Rashad Weaver. For the Tennessee Titans, sound cap management isn’t just about numbers—it’s about ensuring the team can retain its core talent as the rebuild accelerates.

Another layer of GM Ran Carthon's Strategy for Rebuilding the Tennessee Titans is his focus on organizational alignment, ensuring the front office, coaching staff, and scouting department work toward the same goals. One of his first moves was hiring head coach Brian Callahan in 2023, a young coach with a shared philosophy of building through the draft and developing young players. Carthon and Callahan meet weekly to review roster needs, discuss draft prospects, and align on game-day strategies—eliminating the “front office vs. coaching staff” friction that plagues many NFL teams. “When the GM and head coach are on the same page, everyone else falls in line,” Callahan said. Carthon also restructured the scouting department, merging traditional tape study with advanced analytics to identify prospects who fit the Titans’ system. For example, the team’s 2024 draft pick, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, was selected not just for his on-field talent but for his ability to fit Dennard Wilson’s defensive scheme—something identified through both scouting reports and analytical data. For the Tennessee Titans, this alignment has made decision-making faster and more effective, ensuring every move serves the rebuild’s long-term goals.

GM Ran Carthon's Strategy for Rebuilding the Tennessee Titans closes with why this approach positions the Titans for success beyond the rebuild. By 2025, the team will have a young core (Levis, Spears, Skoronski, McKinstry) complemented by proven veterans (Simmons, Hopkins), significant cap space to address remaining needs (like edge rusher), and a clear identity as a physical, trench-oriented team. Carthon’s strategy has also preserved fan trust: season-ticket renewal rates have stayed above 85% in 2024, despite a 7-10 record, because fans see the intentionality behind the rebuild. “We’re not asking fans to wait for no reason,” Carthon said in a 2024 fan forum. “We’re showing them progress: a young quarterback getting better, a stronger offensive line, a defense that’s still elite. This is building toward something.” For the Tennessee Titans, Carthon’s strategy isn’t just about winning games in 2025 or 2026—it’s about building a franchise that can compete for championships year after year. As one NFL executive put it: “Ran isn’t just rebuilding a team—he’s rebuilding a culture. And that’s the kind of rebuild that lasts.”