Looking back at the 2024 season, the Tennessee Titans struggled mightily in many areas. Between porous special teams, an underperforming offensive line, and uneven quarterback play, it was hard to ever gain consistency, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
One of the more consistent aspects of the offense was the running game. Led by Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, the Titans were able to run the ball effectively, and at times, allowed them to keep games close. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough in many games, and the team faltered down the stretch.
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While the statistics may not be incredible, their success behind an ineffective offensive line in 2024 should set the tandem up for more production running behind a better line in 2025. Recently, Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus (PFF) looked at all 32 running back rooms in the NFL and ranked them ahead of the 2025 season.
20. Tennessee Titans
Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears don’t offer the high ceiling of some of the NFL’s superstars, but they are a reasonably productive duo.
Pollard racked up more than 1,300 yards from scrimmage last season while earning a 73.5 PFF rushing grade. Spears is a solid complementary option who has earned a 76.5 PFF overall grade through his first two seasons. Sixth-round rookie Kalel Mullings projects as a potential short-yardage option.
Coming in at No. 20 is a fair assessment heading into the season. But, after upgrading the offensive line during the offseason, the Titans’ running game could improve in 2025, especially if rookie quarterback Cam Ward can protect the football better than either Will Levis or Mason Rudolph did. Tennessee struggled to maintain momentum because of penalties and turnovers in 2024, and that had a significant impact on the rushing attack.
The addition of Mullings, whose skill set brings a power element that the Titans lacked in short-yardage situations, cannot be overlooked. If he can come in and gain tough yards, the offense can build longer drives and keep the defense fresh throughout the game.
Couple all of that with head coach Brian Callahan entering his second season as the play caller, and there is room for the Titans’ rushing attack to grow and rise in the rankings throughout the season.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Where does the Titans’ running back room rank heading into 2025?