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The Tennessee Titans find themselves in an odd position, and one they haven’t been in a while, as they are picking 11th in the NFL Draft, their first time having a top-15 pick since 2017. It is an important draft class this year, as they have missed their last 2-3 first-round picks big time, with the whole Isaiah Wilson disaster, Caleb Farley’s inability to stay healthy, and as much as I love Treylon Burks, the AJ Brown trade. So it is a must that they hit big time with this pick, and this draft as a whole. With that being said, what are their options?
Photo: Adam Cairns / Columbus Dispatch
Offensive Line, Specifically LT
With Pro-Bowl LT, Taylor Lewan most likely getting cut to save money this offseason, the Titans must find a good blindside protector for whoever is under center next year and the years going forward. It’s a good thing that there are many options for them in the draft. The three names that stick out to me the most are, Ohio State’s Paris Johnson, Georgia’s Brodrick Jones, and Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski. Johnson is a big, 6’6” 315lb monster on the outside, who has experience playing guard as well, which could come in handy, depending on what the Titans do with Dillion Radunz when he comes back from his torn ACL. Jones is my second favorite out of the 3, with him only giving up 2 sacks his whole career at Georgia, being an absolute rock on the O-line that powered the Bulldogs to 2 straight titles. Skoronski is smaller than the two aforementioned players, but has an extremely good resume, with two All-Big Ten Second Team awards, and a First Team as well. Most likely, Tennessee will get to handpick who they want, or at least have a choice between 2 of the 3.
Second-Round Options: Dawand Jones, Ohio State
Photo: John McCoy / AP
End the Rent-A-WR2
For the past 2-3 years, the Titans have been trading for aging stars, like Julio Jones, and Robert Woods. That strategy has not worked at all. We need a dynamic threat on the other side of Treylon. When AJ Brown was here he lacked a Robin, the way he has now in Devonta Smith. Look at the numbers Brown is having. Now the offenses are different, with Tennessee being run first, but they need a WR2. The three guys that jump out at me are TCU’s Quentin Johnston, USC’s Jordan Addison, and Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njiba. Johnston is my favorite, as he is an athletic freak. Standing at 6’4” and 210 lbs, this guy runs a 4.4 40-yard dash which is just insane. That home run-type speed is something the Titans have lacked for years. Addison is smaller, at 6 feet even, but runs a blistering 4.39 40, so he is another big play threat that could match up well with Burks. I like Smith-Nijba too, since he outperformed not one, but two 2022 first-round picks from last year, in Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave last year. While I don’t want to take a receiver in round 1, as the need for offensive line is greater, I would be open to getting one of these three studs.
Second-Round Options: Zay Flowers, Boston College, Darnell Washington (TE), Georgia
Late Round Steals: Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
Photo: Butch Dill / USA TODAY Sports
Trade Up for a QB
I don’t like this. Giving up more draft capital when there are more important positions to fill is stupid. And don't trade to like pick 6, or 7 and take Will Levis. If Tennessee is doing this, go for it all, and go to 1 or 3, and take Bryce Young or CJ Stroud.
Final Thoughts
OT and WR are the two glaring holes that this roster has. LB could be an issue too, if David Long isn’t re-signed. Getting an athletic TE2 to mesh with Chig Okonkwo would be a great thing to do as well. Whoever is hired as the GM needs to hit this draft out of the park, or there are going to be some issues down the road, just the way the 2020 draft showed us. But I trust the ownership and Mike Vrabel to make the right decisions. #TitanUp
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