Way-too-early Tennessee Titans NFL Draft preview
The 2023 NFL Draft is April 27-29 in Kansas City. Here is the projected first-round order, per Tankathon.
2022 record: 7-10 | First-round pick: No. 11 | Team needs: Offensive line, WR
Snapshot: Tennessee will have a new GM in charge of its draft following Jon Robinson’s midseason firing; other recent firings include offensive coordinator Todd Downing and offensive line coach Keith Carter. Finishing the season on a seven-game losing streak, Tennessee appears headed for an offseason filled with uncertainty and self-evaluation.
Potential first-round picks: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern; Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State; Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Pro Football Focus graded Tennessee's OL as the worst pass-blocking unit in the NFL this season. Injured LT Taylor Lewan is a cut candidate, and two other starters, Dennis Daley and Nate Davis, will hit free agency. Re-signing Davis should be a priority, but Tennessee will likely pursue replacements for Lewan and Daley in the draft.
It would be an ideal transition from Lewan to Skoronski, who had Pro Football Focus' second-highest pass-blocking grade in college football in 2022 (93). Unsurprisingly, Skoronski leads Mel Kiper's tackle prospect rankings. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound tackle surrendered five sacks in three years at Northwestern, only allowing one this season.
Johnson, Kiper's No. 2 tackle prospect, could provide Tennessee with flexibility on the offensive line. The consensus All-American began his college career at guard, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors as Ohio State’s starting RG in 2021.
Outside of RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee doesn't have much firepower on offense; no Titans receiver topped 527 yards this season. Instead of extending WR A.J. Brown, Tennessee shipped him to Philadelphia during last year's draft, selecting WR Treylon Burks with the compensation. Burks has flashed potential when healthy, but he's no Brown.
TCU's Johnston could be available at pick 11, but Tennessee's OL needs might outweigh the desire for the boom-or-bust receiver. Although he was third in the Big 12 in receiving (1,067) this season, he led the conference in drops (eight). It'll be interesting to see how his national championship performance (one catch, three yards) affects his stock.
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