Three biggest concerns for Tennessee Titans before the draft

As promised, first-year GM Ran Carthon is retooling, not rebuilding, a Tennessee team that finished 7-10 in 2022 and on an embarrassing seven-game losing streak. Carthon has freed cap space by cutting ties with several overpaid and underperforming players.

However, until Carthon uses the additional cap space to make a significant splash, Titans fans should be cautiously optimistic. Here are Tennessee's three biggest concerns ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft: 

1. Will the purge continue?

Tennessee has made several notable cuts during the offseason, including offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, outside linebacker Bud Dupree and wide receiver Robert Woods, and it seems Carthon could make more. According to ESPN's Turron Davenport, Tennessee and team captain Kevin Byard are "at a crossroads" after the team approached the safety about a potential pay cut. 

Byard, 29, has $28.2 million left on the extension he signed in 2019 and continues to perform at a high level. Last season, he had four interceptions, the fifth time reaching this mark in the past six seasons, along with 108 tackles.

By releasing Byard, Tennessee would save roughly $6 million, but he'd leave behind a $13.6 million dead cap hit, per OverTheCap. Should he become available in a trade, several teams will covet Byard.  

Star running back Derrick Henry could be another subtraction, as Bally Sports' Michael Silver reports that the team has shopped him this offseason. A contract restructuring also shouldn't be ruled out for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has a $36.6 million cap hit this season, the final year of his current deal.

2. Which position to address in round one?

The Titans hold the 11th overall pick and have plenty of needs. They can get creative but need to start strong in the draft.

Tennessee spent a first-round pick on Treylon Burks last season, and while he was solid when healthy, additional receivers are needed. Last season, Tennessee ranked 29th in receiving (3,227 yards) and could select Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah has Smith-Njigba as Tennessee's pick in his latest mock draft. 

The defensive backfield could be in worse shape than the receiving corps, especially if Byard gets moved. Tennessee allowed the most passing yards in the NFL last season (4,935). The year's draft is deep at cornerback, so there will be plenty of options. 

Considering the number of needs, it makes sense to trade back in the first round to stockpile assets and select a cornerback or wideout late in the first round. 

3. Can Carthon lock up defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons long term?

If there's one Titan who Carthon should build around, it's the 6-foot-4, 305-pound defensive tackle, but is the feeling mutual? Although Simmons, a free agent after this season, desires a large salary, it's hard to imagine he'd want to spend his prime years in a retooling situation.

Simmons, the 19th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has developed into Tennessee's top defender and one of the league's premier talents. Since 2021, Simmons has 21 tackles for loss and 16 sacks and earned two Pro Bowl selections and Second-Team All-Pro honors twice.

Earlier this month, Simmons deleted his Titans-related Instagram posts and unfollowed the team's official account, a classic negotiating tactic by players in today's NFL. While Simmons may be unhappy, an extension is not out of the question since he still follows T-Rac, Tennessee's mascot.

Spotrac's calculated market value predicts Simmons' next deal will be a four-year, $104.4 million contract, which would rank him as the second-highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL.