2023 NFL Draft Preview: The Titans Have A Lot Of Options

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All eyes will be on the NFL for the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, Missouri. But only a handful of teams will have a must-watch pick tonight (April 27) for the first round of the draft with the Tennessee Titans being the most interesting team, as they have multiple opportunities and choices with the No. 11 overall pick.

After an extremely disappointing season, which saw the firing of General Manager Jon Robinson and the hiring of Ran Carthon as his replacement, the Titans have big decisions to make in the offseason if they want a competitive team on the field next season. They made some cuts so far, clearing up cap space while also signing Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, an indicator that Carthon plans to compete this season, rather than rebuild the team. The Titans still have a lot of holes they need to fill in the offensive line, at wide receiver and even at quarterback.

They are some great options at the No. 11 overall pick but the rumors are heating up, saying the Titans may trade up to No. 3 in order to snag a quarterback, while many mock drafts have them staying put and drafting an offensive lineman or wide receiver. Here are some of the best options for the Titans as well as the players that are being picked the most in mock drafts.

The Safe Picks

The safest option for the Titans is to stay at No. 11 and draft one of a few options at the offensive lineman position. The first option is Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski, who is considered to be the best overall lineman in this year’s draft class. Skoronski is a six foot four inches and 313 lbs and would be a perfect fit for the Titans at right guard. He was named the the Big Ten’s Top Offensive Lineman and a First-Team All-Conference selection in 2022, starting all 12 games at left tackle. He started all 12 games the season before in 2021 as well. Skoronski has excellent footwork and is quick off the ball, allowing him to block as efficiently as possible. But his weaknesses, like needing to alter his pass sets and hand attacks to become less predictable as well as getting beaten by long-arm rush moves and driven into the pocket, would hurt him if he was placed at left tackle. If the Titans were to draft him, his best place for success would be at right guard.

Another great, but safe pick would be offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. out of Ohio State. Another Big Ten superstar, Johnson is a natural left tackle and would be a fantastic successor to Taylor Lewan, who was cut this offseason. Johnson stands at six feet six inches and weighs 313 lbs. Not only would he be a perfect fit at left tackle, but he is extremely versatile and could play guard as well. We saw many times last season how the offensive line was shuffled a lot, moving guys from guard to tackle to center because of injuries. Johnson could be someone who could move at times to help support the line if injuries pile up. He is extremely athletic and quick. Some of his strengths listed at the combine include his talent making recoveries at a variety of angles. He’s also able to opens his hips and accelerate to find back side cut-off angles, which makes him poised to play left tackle.

A Big Move, But Not A Bad Move

Outside of the offensive lineman position, Titans need a wide receiver. The best receiver they can take at No. 11 is Ohio States’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Tennessee was ranked as one of the worst teams in the NFL for passing offense last season. They traded AJ Brown in last year’s draft and drafted Treylon Burks, who suffered from injuries and didn’t show his true potential. Drafting a top receiver would be a great move for the Titans, though one could argue not as important as addressing the offensive line or even addressing the quarterback issue. Smith-Njigba was a Third-Team Associated Press All-American and Third-Team Big Ten Conference selection as a sophomore in 2021. He ranked third in the FBS with 1,606 receiving yards and tied for ninth with 95 receptions in 13 games. At the Rose Bowl in 2022, he took on a bigger role, catching 15 passes for 347 yards and three scores in the team’s 48-45 comeback win over Utah. In 2022, a hamstring injury limited him to just three games.

Bold Picks That Could Make Or Break The Team

The big moves being discussed by reporters and sports pundits are the Titans taking either quarterbacks Will Levis from Kentucky or Hendon Hooker out of Tennessee. Levis seems to be the favorite right now among most sports media people. Some feel the Titans can take him at No. 11 while others feel they will have to trade up to take him. Levis suffered through injuries last year, which showed off his toughness and ability to play through wounds. It also shows that we haven’t seen his full potential yet. Levis threw for over 5,000 yards in his two years at Kentucky, averaging eight yards per pass in both seasons. He threw 24 touchdown passes in 2021 and 19 in 2022. Levis has a cannon of an arm and if he stays healthy, he has the makings of a playoff-caliber quarterback.

One player that is flying under the radar at the moment is Hooker. Which could be good news for the Titans, as they can sit pretty at No. 11 and take one of the most talented quarterbacks in all of the draft without trading up. Hooker was on pace to be the Heisman Trophy winner but a late season injury prevented him from even being named a finalist. He has just recovered from his ACL tear, and is a quarterback that won’t need much time to adapt. He’s an extremely fast learner and can work in a fast-paced offense. Hooker is mature, which will help him as a starter on day one.  He threw for 3,135 yards and 27 scores (with just two interceptions) and rushing for 430 yards and five touchdowns in 11 starts. His talent is immeasurable and he could be the biggest steal of the night.

The Draft Breaker

It would totally break the draft and take Titans Twitter by storm if they traded up to the No. 3 and drafted Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud. A move for Stroud would be a franchise changer for the Titans. With Head Coach Mike Vrabel wanting to win now more than ever and Carthon making a statement in his first pick as a GM, drafting Stroud would prepare the team and prove that they are planning to add in the future. A trade up to No. 3 for the Cardinals spot wouldn’t be easy. The Titans don’t have a lot of stock to sacrifice, as they still need to build the team back up. But the right moves could justify the trade if Stroud becomes the star many feel he can be. He’s arguably the best QB in the draft and has a production score of 97 from NextGen Stats. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022. Last season, he led the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoffs by throwing for 3,688 yards and ranking second in the FBS with 41 touchdowns (with six interceptions) in 13 starts. Also, Stroud ranked third in the FBS with 9.48 yards per attempt. This pick would make for a wild night and much debate for months to come, but it would be a clear indicator on what Carthon’s tenure will look like.

The Sports Credential‘s Pick

With all this to consider, our pick has to be for the Titans rebuild the offensive line first and take Johnson at the No. 11 spot. The fact is the Titans have so much to do to rebuild for next season. Adding a young quarterback with no support around him could be devastating and would be a disaster for the franchise, if it doesn’t work out. Taking a top-tier offensive lineman like Johnson would put them in a perfect situation to address other issues like defensive backfield, wide receiver and quarterback. The lack of options to trade for at the No. 3 pick could hurt the team in the long run if Stroud or Levis doesn’t turn out to be the franchise decider the team hopes one of them can become.

The first round of the 2o23 NFL Draft begins tonight at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Steven Boero
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