The Tennessee Titans are coming off an impressive 2021 season that saw them finish as the top seed in the AFC. After putting up a 12-5 record, Tennessee was ousted by the upstart Bengals in the Divisional Round.
We saw quarterback Ryan Tannehill struggle mightily in that game. The Titans need him to play at a much higher level if they’re to contend in the AFC once again.
If he doesn’t, Tennessee now has a back-up plan after drafting Liberty’s Malik Willis in the third round. That situation will be one to watch, as Tannehill has already come out and said that it’s not his job to mentor the rookie quarterback.
While Tannehill is still this team’s best chance to win right now, the Titans badly need to make sure that he has everything that he needs to thrive in this offense.
To start, he’ll have to build chemistry with his new pass-catchers. Tennessee traded star wideout A.J. Brown to Philadelphia on Day 1 of the draft and selected his likely long-term replacement in Arkansas’ Treylon Burks. They also swapped Julio Jones for Robert Woods in free agency and signed tight end Austin Hooper, but could still use improve this offense further.
Here’s a recap of the Titans’ 2022 NFL Draft class.
Titans NFL Draft Picks 2022
- Round 1, Pick 18 (18th Overall): Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
- Round 2, Pick 3 (35th Overall): Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
- Round 3, Pick 5 (69th Overall): Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
- Round 3, Pick 22 (86th Overall): Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
- Round 4, Pick 26 (131st Overall): Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan
- Round 4, Pick 38 (143rd Overall): Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Maryland
- Round 5, Pick 20 (163rd Overall): Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA
- Round 6, Pick 26 (204th Overall): Theo Jackson, CB, Tennessee
- Round 6, Pick 41 (219th Overall): Chance Campbell, LB, Ole Miss
The Titans made one of the surprise trades of the draft, dealing A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles for a pair of picks (Nos. 18 and 101) after contraction extension talks failed to progress with the fourth-year wideout.
Tennessee then immediately used that 18th overall pick from Philadelphia to select Brown’s replacement. Treylon Burks earned many comparisons to Brown during the pre-draft process as he possesses a similar combination of size and speed that isn’t often seen amongst wide receivers.
Burks should immediately garner a starting role in the Titans’ offense, which will also rely on Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to continue his progression on the outside and could see fifth-round pick Kyle Philips carve out a role.
The other shocking move was the selection of Malik Willis late on Day 2, ending the Liberty quarterback’s unexpected drop down the board. While the move may make things awkward for Tannehill, as we’ve already seen early in offseason interviews, the Titans got great value on a guy they can now develop as a potential long-term starter over the next 1-2 years.
Tennessee also added depth at other positions on offense, grabbing Michigan RB Hassan Haskins to provide cover for Derrick Henry while Ohio State tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere could fill the right tackle void left by David Quessenberry, who joined the Bills this offseason.
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Note: The Titans NFL Draft predictions below were published before the 2022 NFL Draft.
Pre-Draft Titans NFL Mock Draft Predictions 2022
- Round 1, Pick 26 (26th Overall): Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
- Round 3, Pick 26 (90th Overall): Dylan Parham, OG, Memphis
More Possible Titans Draft Targets: Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa; Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
Jahan Dotson has good speed with smooth route-running that can complement A.J. Brown and Robert Woods. Dylan Parham is a four-year starter who can play either guard position.
Pre-Draft Titans Team Needs 2022
1. Wide Receiver
Robert Woods is coming off of a torn ACL and entering his age-30 season. While he’s still a rock-solid WR2, the Titans would be wise to add to this group.
The team needs some speed on the perimeter to take the top off of opposing defenses. This would help open up room for Woods to make an impact in the short-to-intermediate passing game.
Let’s also remember that star wideout A.J. Brown has dealt with his fair share of injuries throughout his career, so adding another receiver would be a smart move.
2. Offensive Guard
The Titans have a run-heavy offense focused around Derrick Henry, so they should make it a point of emphasis to improve their interior offensive line.
They were forced to cut starting left guard Rodger Saffold, which leaves a glaring hole at the position. Aaron Brewer is currently penciled in as the potential starter, but he had a 56.3 overall grade last season, per PFF.
Tennessee should address this need with a pick in one of the earlier rounds.
3. Offensive Tackle
Taylor Lewan is one of the best left tackles in football, but he can only do so much on his own. The Titans decided to non-tender starting right tackle David Quessenberry, so they’ll need to make this a priority.
We all know that offensive line depth is of the utmost importance, especially as teams deal with multiple injuries throughout the season. If Lewan was forced to miss time, the Titans would be in big trouble.
Tennessee should look to bolster this group on the third day of the draft.
Titans May Also Consider Drafting: Quarterback, Safety, Outside Linebacker
