2023 NFL Draft: Mid-Round Targets for the Titans

Stoney Keeley has highlighted some guys that should be in play for the Titans in Rounds 2-5.

Share This Post

New GM Ran Carthon and Mike Vrabel have done a fine job of patching up holes on this Tennessee Titans roster in free agency. I don’t think there’s a single emergency need on this team, though they could stand to add the quarterback of the future at the top of this draft. And, they do need a complementary wide receiver to Treylon Burks. Outside of that, who knows? They could do anything they set their mind to. They could add a more well-rounded TE1. They could add a new cornerback or two to the rotation…a linebacker…a stable of offensive linemen…running back…anything!

By and large, I think this is a pretty decent draft for what they’re in need of. I don’t know that there’s a true #1 receiver in this class, but let’s not sell Burks short. I’m approaching this offseason as if they already have their WR1. The rest of the receiver class is littered with a good WR3s with WR2 upside. It’s a great cornerback class, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them add two. While I don’t think the offensive line class is loaded with Week 1 starters (I’d really say there are only six or seven), it’s 30 deep at quality developmental prospects with high upside. So, there’s upside and value to be had in the middle rounds of this year’s draft. I’m going to be looking at some guys I have circled for the Titans in rounds 2-5 here this morning. You can read more on each of these guys on my NFL Draft Big Board, available exclusively for SoBros Network Patreon subscribers.

Mid-Round Targets for the Titans

OL Steve Avila – Avila is a big bowling ball of a man, and you see that power translate to the field, where he can be a punisher. He moves deceptively quick because of his frame – he moves a lot quicker than he looks like he’s moving. He has vise grips for hands, and offers versatility as a potential center as well. He’s one of my favorite offensive line prospects in this draft, and should be on the table in Round 2.

OT Matthew Bergeron – Tennessee would be the perfect spot for Bergeron, who does a little bit of everything well and flashes as a technician of the position. I’m not sold on him as a Week 1 guy in the NFL, but he could excel in a spot where he can compete for a job and the team doesn’t need immediate tackle help. I think a competition between Bergeron, Andre Dillard, and Dillon Radunz would make me feel pretty good about left tackle, and Bergeron has the potential to develop into that franchise left tackle of the future.

CB Julius Brents – I’ve seen some smoke that Brents could go in the first round, but I don’t think that’s possible given how loaded this cornerback class is. He’s a long physical corner that would bring size and aggression to the Titans cornerback room.

S Sydney Brown – This safety class sucks, but Brown is a bright spot in it. He’s well built, hits hard, and can cover tight ends. If the Titans are indeed starting to think of contingency plans at safety, Brown could be an option. Even if they aren’t, he’d provide valuable depth.

OL Braeden Daniels – The Titans appear to be spending their time searching for pass protectors in this class, and Daniels is one of the most athletic pass protectors in this class. His weight is what has him lower on big boards, but I think once he kicks inside to guard, he’ll be much more effective than he would be at tackle.

RB Eric Gray – Look….we know it’s coming…the end of the Derrick Henry era in Nashville. The Titans would be best served to go ahead and start looking for the heir apparent (because I don’t think he’s currently on this roster). Gray plays a good, complete game with a balance that makes him one of the safer running back options in this class.

EDGE Nick Hampton – You can never have enough pass rushers, and with Hampton, I see a guy who can sink his hips and bend around the edge to get to the quarterback. Is he going to be your #1 edge rusher? No, but he can contribute for what figures to be one of the best defensive fronts in football.

OL Cody Mauch – True five-position versatility along the offensive line, Mauch could play wherever you needed him to in a pinch. But, his NFL future is at guard, where he can pull and pop, climb to the second level, and head hunt. He’s got a knockout punch in space and he’s a scrapper in pass protection. He plays with a nasty streak to boot.

DL/EDGE Isaiah McGuire – I think McGuire could do a little bit of what Bud Dupree did so well for the Titans…the whole ‘force multiplier’ thing. Dupree had to be accounted for on every play, and that attention freed up other guys to make plays. I see a lot of that in the edge-setting McGuire does.

WR Jonathan Mingo – There’s some debate about where Mingo is going to go in the draft. For awhile, he seemed like a consensus late round guy, but there’s some smoke permeating the air that he’s going to go a lot higher than we think. If they could still get him in Round 5, it’d be a steal. He has true WR1 potential with his quick release and tenacious style.

DB Riley Moss – I have no idea where Moss plays in the NFL. He has true cornerback potential, but everyone seems to want to move him over to safety. The bottom line is that he’s a really good athlete at the position, and the Titans need bodies in the defensive back field.

DL Moro Ojomo – Defensive tackle isn’t an immediate need by any stretch of the imagination, and I wouldn’t even say it’s a draft-able need at this point. But, with the way the Titans rotate their tackles on defense, and given that they lost a couple to free agency, it could be a spot they’re looking to fill. If that’s the case, it’d be hard to pass up on the high floor of Ojomo, who possesses a quick first step inside and looks like the type of tackle the Titans could use in that rotation.

WR Rashee Rice – Honestly, I see a little Treylon Burks in Rice’s game, and why wouldn’t you want two Treylon Burkses on your offense?!!? Rice is the best run-blocking receiver in this class, and has some YAC potential at the next level.

WR Tyler Scott – Let’s not overthink this one. The Titans need some speed on offense, and Scott brings lethal speed to the wide receiver position. Boom. Done. On to the next guy.

WR Cedric Tillman – I think Tillman could end up being the best Vol to come out of this draft class not named Darnell Wright. He’s a big-bodied X receiver that can get physical against press coverage and win at the point of the catch. He has a little WR1 swagger to his game, and I see a lot of Corey Davis in him.

TE Darnell Washington – It would probably cost them that #41 pick, but I think I’m okay with that. Washington is a machine as a blocker. This dude’s The Terminator. He is an off-the-charts athlete for a man of his size and stature. I wouldn’t be surprised if we look up years on down the line and he’s the best tight end to have come out of this class. A Washington, Chig Okonkwo, Trevon Wesco tight end room looks pretty damn good to me.

LB Dorian Williams – I’m a fan of the middle of this year’s linebacking class, and really, I’d be happy with a number of guys in this spot. Williams offers length, an NFL frame, movement skills, and special teams value. But, he can blow up a play and that’s just plain fun to watch, too. He’s a bit of a project, but like I alluded to at the top of this piece, the Titans are in a spot where they don’t immediately need a linebacker and could reasonably take a guy to develop into a starter in 2024-25.

If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to The Unofficial Titans Podcast on Apple Podcasts, follow us on Spotify, or wherever you take in your podcasts! 

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.

Subscribe to the SoBros Network Patreon here – $5/month gets you instant access to an exhaustive content library of articles, podcasts, and videos created exclusively for our subscribers!

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get updates and learn from the best

More To Explore