It’s May. We’re approaching the one true period of quiet time on the NFL calendar. Maybe that’s why I’m contemplating the future for this franchise – before you know it, the rubber will meet the road, and we’ll find out about that. Or, maybe I’m just caught up in the divided nature of the conversation about this team on Titans Twitter. It sure seems this year’s draft class wasn’t exactly the most popular among (at least a certain sect of) fans of the Tennessee Titans. Drafting offensive line, a quarterback that has Vols fans throwing tantrums, a running back that can barely walk judging from the tone of the conversation on Twitter, and holding off on a wide receiver until the 7th round will do that, I suppose. But, I actually ended up really liking this draft class, and I would challenge everyone who is hating on it to broaden their scope to 2022’s class and look at this thing as a two-year retooling that sets the team up for the next era of Titans football.
Theoretically speaking, the Titans already have WR1 on the roster, and they had him going into the draft. His name is Treylon Burks, and he flashed some pretty high potential when he was healthy and the offensive line could protect Ryan Tannehill last season. Did we forget about him? Or, are y’all already out on the guy? Not to mention, Kyle Philips was targeted nine times against the Giants, a game that sure made it look like he was going to get a high volume of action in this offense. Did we forget about him, too? Or, are y’all already out on him too? Those are two significant pieces in the receiving corps, and that’s not even including tight end Chig Okonkwo, who looks like an electric factory waiting to happen. I’m not as low on Nicholas Petit-Frere as others are – I still see him as a viable right tackle who will only get better. Now, you add Peter Skoronski, Tyjae Spears, Josh Whyle, Jaelyn Duncan, and Colton Dowell to that mix, and I think it’s actually a pretty damn good start on the next generation of Titans.
Now, for the second year in a row, the Titans have taken a stab on a rookie quarterback. Last year, it was Malik Willis in the third round, a player whose physical gifts sure do offer a lot of potential in the right offense. But, let’s be real here for a minute – Willis isn’t the quarterback for what the Titans want to do on offense, and that was evident throughout the season. Him sitting there in the third round was too tempting for former GM Jon Robinson to pass up, but he hasn’t shown he is a slam dunk to be the franchise’s next quarterback. So, they roll the dice on Will Levis, who for all of his flaws, does look tailor made for the type of offense this team wants to run. And, if he sees his potential, could be the guy. I wasn’t the biggest Levis fan, but if he is what the agents and analysts who blew his draft stock up said he is, then the ramifications of this pick are massive for the Titans. Either way, I feel that they feel they now have the guy who can take over for Tannehill.
And, I haven’t even mentioned the fact that on the defensive side of the ball, they locked up Jeffery Simmons to a long-term deal! He’s going to be the face of the defense for years to come. So, no – Derrick Henry and Tannehill aren’t going to be Titans forever. But, it doesn’t mean you’re going to blow it all up and address every need in a single draft class. It doesn’t seem like it’s within Mike Vrabel‘s DNA to just blow something up anyway. The idea of tanking for players who are completely unproven is laughable to me. Why anyone who calls themself a fan of a team would root for it to lose is mind-boggling. It all sounds like nonsense to me – the Titans have maneuvered this offseason well. They’ll be competitive in 2023 because they routinely play hard. They’re scrappy, and they want to drag you down into a knife fight in the mud. With the old guard intact, they’ll be alright…but, it’s evident that life after these Titans who carried this team to an AFC Championship appearance in 2019 is on the horizon. That window is closing, but they have some potential cornerstone pieces from these last two draft classes that could open the next one.
Another year of stockpiling talent, and this franchise should be ready to make another run. Why does that feel so crazy to say? I don’t know. All of this because the Titans chose Skoronski over your favorite receiver? I don’t get it. But, while some of you are complaining about the Titans passing on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, they’ve quietly set themselves up for a seamless transition from the Henry-Tannehill era if the last two draft classes hit. And, hey – if they really hit, this next generation of Titans could take the franchise to new heights. Chill.
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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.
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