Before you know it, rookie minicamps will be here (they’re already holding tryouts next week). Then, it’s training camp and the preseason. We’re going to blink and the Tennessee Titans will be kicking off the 2023 season. That’s how it goes in the NFL, but let’s not let this moment slip away from us all too quickly. Let’s take a minute to weigh the ramifications of what the 2023 NFL Draft taught us about the Titans, their new GM Ran Carthon, Mike Vrabel‘s expanded oversight within the organization, and what it all means for the future of this franchise.
What the Draft Taught Us About the Titans Future
*It’s value and BPA, baby – There’s definitely a big board, and Carthon and Vrabel are sticking to it. I don’t know how many times I heard “trust your board” over the course of the weekend. This regime isn’t going to reach to fill a need – that’s for damn sure. They are going to carefully weigh the value and…*ahem*….trust their board.
*They want athletes – We saw it throughout the draft process as the Titans routinely met with the more athletic offensive linemen. We saw it with this free agent class. In the draft, our suspicions were confirmed. Most of the draft picks had phenomenal Relative Athletic Scores. This is a staff that covets athletes.
*The expectation for this team is to be competitive – With the chance to blow everything up, ship off their stars, and go all in to get their QB1, the Titans held on to Kevin Byard, Derrick Henry, and Ryan Tannehill (for now). They will be better in 2023 because of it, and will be able to revisit these conversations (with a boat load of cash in hand, no less) in 2024.
*OL was a priority – People are sleeping on how exponentially better this offense will be in 2023 just by virtue of improving the offensive line. Think about how 2022 might’ve ended if they could’ve just blocked Josh Allen one more time. What if Tannehill was never hurt? What if Henry had enough room to get to the second level more often? What if Treylon Burks had a split second longer to get open? Don’t forget how close this team was to being a playoff team. One big play could’ve swung a game or two in the Titans favor if only the blocking had been better. The Titans signed four offensive linemen. They drafted arguably the best offensive lineman in this class in Peter Skoronski. And, they committed highway robbery in drafting Jaelyn Duncan in the 6th ronud. It’s evident that they saw this as a major issue, and are bound and determined to not let 2022 happen again.
*This regime wasn’t high on the wide receiver market – Folks have been clamoring for wide receiver help this offseason, and all the Titans have done is sign Chris Moore as a free agent and draft Colton Dowell out of UT-Martin. But, what were they going to do? Shell out $14M for Jakobi Meyers? Spend the 11th overall pick on a guy that we all routinely said probably wasn’t actually worth the 11th overall pick? The Titans weren’t alone as several prospects tumbled through the rounds in the draft. They did what I’m sure they feel is the best they could without overextending their resources. They seem content with the guys they have in house, assuming they can all get healthy.
*Other positions can help the passing game – I’ve already written about how revamping the offensive line can help the passing game, but getting a jack-of-all-trades tight end in Josh Whyle and an explosive running back in Tyjae Spears that catches the ball naturally can also spark the passing offense in a different way. Let’s not let our Tyler Scott lust keep us from looking at things with that perspective.
*They’re content with their cornerback room – Not a single defensive back drafted…color me shocked. Chris Harris is in as the new defensive pass game coordinator/cornerbacks coach. Surely, he and this staff must feel comfortable with the stable of guys they have.
*They are thinking about the future beyond 2023 – You don’t have to get ready if you stay ready. This was an incredibly balanced draft for the Titans, between filling immediate holes and planning for life after Tannehill and Henry with the selections of Will Levis and Spears.
*Don’t discount the guys in house – How much better is this team going to be in 2023 simply by virtue of it getting healthy and (hopefully) staying healthy?
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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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