Titans Draft Class 2023: All offense, but team still needs receivers

Even before the Titans’ season ended on a whimper back in January, attention had begun to shift towards the draft as a defeat in Jacksonville would – and ultimately did – give the Titans a higher draft pick than had they reached the playoffs.

For weeks, guesswork was rife as to whether the Titans would look for a new quarterback or look to take a wide receiver to strengthen a depleted WR corps. Rumours disappeared as quickly as they surfaced, but as the draft drew closer, rumours on Twitter about a possible trade up seemed to gain more traction.

As the draft kicked off, eyes were on the Houston Texans at number two. Widely anticipated to take Will Anderson Jr., the belief amongst insiders was that another team – Titans amongst them – would then hurriedly trade up with the Arizona Cardinals to take C.J. Stroud at number three. 

When Stroud was taken off the board as the second pick, to the surprise of many initially but perhaps not surprisingly in hindsight, contingency plans and confusion rippled throughout the league. The Titans would still trade up for another quarterback, but not until the subsequent round the following evening.

The franchise’s first pick of the draft would be neither a QB or WR, but an offensive tackle who had forewent attending the draft in-person, instead opting to spend the evening with loved ones at a pizzeria upon where he learned he would be heading to Nashville.

Round One, Pick #11: Peter Skoronski (OT)

Skoronski wasn’t imaginably the headline first pick fans had been expecting, but it was certainly a safe and necessary one. A two-time first-team All-Big Ten, he will be an immediate boost to a Tennessee offensive line which continued to struggle as last season unfolded.

Expected to start day one, Skoronski makes up for an observed shorter arm length by being able to read angles well and efficiently get into position. A former Northwestern player, Skoronski is a smart player who has the agility and speed to create problems for his opponents and can play guard or tackle.

Round Two, Pick #33: Will Levis (QB)

Fans had speculated that the Titans would call Arizona to trade up for a QB, just not in the second round. When news of the Titans moving up broke, the (fleeting-)conjecture was whether they’d take Will Levis or Hendon Hooker (now with the Lions).

The Titans selected Will Levis, who had been projected to go in the first round. That he didn’t became a conversation of its own once the first round concluded.

Make no mistake, Levis enjoys a strong arm, is able to quickly release and can launch the ball for considerable distances. At 6”4 and with momentum, he can also run through defenses.

His critics will, banana peel and mayo coffee ribbing aside, call out his accuracy, footwork and an apparent self-assured attitude. Expect the former Penn State Nittany Lion and Kentucky Wildcat to be widely-scrutinised the first few times he next steps onto a field.

The 23-year-old’s draft selection creates an intriguing locker room situation. With Tannehill plausibly finished with Tennessee after this year, Levis isn’t inevitably the backup over Malik Willis, last year’s drafted rookie QB. A lot can happen between now and September, but how these three quarterbacks contend with one another will be interesting.

Round Three, Pick #81: Tyjae Spears (RB)

Consensus for the second night of the draft was that the Titans would take at least one wide receiver, so taking a running back with their third pick was therefore an unexpected move. Spears has an explosiveness to his game and logged 21 touchdowns at Tulane last year.

By taking Levis, and Spears, is this the clearest sign yet that Tennessee are preparing for life not just without Tannehill, but Derrick Henry too?

Round Five, Pick #147: Josh Whyle (TE)

Whyle comes to Nashville after four seasons with the Cincinnati Bearcats. An All-American Athletic Conference performer in 2022, Whyle played wideout before switching to tight end. Quick for his size, Whyle can block and possesses great coordination too.

Round Six, Pick #186: Jaelyn Duncan (OT)

A starter with the Maryland Terrapins, Duncan was the second offensive tackle chosen by the Titans in the draft. Duncan will provide a depth, which is needed, and has an athleticism which will provide a solid base to develop his game further.

Round Seven, Pick #228: Colton Dowell (WR)

Tennessee didn’t take a wide receiver until their last pick. Dowell, a Tennessee native and former UT Martin Skyhawk, will likely stay with the practice squad in his first season and perhaps longer, subject to how – and when – the Titans advance their wideout roster.

The road ahead

Media conclusions would imply the Titans had a successful draft, although sections of the fanbase remain a trivial confounded. On the one hand, Levis has divided some opinions and on the other, the lack of flankers taken too. Likewise, no defensive players were added to join Azeez Al-Shaair, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Arden Key who were taken at the start of free agency.

An undrafted free agent WR or two could still be brought in, but any major signing is likely to be post-June 1. Names such as Jerry Jeudy, Corey Davis and Courtland Sutton have been bandied about as possible pursues pending trades and cuts. Whatever happens, eyes will be on how the Titans strengthen this position in an emerging AFC South which now features Anthony Richardson, C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence.