COLUMN: Titans Should Use 2022 NFL Draft to Keep Getting Better Around Ryan Tannehill
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ⏤ So far, the Tennessee Titans' 2022 offseason has followed a clear theme: getting better around QB Ryan Tannehill, a need head coach Mike Vrabel emphasized after the 2021 season. “We have to be great around him,” Vrabel said. “There’s an expectation for a lineman to protect inside out, not get beat inside and […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ⏤ So far, the Tennessee Titans' 2022 offseason has followed a clear theme: getting better around QB Ryan Tannehill, a need head coach Mike Vrabel emphasized after the 2021 season.
“We have to be great around him,” Vrabel said.
“There’s an expectation for a lineman to protect inside out, not get beat inside and making sure we’re firm in the middle of the pocket and making sure we run the edge rushers by. When we’re running routes that we run the right route, when we catch the ball we catch it in the technique we teach it, which is out in front of the body with our hands.”
The offseason began with Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson repeatedly affirming Tannehill's status as the team's preferred starter despite his meltdown, three-interception performance in Tennessee's 2021 postseason loss to the Bengals.
“I think it’s pretty apparent where he stands with us,” Robinson told The Tennessean in February. “He’s our quarterback. I don’t know how many more times I gotta say it.”
Then, Robinson put his money where his mouth was, dishing out $6 million in free agency for TE Austin Hooper and sending a sixth-round pick to the Rams for WR Robert Woods, both of whom should make life much easier for Tannehill in 2022.
Robinson also chose to part ways with WR Julio Jones, whose consistent unavailability in 2021 put a strain on Tannehill and the rest of Tennessee's offense.
Up next for the Titans and the rest of the NFL is the 2022 draft, which kicks off on Thursday. When that happens, the Titans need to keep their laser focus on getting better around Tannehill. The theme must continue.
Because, as things currently stand, the Titans aren't nearly good enough around their QB. They're certainly in a better spot than they were a month ago, but they're far from entering the "great" territory Vrabel spoke about in January and February.
Their offensive line remains a mystery following the needed release of G Rodger Saffold; it's unclear where second-year OL Dillon Radunz will slide in, and free-agent flier Jamarco Jones appears to be the team's current best option at left guard.
The tight end position will be much better with Hooper, but he's immediately followed on the depth chart by the unreliable Geoff Swaim.
And, while Woods and A.J. Brown should make a dynamic pairing at wide receiver, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine would be the team's No. 3 wideout if the season started today.
Perhaps Tennessee's current talent surrounding Tannehill could be described as "good enough to get by," but certainly isn't great.
A good draft weekend could change that, though.
If the Titans can find a quality player at all three of those position groups⏤offensive line, tight end and wide receiver⏤they could find themselves pretty close to "great" territory in terms of what they've put around Tannehill.
That's not a pipe dream, either. It's more than conceivable that the Titans could find an explosive No. 3 wide receiver, a solid offensive lineman to slide in at left guard or right tackle, and a tight end with good traits to develop behind Hooper.
Accomplishing that, though, will require a sizable dose of intentionality.
Tennessee shouldn't do anything ridiculous, of course, but they can't navigate this draft thinking only about taking the best player available in each spot. There's a better question to ask, anyway: "what helps the team the most?"
Robinson understands that.
"We talk about it all the time, it's need versus best player, and when those things line up it's a really cool thing," Robinson said. "But at the end of the day, you're trying to identify who helps the team the most."
With few exceptions, the player that "helps the team the most" for Tennessee this weekend will always be an offensive one, at least through the team's first few picks.
Their defense is rock solid, returning 10 of 11 starters from 2021 in addition to defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. The defense will be just fine, and it doesn't need much juice, if any.
The offense, though, needs work. Tannehill needs help.
The Titans can fill those needs through the draft, and they need to do it.
- Tannehill image: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer
- Robinson image: Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean
