The ugly truth about the Titans draft history goes deeper than we realize
The Tennessee Titans have caught some flack in recent years because of their first-round selections in the NFL Draft. They've found tons of talent on day two of the draft, but do they really struggle in the first round? The Numbers Since 2000, the Titans have only signed five of their first-round picks to a […]
The Tennessee Titans have caught some flack in recent years because of their first-round selections in the NFL Draft. They've found tons of talent on day two of the draft, but do they really struggle in the first round?
The Numbers
Since 2000, the Titans have only signed five of their first-round picks to a second contract. Those players were Taylor Lewan, Derrick Morgan, Chris Johnson, Michael Griffin, and Keith Bulluck. Defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons should be extended in the near future, but he has not been yet.
Additionally, the Titans have not just missed on a handful of occasions. They have missed terribly. Four of their first-round picks in that timespan should be considered massive busts. Isaiah Wilson, Chance Warmack, Jake Locker, and Andre Woolfolk were those selections. We all know the story with Wilson. Warmack was extremely inconsistent on the offensive line throughout his NFL career. Locker struggled with injuries and simply just never lived up to snuff as an early first-rounder. Woolfolk only started 11 games and was released after the 2006 season.
Four of the first-rounders for the Titans since 2000 have signed their second deal with another team. Corey Davis, A'doree Jackson, Jack Conklin, and Albert Haynesworth fit that billing. With Conklin and Davis, the price was just seemingly too high. Jackson showed flashes with Tennessee, but they chose to go in a different direction. The Haynesworth decision probably looks the best considering the years that followed.
Cornerback Caleb Farley is an outlier so far as he hasn't been on the field enough to judge him as a first-round pick. The talent is there, but can his health sustain a solid career in the league? The Titans hope to get more out of him this season for sure, and he could be an important piece in that secondary that improved massively last season.
Tennessee's average draft position from 1999-2021 has been 16.4. The Titans pick 26th in the 2022 NFL Draft.
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