Tennessee Titans: Ranking the Titans' Biggest Needs Ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft

Here's a look at the Tennessee Titans' biggest needs ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, which gets underway in just two weeks. 1. Wide Receiver The 2022 season doesn't start today, but if it did, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine would be the Titans' No. 3 wide receiver. Westbrook-Ikhine is fine as a role player, but he's not […]

Luke Worsham

Apr 12, 2022 11:59 AM EDT

Here's a look at the Tennessee Titans' biggest needs ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, which gets underway in just two weeks.

1. Wide Receiver

Robert Woods is already speaking Mike Vrabel’s language: “No timetable” on his ACL recovery. #Titans pic.twitter.com/voySPV4inE
— Luke Worsham (@luke_worsham) March 23, 2022

The 2022 season doesn't start today, but if it did, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine would be the Titans' No. 3 wide receiver.

Westbrook-Ikhine is fine as a role player, but he's not the type of guy you want on the field every time you run a three-receiver formation.

That's why wide receiver is the Titans' biggest need heading into the draft⏤they need an upgrade.

Throughout the offseason, head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson have discussed the need to "be great" around QB Ryan Tannehill. Hanging him out to dry with Westbrook-Ikhine and Robert Woods coming off of an ACL isn't the way to do that.

Tennessee should not only consider taking a receiver early, but they also should think about double-dipping at the position as well.

2. Offensive Line

Here's another "if the season started today" for you: Jamarco Jones would be the Titans' undisputed starting left guard.

That's a problem.

Jones still may wind up starting even if the Titans add a capable player through the draft, but they have to at least give Jones some competition.

Tennessee should treat their current left guard spot like they treated right guard in 2019, when they drafted Nate Davis in the third round.

Davis took a few weeks to come into his own and develop but eventually worked his way into the starting lineup and became a reliable player.

3. Tight End

Signing Austin Hooper in free agency was a great step for the Titans toward reviving a tight-end group that, in 2021, was lackluster.

Hooper is a veteran who's shown consistency in getting open and catching the football. He'll slide right in as the starter and be a good weapon for Tannehill.

The Titans still, however, need to upgrade the position.

Their best option aside from Hooper, currently, is Geoff Swaim. That's not a good enough No. 2 TE for the team that ran among the most two-TE sets in the entire NFL last season.

Tennessee should draft a young tight end who they can develop behind Hooper over the next couple of seasons.

4. Safety

The Titans' starters at safety are locked in. Amani Hooker and Kevin Byard are a great duo.

Behind them, though, Tennessee doesn't have much.

Dane Cruikshank served as a quality backup in 2021, and he played a crucial role in stopping tight ends throughout the season.

Cruikshank, however, left for Chicago in free agency, and his departure leaves a hole on the Titans' roster.

Especially since Hooker's entering the last year of his rookie contract, the Titans should try to fill that hole in the draft.

5. Running Back

Tennessee lucked out when Derrick Henry sustained a serious injury in 2021; they quickly found RBs D'Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard on the street to capably replace him.

Now that Foreman is in Carolina, though, the Titans would do well to find their Henry insurance for 2022 late in the draft.

Hilliard is still around, but he's not the type of powerful, physical runner the Titans' offense thrives with; Hilliard's biggest strengths are in the passing game.

If the Titans like a running back who's available in the sixth round, they should pull the trigger.