ESPN's NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has released his latest mock for the 2023 NFL Draft, and his projection for the Tennessee Titans with the number 11 pick is sure to get fans excited.

Kiper predicted each of the first three picks to be a quarterback, with C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young off the board first and the Indianapolis Colts moving up one spot in a trade with Arizona Cardinals to select Kentucky QB Will Levis. 

In Kiper's predicted scenario, the Chicago Bears select Paris Johnson Jr. at ninth overall and the Philadelphia Eagles move on Peter Skoronski at 10. That would take the top offensive line talents off the board right before Tennessee, but hypothetically allow one of the top defensive talents in the draft, Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson, to land in Nashville.

Here's what Kiper wrote about a scenario where the Titans take Wilson, opting for a high-upside pass rusher rather than reaching for an offensive lineman with the top options gone:

"Tennessee has used free agency to bring in Andre Dillard to play left tackle and Daniel Brunskill to compete for one of the guard positions, which means offensive line is less of a need now. And with Johnson and Skoronski off the board in this scenario, the Titans don't have to force a lineman here. That's why I'm in favor of them going after a high-ceiling edge rusher.

Wilson, who is recovering from a broken foot that meant he couldn't work out at the combine, has elite talent in a 6-6, 271-pound frame. He had 14 sacks over the past two seasons for the Red Raiders, showing excellent burst off the line of scrimmage. For a Tennessee team that just cut Bud Dupree and ranked 27th in percentage of sacks per dropback (5.3%) last season, he'd be an ideal fit. I'm not as high on Wilson's tape as other people in the league I trust — he's too inconsistent — but his flashes of brilliance as a pass-rusher make him intriguing."

This would be a dream scenario for the Titans. As recently as a week ago, many draft analysts viewed Wilson as the second-best defensive talent in the draft class behind Will Anderson Jr. of Alabama. That view seemed to solidify itself even more with the arrest warrant for Georgia DT Jalen Carter and his underwhelming showing at UGA's Pro Day.

But in a world where four quarterbacks go in the first five picks, a team sticks with Carter in the top ten, and both Chicago and Philadelphia opt for offensive line help, Tennessee could have Wilson fall right in their lap. 

Picking at 11 could prove to be a problem for the Titans if they are looking to grab their future left tackle. It's hard to imagine Paris Johnson Jr. falling past both the Bears and Eagles, and drafting the second or third lineman off the board would be a big-time reach, as Kiper noted. 

Wilson is an incredibly athletic pass rusher that would give the Titans a dominant front for years to come. He'd also be the best player available if he's not taken by 11.

Image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports