Top NFL Draft prospect names Titans as top team he wants to play for
The Tennessee Titans still have one starting spot on their offensive line that needs to be filled, and it's likely they will fill it early in the 2023 NFL Draft. With recently signed offensive lineman Andre Dillard currently slotted to start at left tackle, the Titans have some flexibility with the type of player they […]
The Tennessee Titans still have one starting spot on their offensive line that needs to be filled, and it's likely they will fill it early in the 2023 NFL Draft.
With recently signed offensive lineman Andre Dillard currently slotted to start at left tackle, the Titans have some flexibility with the type of player they can add up front. There is a deep crop of interior offensive line talent that will likely be drafted in rounds two and three. There are also a few high-upside tackles that could go as early as the top 10.
One of the names to watch is Ohio State left tackle Paris Johnson Jr.
Johnson is widely considered the top tackle in this year's draft class, but with four quarterbacks potentially going at the top of the draft, Johnson is not a lock to be a top 10 pick.
Should he fall to the Titans at 11, I think everyone would agree that he's a perfect fit for what Tennessee needs. He played with Titans' second-year RT Nicholas Petit-Frere at Ohio State and has the ability (and flexibility) to play either tackle or guard.
Turns out Johnson is a big fan of the fit in Tennessee as well. Johnson appeared on Bussin' With The Boys, a podcast hosted by former Titans players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, and was asked about his ideal landing spots in the upcoming draft.
"For me personally, I feel like first thing I look at is like taxes, like state taxes. If I was a Titan, I feel like that'd be cool. There's no state taxes there and it's warm," Johnson said.
Lewan followed up by asking Johnson if he would be open to playing guard at the next level, to which Johnson said he would, and that it doesn't matter what side of the line he is playing on.
Not sure that's the reason anybody saw coming for a top draft prospect wanting to be a Titan, but if Johnson would be happy in Nashville, Nashville would be happy to have him.
Johnson would be a Day 1 starter on the Titans offensive line and give them a versatile, highly-skilled player who is checking his ego at the door. Dillard and recently signed veteran Daniel Brunskill can both play either inside or outside on the line as well, so there's no doubt that Tennessee could play their best five guys up front.
Depth would remain an issue, but on paper, that offensive should be largely improved from the banged up bunch that played majority snaps last season.
Johnson could very well end up in Chicago or Atlanta and come off the board before Tennessee gets a shot at him. If he's still there when the Titans pick comes up, it would be very hard to pass him up, even with the team's desperate need at wide receiver.
