The Tennessee Titans have a fatal flaw in the first round of the NFL Draft
The Tennessee Titans have seen a bit of inconsistency in the first round of the NFL Draft over the past handful of seasons. There seems to be a pattern to explain some of their struggles. Since 2016 when Robinson was hired, four first-round selections could be considered busts based on where they were selected by […]
The Tennessee Titans have seen a bit of inconsistency in the first round of the NFL Draft over the past handful of seasons. There seems to be a pattern to explain some of their struggles. Since 2016 when Robinson was hired, four first-round selections could be considered busts based on where they were selected by the Titans.
The Hits
Many would consider 2016 first-rounder OT Jack Conklin to be a successful pick. Conklin was solid for Tennessee during his time with the team. Although, he did not receive a second contract with the Titans. Robinson and co. knocked it out of the park in 2019 when they selected DL Jeffery Simmons in the middle of the first round. It was a risk, but it has paid off big-time. Simmons should receive an extension soon to become one of the highest-paid young defensive linemen in the NFL.
The Misses
These are a bit less fun for Titans fans. Starting in 2017, Corey Davis and A'doree Jackson could both be considered busts for the Titans in the long-term. Davis was a fine receiver for the Titans, but he never lived up to the hype as the fifth overall selection. Furthermore, Jackson showed flashes of high-level play, but he could never quite put it all together. Both players struggled with injuries, unfortunately as well. Linebacker Rashaan Evans in 2018 is the next one in this category. Evans played pretty well in 2019, but his play continued to decline after that. 2020 is the most obvious miss here. OT Isaiah Wilson was one of the biggest busts in NFL history as he basically never played for the Titans due to a multitude of issues. None of these players got a second contract from the Titans.
Why?
This all raises an obvious question. Why have the Titans struggled to find much success in the first round of the NFL Draft? They draft for need rather than value too often on day one of the draft. In 2017, their skill positions were extremely thin pre-draft. That boxed them in to draft Davis in the top 5 and Jackson in the top 20. That is especially clear for their WR position at that time because they selected Taywan Taylor in the third round of that draft, too.
In 2018, they went with a linebacker in the first because their front seven was starting to age. At inside linebacker, Wesley Woodyard was 31 years old, and Avery Williamson was nearing the end of his contract.
The selection of Georgia OT Isaiah Wilson in 2020 is the biggest example of this. Taylor Lewan had LT solidified for the Titans, but they had a big hole at the other tackle spot. They took a huge chance on a raw prospect in Wilson, and it backfired. As a prospect, he was looked at more like a day two selection.
Overall, the Titans consistently have shot for upside at positions of need in the first round. This has resulted in reaching quite a bit. In the 2022 NFL Draft, their pick on day one is vital since they do not have a second-round pick. They must consider needs, but value has to be at the forefront since they believe that they are still in a winning window.
