Titans select WR Colton Dowell with 228th overall pick
At long last, the Tennessee Titans have drafted a wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft. With their final pick, number 228 overall, the Titans selected WR Colton Dowell out of UT Martin. Dowell is a local product who played his high school ball at Wilson Central High School in Lebanon before committing to UT […]
At long last, the Tennessee Titans have drafted a wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft. With their final pick, number 228 overall, the Titans selected WR Colton Dowell out of UT Martin.
Dowell is a local product who played his high school ball at Wilson Central High School in Lebanon before committing to UT Martin and head coach Jason Simpson.
In 2022, Dowell hauled in 67 passes for 1,036 receiving yards and six touchdowns. His season was highlighted most by a seven catch, 112 yards performance against the Tennessee Volunteers.
Admittedly, I was completely unfamiliar with Dowell before the Titans drafted him on Saturday, but some draft analysts appear to be a big fan of his athletic upside. Few are more knowledgable than Emory Hunt of Football Gameplan, who called Dowell "one of his favorite receivers in the class" after the Titans picked him.
Now obviously we all need to temper our expectations when it comes to Dowell's role on the 2023 Titans. Maybe he carves out a role for himself on this team and can have a nice multi-year career with his hometown team, but this is by no means an answer for the Titans' wide receiver issue or a sufficient enough investment in the position.
With that established, let's look at what there is to like about Dowell's NFL upside.
Dowell told Titans media on Saturday afternoon that he separated himself throughout the pre-draft process by demonstrating his strength and speed. Dowell said he put up 23 reps on the bench press, which would have been tied for 1st amongst receivers at the NFL Combine. The seventh-round pick also said his best 40 time is right at 4.40.
Overall, Dowell seems to have good size with strong ball skills and positioning. He knows how to use his body and strength to his advantage down field. "I would say I'm a deep threat. I make those contested catches," Dowell said over Zoom on Saturday.
The Lebanon kid landing with his hometown team is a nice feel good story to wrap up the 2023 Draft. As previously stated, it's too little and too late for the Titans' wide receiver issues. But here's to hoping Colton Dowell can have an impact on the Titans this season.
