Tennessee Titans 2023 NFL Draft Picks
The Tennessee Titans entered the 2023 NFL Draft with a fanbase in need of direction and a roster with more than a few holes. Tennessee filled one of those in a big way on Thursday night, using the 11th overall pick to select Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski. On day two of the draft, chaos […]
The Tennessee Titans entered the 2023 NFL Draft with a fanbase in need of direction and a roster with more than a few holes. Tennessee filled one of those in a big way on Thursday night, using the 11th overall pick to select Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski.
On day two of the draft, chaos ensued for Tennessee. The Titans made a splash at the top of the second round, trading up for Kentucky quarterback Will Levis after Levis shockingly fell out of the first.
The Titans passed on an opportunity to draft a much needed offensive weapon in Michael Mayer, Sam LaPorta, or Jonathan Mingo by trading up for Levis. Tennessee then proceeded to confuse just about everyone with the selection of running back Tyjae Spears in round three.
Tennessee finished out an offense only draft with the selections of tight end Josh Whyle, offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan, and wide receiver Colton Dowell.
With the 2023 NFL Draft complete, here's a look at every new member of the Tennessee Titans.
Tennessee Titans 2023 NFL Draft Picks
Round 1, No. 11 Overall: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern

Skoronski was not the splash many Titans fans were hoping for in the first round, but adding him to the offensive line in Tennessee will be immediately impactful and fill a huge need.
The Chicagoland native is everything the Titans were missing up front last year – explosive, quick on his feet, highly intelligent, and technically sound. While there are concerns that Skoronski's size and arm length will force him to guard in the NFL, his quickness off the line and excellent footwork could certainly help him overcome what he lacks in reach.
Expect Skoronski to compete with Andre Dillard for Tennessee's starting left tackle job in training camp with the loser moving inside to left guard.
Round 2, No. 33 Overall: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

After passing on a quarterback at number 11, the Titans got aggressive on Friday night, moving up to draft Kentucky QB Will Levis at 33 overall.
In two years in Lexington as the starting quarterback for the Kentucky Wildcats, Levis started 24 games and threw for 5,232 yards, 43 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions. His turnover rate is alarming, and his accuracy leaves a lot to be desired, but the stat sheets may not tell the full story when it comes to what Levis can be as a pro.
The supporting cast around Levis at Kentucky was rough, especially in 2022, and with all of the physical tools Levis has, it's not hard to see why Mike Vrabel and Ran. Carthon have confidence in him as their future quarterback.
Levis is an athletic freak with all the tools to be an excellent passer, creator, and quarterback at the NFL level. His arm strength is second to none in this draft class and he's not afraid to step up and deliver a ball in pressure.
He's far from perfect, but Carthon and Vrabel see something in Levis that they believe can make him their franchise quarterback in life after Tannehill. I just have to question whether moving up to get him at 33 was a massive missed opportunity for Tennessee to add a valuable weapon to their offense.
Round 3, No. 81 Overall: Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane

Just looking at the tape, Tyjae Spears is one of my favorite running backs prospects in the entire draft and one of the more under appreciated playmakers in the draft class. Spears’ dominant 2022 season at Tulane was capped off with a 205 yard, four touchdown performance against USC in the Cotton Bowl that speaks for itself.
Spears runs with an edge. His cuts are clean. His vision is stellar. He can put it in another gear and run away from defenders in the second level.
Like I said, the tape is impressive. Unfortunately, tape isn't the only factor when weighing the pros and cons of this pick.
According to Ian Rapoport, Spears’ medical tests from the NFL Combine showed that there is no ACL, loss of cartilage, and arthritis in his knee. He's torn his ACL twice before in his football career, and while Spears is healthy right now, many teams are worried that his body won't be able to outlast his first contract.
The Titans really needed to add a dynamic wide receiver to their offense, and passing on a number of viable pass-catchers for a running back with poor medicals while Derrick Henry is on your roster feels…Less than ideal?
Round 5, No. 147 Overall: Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati

With the 147th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans selected Cincinnati Bearcats tight end Josh Whyle.
Whyle is a 6-foot-6 and 248 pound tight end with versatility that had 32 catches for 326 receiving yards and three touchdowns at Cincinnati in 2022.
His athletic tools and untapped potential as a pass-catcher make him an intriguing player to pair with Chig Okonkwo in 12 personnel sets. Despite not being the wide receiver the Titans needed, Whyle should play meaningful snaps as a rookie.
Whyle told Titans media that because of his background as a receiver, he's a more natural pass-catcher than he is an inline blocker, but that he feels good about the strides he's made in his blocking ability over the last year. Whyle has also worked as a fullback in college at times.
"They like the idea that I can do a little bit of both," Whyle said of his conversations with Mike Vrabel, Ran Carthon, and the Titans during the pre-draft process.
Round 6, No. 186 Overall: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland

The Titans added Jaelyn Duncan out of Maryland as depth to an offensive line that has a lot of question marks beyond the starting five. Tennessee signed Andre Dillard and Daniel Brunskill in free agency before using the 11th overall pick on Peter Skoronski to solidify the starting five up front.
Ran Carthon and Mike Vrabel believe in a few of Duncan's elite physicals traits as they bring him in to compete for a depth role, with hopes that his athletic flashes outshine his red flags.
Duncan's obvious upside as a prospect comes from his athleticism. His footwork is smooth and fluid and he slides outside with quickness and relative ease. As has been the trend with this entire Titans draft class, Duncan's RAS (Relative Athletic Score) is impressive.
Duncan does not come without statistical drawbacks, though. Duncan was penalized a combined 20 times over the past two seasons and allowed 7 sacks, 4 QB hits and 17 QB hurries in 477 pass-block snaps in 2022.
Round 7, No. 228 Overall: Colton Dowell, WR, UT Martin

If you, like me, were unaware of Dowell’s existence prior to him being drafted by the Titans, you have a lot of catching up to do.
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.
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.
- Round 1, No. 11 Overall: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
- Round 2, No. 33 Overall: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
- Round 3, No. 81 Overall: Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
- Round 5, No. 147 Overall: Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati
- Round 6, No. 186 Overall: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
- Round 7, No. 228 Overall: Colton Dowell, WR, UT Martin