Where the Titans can avoid a trap with this NFL Draft
The Tennessee Titans need some help at wide receiver, and it's almost a guarantee that the team will address that need at some point in the 2023 NFL Draft. Titans GM Ran Carthon acknowledged his team's lacking WR corps at the NFL owners meetings, saying that they would "look to address it," but are "not […]
The Tennessee Titans need some help at wide receiver, and it's almost a guarantee that the team will address that need at some point in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Titans GM Ran Carthon acknowledged his team's lacking WR corps at the NFL owners meetings, saying that they would "look to address it," but are "not trying to fill everything via free agency."
But if the plan is to add multiple receivers in the early rounds of the draft, the Titans need to be careful with what picks they are investing into this year's receiver class.
According to Jim Nagy, the Executive Director of the Senior Bowl and a former NFL scout, many front offices are not as high on the wide receivers in the 2023 draft class as it may be portrayed in the media.
Nagy says that despite most mock drafts featuring 4-5 receivers coming off the board in the first round, "numerous teams" consider Jaxon Smith-Njigba to be the only first round wide receiver talent in the draft.
Is Smith-Njigba going to be the only wide receiver taken in the first round? Certainly not. Just because a few teams only have one "first round grade" in this year's class doesn't mean every team feels the same. It also doesn't mean that teams won't reach in round one to fill a big hole in their roster.
But with the 11th and 41st selection in the draft, the Titans should consider how the league being bearish on receivers can afford them a great opportunity.
If teams are hesitant to draft wide receivers in the first round, it may mean that some of the top talents in the 2023 draft class fall to pick 41 in the second round.
Should Smith-Njigba still be available at 11 overall and the Titans draft him, nobody should bat an eye. But if JSN is off the board, the Titans would be wise to avoid reaching on a secondary wide receiver talent. Take your offensive lineman or best player available, and see what's available on day two.
It is looking increasingly likely that one of Quentin Johnston, Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers, or Jalin Hyatt could wind up being available at 41, and that would be a perfect scenario for Tennessee.
