The Tennessee Titans 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books, which means it’s time to review the actual picks. Deciding to completely abandon the defensive side of the ball, the Titans devoted quite literally all of their resources into rebuilding the offense, and in today’s NFL, it’s hard to fault them for that decision.
In all, they obtained the following players:
- First Round, 11th Overall: Peter Skoronski, OL
- Second Round, 33rd Overall: Will Levis, QB
- Third Round, 81st Overall: Tyjae Spears, RB
- Fifth Round, 147th Overall: Josh Whyle, TE
- Sixth Round, 186th Overall: Jaelyn Duncan, OT
- Seventh Round, 228th Overall: Colton Dowell, WR
Tennessee Titans 2023 NFL Draft Review Grade: 9.1/10
Tennessee Titans 2023 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Peter Skoronski
Is Peter Skoronski a tackle or a guard? More importantly, does it even matter when he’s this good at both positions and the Titans offensive line is so bad? Skoronski’s film is about as close to flawless as you’ll find in this draft class, and the only reason he wasn’t a top-10 pick is because his arms might be too small to play tackle against NFL competition. While a starting tackle is obviously more valuable than a starting guard, Skoronski has All-Pro potential if moved inside. So, no matter where he lands, the Titans landed an elite player at a position of desperate need.
The Head-Scratcher: N/A
You know it’s a good draft when you’re really not second-guessing any decisions. While there is no way to know just how good any of these players are going to be, the process for each decision was sound, and that’s really all you can ask for.
The Surprise: No Early Receivers
At the very least, Will Levis is going to have a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job in 2023 and 2024. There is nothing more important to the success of a franchise than finding a good starting quarterback, and the best way to increase any prospects odds of success is to surround them with a great supporting cast. Just look what old friend A.J. Brown did for Jalen Hurts.
If the Titans really want to see what Will Levis can do, then they should have tried a bit harder to surround him with receiving talent. As things currently stand, Treylon Burks is the closest thing to a proven commodity on this roster, and he’s no sure thing himself. Instead of drafting Tyjae Spears, the team should have selected somebody like Darnell Washington or Michael Wilson.
The Steal: Will Levis
There is a very real chance that Will Levis does not turn out to be Tennessee’s quarterback of the future. However, turning into a franchise quarterback is in his range of outcomes, and that alone makes him a steal in the second round. No matter how well constructed the roster, nobody can compete for a title without a reliable starting quarterback, and the fact that the Titans didn’t need to invest signficiant draft capital in a potential franchise savior definitely makes this a steal.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Will Levis Again
All eyes will be on Will Levis during training camp and, for better or worse, he will turn heads with his performance. If he comes out guns blazing and plays up to his physical potential, then coaches and players alike will go out of their way to watch the rookie work. However, if he keeps making the same mistakes he made in college, then everyone will be looking away in disgust.
The Rest
Tyjae Spears might eventually be the heir to Derrick Henry, but the two running backs are nothing alike. Spears is slightly undersized for the position but possesses solid hands and breakaway speed. He and Henry can coexist in the same backfield, and perhaps he can become the starter in a season or two when age finally catches up to the star running back.
Josh Whyle probably would have been a third- or fourth-round pick if the 2023 NFL Draft didn’t have so many great tight ends. While the Cincinnati product isn’t a great lateral mover, he has great straight-line speed for the position and the size that can make him dangerous as both a red zone option and a blocker.
Jaelyn Duncan has plenty of experience as a four-year starter, but he’s a little too slow to ever be in an NFL lineup. He’ll be fine as a swing tackle on run plays, but that’s about it. Colton Dowell is a local product that might actually just get a chance to make a name for himself in Tennssee’s barren wide receiver room.
Main Photo: Matt Stone – USA Today Sports
