The Titans Go Into The NFL Draft Flexible At No. 7 With Lots Of Needs To Fill – News18

NASHVILLE, Tenn.: The Tennessee Titans have been among the league’s biggest spenders in free agency, and they still won’t be able to fill all the remaining holes with only seven selections in this NFL draft.

Neither general manager Ran Carthon nor first-year head coach Brian Callahan are giving hints to the position Tennessee will fill first. Even after a busy start to free agency, this remains a roster under major renovation after losing 18 of 24 games to cost Mike Vrabel his job after six seasons.

Callahan, who will call the offense after being a coordinator at Cincinnati, has dropped hints that a coach can never have enough fast, explosive players. Carthon knows the Titans still must bulk up both the offensive and defensive lines.

“We’re still working on that,” Carthon said.

Callahan said they know what they need for a team that went 6-11 with the Titans working their way back up from the bottom of the AFC South.

“When you pick at seven and you pick at 38 and you’re picking at the high end of these rounds, you want to be open and free to take ultimately what the best player is available to you,” Callahan said.

The Titans made a splash in March by signing wide receiver Calvin Ridley, running back Tony Pollard, center Lloyd Cushenberry and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and then traded for cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to remake the secondary during free agency.

Now the Titans hold the No. 7 pick overall and the 38th. Unless the second-year GM trades back, Carthon won’t select again until the fourth round after trading his third-round pick a year ago to move up for quarterback Will Levis.

Tennessee gave up one of three seventh-rounders to Cleveland on April 12, reuniting a young reserve offensive lineman with position coach Bill Callahan.

Left tackle is at the top of the list for a position that has been a revolving door with four different starters at that spot as Tennessee gave up 64 sacks in 2023. Only Carolina, Washington and the Giants allowed more.

Andre Dillard, the big free agent signed to fix that spot, was cut after 10 starts and one season. Also need defensive line help, edge rusher and linebacker after losing Azeez Al-Shaair to Houston in free agency.

Running back seems set for the post-Derrick Henry era. Pollard joins Tyjae Spears, a third-round pick last season, in giving the Titans the ability to disguise Callahan’s offensive schemes with both capable pass-catchers and able to run up the middle.

Kicker Nick Folk is back after setting a NFL record with 78 consecutive field goals made under 40 yards, a streak started in 2017. He is coming off his best season, making a league-best 96.7% of his field goals.

Treylon Burks. The 18th pick overall in 2022 still has only one touchdown catch through his first two seasons where injuries have been a big issue. He had only 16 catches on 30 targets for 221 yards in 11 games last season.

The Titans were among the first teams to visit with Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat after his arrest for driving while intoxicated. Sweat could help Tennessee fill a big need after losing Denico Autry, who had a career-high 11 1/2 sacks last season, to defending AFC South champ Houston.

Callahan said looking into players with off-field issues or character concerns means finding out what happened. He remembers some of what he did at the same age of players available in this draft, so homework is key.

“There’s a ton of time invested into making sure that we get whatever those issues might be, ironed out and whether they’re real issues that have to be dealt with or they’re things that maybe aren’t as detrimental as the perception might be,” Callahan said.

Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt if still available. Wide receiver Malik Nabers of LSU or Washington’s 6-foot-3 Rome Odunze gives Callahan more depth and Levis more options.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)