The 2024 NFL Draft has came and went, and Titans fans are divided. With a new regime and fresh perspective, the Tennessee Titans organization set their sights on drafting the next generation of "Two Toned Blue" talent. Everyone with a pulse (and from the looks of the comment section, even a few without…) had an opinion on what the team needed to do with their first round pick.
The fanbase was split over selecting an offensive playmaker or focusing on the disastrous line that ranked nearly the bottom in every statistical category you can fathom. All the talking heads pinned Nashville for Nabers or Alt, or even trading back for draft capital. But there is always one thing that forever rings true in the world of sports... These experts STILL don't know shit.
With the 7th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, your Tennessee Titans select...
Round 1/Pick: 7 - JC Latham, T / Alabama
This gigantic specimen of a human being calls himself the "Trench King" which ironically doesn't mean he's a huge fan of trench coats. The 6'6, 342 pound Alabama behemoth is a mauler who was handpicked by the OL whisperer himself, Bill Callahan. What daddy want's, daddy gets. When asked about the Titans first round selection, new HC Brian Callahan had this to say via Jim Wyatt.
"There's not many that walk the earth at his size and move with his fluidity."
Although where part of the fanbase is sold on Latham, it wouldn't be right to ignore the glaring cause for concern in the fact that JC will be switching from RT to LT, which has caused a spark of controversy amongst seething Titans fans who already felt the pick may have been a reach. When asked about this move, Latham had this to confidently say.
“I was trained at left all my life, and I get to Bama and Evan Neal, a top 10 pick, he was at left so I went to right,” Latham said, via Jim Wyatt. “Going back to left, I’ve been training all this offseason, so I’m ready to go."
Personally I was hoping for an offensive playmaker at seven, but the way the board fell, the Titans had to pivot quickly. It's warranted to question if the organization may have taken a bite out of the hype and pounced a bit earlier than needed, but if the entire room knows who's taking the QBs and no one is willing to trade back, sometimes you have to reach a bit to get your man and that's exactly what Ran and Brian Callahan did.
Although it was a safe pick albeit a bit boring, especially after Joe Alt went to the Chargers at five, Latham did receive ALL-SEC Honors this past season at Alabama. With Bill Callahan declaring him his favorite player in the entire draft, all we can do at this point is trust the process.
"There's not many that walk the earth at his size and move with his fluidity."
Although where part of the fanbase is sold on Latham, it wouldn't be right to ignore the glaring cause for concern in the fact that JC will be switching from RT to LT, which has caused a spark of controversy amongst seething Titans fans who already felt the pick may have been a reach. When asked about this move, Latham had this to confidently say.
“I was trained at left all my life, and I get to Bama and Evan Neal, a top 10 pick, he was at left so I went to right,” Latham said, via Jim Wyatt. “Going back to left, I’ve been training all this offseason, so I’m ready to go."
Personally I was hoping for an offensive playmaker at seven, but the way the board fell, the Titans had to pivot quickly. It's warranted to question if the organization may have taken a bite out of the hype and pounced a bit earlier than needed, but if the entire room knows who's taking the QBs and no one is willing to trade back, sometimes you have to reach a bit to get your man and that's exactly what Ran and Brian Callahan did.
Although it was a safe pick albeit a bit boring, especially after Joe Alt went to the Chargers at five, Latham did receive ALL-SEC Honors this past season at Alabama. With Bill Callahan declaring him his favorite player in the entire draft, all we can do at this point is trust the process.
Titans offensive line coach Bill Callahan LOVES JC Latham. It’s his favorite player in this draft.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 26, 2024
How's that back holding up there, commish?
Now let's talk our Second Round Pick...
Round 2/Pick: 38 - T'Vondre Sweat DT / Texas
Imagine TLaw seeing this guy head-hunting him.
I'm going to be 100% honest with you right here... I didn't see this one coming from a mile away. But to be fair, I am the self anointed leader of a free nation of like minded sports idiots while Ran Carthon is the guy with that movie star swag that gets paid millions of dollars to build professional football teams. I'm going to have to take his word on a couple action items, alright? Speaking of, where in the world does this man get his drip from? I need guidance, I'm an older, balding, caucasian male in 2024. Please send swag help... (or just some snacks, maybe?)
Denzell Washington ain't got shit on this man.
Do I think this move is a reach? Not necessarily because Sweat is an imposing mountain of flesh who is nicknamed "Meatloaf," but I do think I would have went a different route with this pick but again... (see above) But when you are left without a third round pick, sometimes you make a few moves that you may not normally have made.
It's no secret that we needed more meat on our front four and there is no easier way to do that than selecting a 6',4", 362 pound versatile wrecking ball that flat out just crushed his entire 2023 campaign. This past season he played in all 14 games with eight starts tallying 45 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, four PBUs and one blocked kick. He was a key reason that Texas was even in the CFP to begin with.
Just look at these 2023 awards alone:
• Outland Trophy (Nation's Top Interior Lineman)
• First-team Associated Press All-American
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
• First-team All-Big 12 Conference
• All-American Shoney's Big Boy Champ
Round 2/Pick: 38 - T'Vondre Sweat DT / Texas
Imagine TLaw seeing this guy head-hunting him.I'm going to be 100% honest with you right here... I didn't see this one coming from a mile away. But to be fair, I am the self anointed leader of a free nation of like minded sports idiots while Ran Carthon is the guy with that movie star swag that gets paid millions of dollars to build professional football teams. I'm going to have to take his word on a couple action items, alright? Speaking of, where in the world does this man get his drip from? I need guidance, I'm an older, balding, caucasian male in 2024. Please send swag help... (or just some snacks, maybe?)
Denzell Washington ain't got shit on this man.
Do I think this move is a reach? Not necessarily because Sweat is an imposing mountain of flesh who is nicknamed "Meatloaf," but I do think I would have went a different route with this pick but again... (see above) But when you are left without a third round pick, sometimes you make a few moves that you may not normally have made.
It's no secret that we needed more meat on our front four and there is no easier way to do that than selecting a 6',4", 362 pound versatile wrecking ball that flat out just crushed his entire 2023 campaign. This past season he played in all 14 games with eight starts tallying 45 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, four PBUs and one blocked kick. He was a key reason that Texas was even in the CFP to begin with.
Just look at these 2023 awards alone:
• Outland Trophy (Nation's Top Interior Lineman)
• First-team Associated Press All-American
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
• First-team All-Big 12 Conference
• All-American Shoney's Big Boy Champ
(Ok, I made this one up)
Of course I would catch hell if I didn't acknowledge the fact that he was recently arrested on a charge of suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Personally this doesn't bother me. Now look... Before you crucify me, I'm not making any excuses for that, because he could have seriously injured/killed someone or even himself, but I was 22 once and I did some pretty dumb shit as I'm sure you all did as well. Let's all pump those Mother Theresa brakes for a minute.
Everyone cried about Jefferey Simmons "character" issues as well and that seemed to work out just fine. Let's just take a step back and let Ran's recipe marinate a bit a bit before we pass judgement. I think Big Jeff is excited to take this kid under his wing and show him a thing or two about the succeeding at the next level.
Now let’s boast about that fourth round pillage:
Round 4/Pick: 106 - Cedric Gray, LB / UNC
Of course I would catch hell if I didn't acknowledge the fact that he was recently arrested on a charge of suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Personally this doesn't bother me. Now look... Before you crucify me, I'm not making any excuses for that, because he could have seriously injured/killed someone or even himself, but I was 22 once and I did some pretty dumb shit as I'm sure you all did as well. Let's all pump those Mother Theresa brakes for a minute.
Everyone cried about Jefferey Simmons "character" issues as well and that seemed to work out just fine. Let's just take a step back and let Ran's recipe marinate a bit a bit before we pass judgement. I think Big Jeff is excited to take this kid under his wing and show him a thing or two about the succeeding at the next level.
Oh man!! Let’s go! Finally got another bull in the interior!! Lets work big dawg!!! @TvondreSweat
— Jeffery Simmons (@GrindSimmons94) April 26, 2024
Now let’s boast about that fourth round pillage:
Round 4/Pick: 106 - Cedric Gray, LB / UNC
Even though it was the fourth round, THIS is my absolute favorite pick of our entire draft. I'm a sucker for tackle machines and Cedric Gray is exactly that. If you can tackle effectively, you will have a long, profitable and productive career in the National Football League. But when I call this guy a tackle machine, what I really mean is I don't even think he's human. His 366 total tackles over the past three seasons put him as the only player in college football to tally over 100+ tackles in each of the last three seasons. Gray should serve immediately as a day one starter to replace Aziz-Al Shaair.
Again, if I'm being fully transparent, I was still looking towards a WR here in the fifth and didn't have too much of a emotional reaction to this move. The kid has some great tape, and he looks to be ready for the next level, but I didn't know anything about this guy. Good thing the internet exists, right?
Brownlee will help the Titans youth movement after completing his collegiate career split between Florida State and Louisville. He is known as a physical and aggressive corner with above average speed who can lock down the slot, but he also led the team in 2022 with a career high 12 pass breakups. He seems to be the exact style of player that new DC Dennard Wilson only has eyes for. One thing I will say is that the kid already has a chip on his shoulder. I'm excited to see what he can do on the field this season.
I think for most of the Titans fan base, this was one of the moments in the draft that made us all dig a little deeper. We all are well aware of the new kickoff rules. And yes, kick return is a dire position of need for our young squad. But you must have a short memory if every wide receiver draft selection the Titans pull the trigger on doesn't stir up some sort of NFL Draft PTSD. It's important to trust the guys in charge, but when the guys in charge have a historic record of fumbling the position, every single move is inherently scrutinized under the microscope. Let's just revisit a few of the wonderful mishaps and blunders over the years here in the city of Nashville
• Kevin Dyson over Randy Moss
• Kenny Britt over Mike Wallace
Landing the 51st overall ranked prospect at 106 is textbook highway robbery by Ran and Co. I don't know about you, but I'd mostly certainly buy that for a dollar.RD 4 | PK 106 - Titans: Cedric Gray LB, North Carolina
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 27, 2024
With the 106th overall pick, the @Titans select the linebacker with the highest production score (86) among his position group in this year's class.#NFLDraft | #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/XHAYFrbKmO
Moving on to the fifth round for secondary help:
Round 5/Pick: 146 - Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB / Louisville
Brownlee will help the Titans youth movement after completing his collegiate career split between Florida State and Louisville. He is known as a physical and aggressive corner with above average speed who can lock down the slot, but he also led the team in 2022 with a career high 12 pass breakups. He seems to be the exact style of player that new DC Dennard Wilson only has eyes for. One thing I will say is that the kid already has a chip on his shoulder. I'm excited to see what he can do on the field this season.
Jarvis Brownlee says he’s upset he didn’t go sooner in the NFL Draft. Feels he should have gone before some of the CBs called today. #Titans pic.twitter.com/dmlu0cRRNp
— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) April 27, 2024
Later in the sixth we address our return game:
Round 6/Pick: 182 - Jha'Quan Jackson, WR / Tulane
I think for most of the Titans fan base, this was one of the moments in the draft that made us all dig a little deeper. We all are well aware of the new kickoff rules. And yes, kick return is a dire position of need for our young squad. But you must have a short memory if every wide receiver draft selection the Titans pull the trigger on doesn't stir up some sort of NFL Draft PTSD. It's important to trust the guys in charge, but when the guys in charge have a historic record of fumbling the position, every single move is inherently scrutinized under the microscope. Let's just revisit a few of the wonderful mishaps and blunders over the years here in the city of Nashville
• Kevin Dyson over Randy Moss
• Kenny Britt over Mike Wallace
• Dez Fitzpatrick over Amon-Ra St. Brown
• Trading AJ Brown for Treylon Burks
• Allowing Rotiere's to shut down on West End
(Ok, that's not REALLY their fault but have you ever had a Rotiere's cheese burger on French Bread?)
Did the nephew of former Ravens HOF Safety, Ed Reed find a long term home here in Nashville? Time will tell. The former roommate of Tyjae Spears, his 4.47 speed and nearly 17 yards per catch is nothing to sneeze at. His total career of 109 receptions for 1743 yards and 17 TDs are respectable, but nothing that specifically jumps off the charts other than his immense versatility. But if you check out the kids tape, you can easily see why Ran and company felt he was worth the investment.
I don't think anyone is disenchanted with the upside of this pick, but with Mailk Washington and his identical 4.47 speed, 2023 FBS leading, ACC record 110 catches for 1426 yards and 1706 All Purpose Yards now heading to Miami, you have to hope that we didn't again pass over an uncut gem just trying to fill a positional need. I'm no expert, remember... I'm an idiot. But I go Washington there all day and twice on Sundays. So I'm excited to hopefully be proven wrong.
REMEMBER: "You can't always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need." So why not head on over to the Titans Idiot Nation SHOP and get what you need today! Titan Up!
Now we get to the seventh round for safety help:
Round 7/Pick: 242 - James Williams, S / Miami
I'm not going to get ahead of myself here but from where I sit, this is an absolute home run by Ran in the seventh. This man is a ball hawk who flies around the field with violent tendencies and is exactly the kind of safety that Dennard Wilson is searching for to anchor our team. He said himself he molds his game after L'Jarius Sneed, so to add this kid to this secondary we've assembled over the offseason should be a crime against humanity.
It's no secret that we're still planning on spending this off season, and there have been plenty of rumors swirling that Justin Simmons could be in the mix, but to land a player of this caliber this late, and in the last round is a testament to the trust the front office is putting in Ran to right this Titans ship.
We've come to our last pick in the 2024 NFL draft and Ran plucks a gem from the roster of the National Champion, Michigan Wolverines. Adding one defensive weapon in the last round is commendable, but possibly striking gold twice in 10 picks in the final round could be what sets this class apart down the road. Of course it's way too early to tell, but Harrell seems to be an absolute steal this late in the draft. This man started all 15 games for the national champions and led the team with 6.5 sacks, was tied for the team lead with 9.0 TFL and forced two fumbles. He has all the makings of a big time playmaker at the next level. Just check out these highlights:
After watching the tape it's easy to see why the Titans drafted him. He's an explosive team leader that has already had a taste of what it means to win a championship at the college level. Champions on the field make true leaders in the locker room and Ran looks to hopefully have another dish simmering in the kitchen.
I'd be lying if I said that I was just as excited over this years draft class as I was with last year, but I'm also not going to over think it. Overall I feel that we made some impactful choices and addressed key positions and depth with some big bodies that love to play football, even if they may be classified as "reaches." We went with needs over wants which isn't always flashy, but it's the safest play for a new staff trying to forge their own identity here in Nashville. Let's check back down the road a few years from now before we're all quick to jump off the Cumberland bridge.
It's no secret that we're still planning on spending this off season, and there have been plenty of rumors swirling that Justin Simmons could be in the mix, but to land a player of this caliber this late, and in the last round is a testament to the trust the front office is putting in Ran to right this Titans ship.
And finally rounding out the EDGE in the seventh:
Round 7/Pick: 252 - Jaylen Harrell, EDGE / Michigan
We've come to our last pick in the 2024 NFL draft and Ran plucks a gem from the roster of the National Champion, Michigan Wolverines. Adding one defensive weapon in the last round is commendable, but possibly striking gold twice in 10 picks in the final round could be what sets this class apart down the road. Of course it's way too early to tell, but Harrell seems to be an absolute steal this late in the draft. This man started all 15 games for the national champions and led the team with 6.5 sacks, was tied for the team lead with 9.0 TFL and forced two fumbles. He has all the makings of a big time playmaker at the next level. Just check out these highlights:
After watching the tape it's easy to see why the Titans drafted him. He's an explosive team leader that has already had a taste of what it means to win a championship at the college level. Champions on the field make true leaders in the locker room and Ran looks to hopefully have another dish simmering in the kitchen.
I'd be lying if I said that I was just as excited over this years draft class as I was with last year, but I'm also not going to over think it. Overall I feel that we made some impactful choices and addressed key positions and depth with some big bodies that love to play football, even if they may be classified as "reaches." We went with needs over wants which isn't always flashy, but it's the safest play for a new staff trying to forge their own identity here in Nashville. Let's check back down the road a few years from now before we're all quick to jump off the Cumberland bridge.
REMEMBER: "You can't always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need." So why not head on over to the Titans Idiot Nation SHOP and get what you need today! Titan Up!