Ranking Titans' Best Draft Classes: No. 10 is 2014 Group Anchored by Taylor Lewan
NASHVILLE — Like every other team in the NFL, the Tennessee Titans are on the clock as they prepare for the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft in April, where they will attempt to add some valuable pieces to their roster.
While every offseason is essential, considering the season just completed by the Titans and the glaring deficiencies within their roster, this is a pivotal draft for the immediate fortunes of this franchise. The simple fact is that the Titans must produce a stellar draft class with their selections.
As we prepare for the draft, we thought it was a good time here at AllTitans.com to look back at the 10 best draft classes in team history since they arrived in Nashville in 1998.
We'll start at No. 10 on the list with the 2014 draft class and count them down from there every day. It's going to be a fun look-back.
Here is the complete 2014 class, with the impact they had.
Taylor Lewan, offensive tackle
- Round: 1
- Pick: No. 11 overall
- College: Michigan
- The skinny: A 3-time Pro Bowler at left tackle, Lewan solidly anchored the left side throughout his Titans career, which included two season-ending injuries and one suspension for PED's.
Bishop Sankey, running back
- Round: 2
- Pick: No. 54 overall
- College: Washington
- The skinny: Sankey spent just two seasons in Nashville, rushing for 762 yards, three touchdowns, 272 yards receiving, and one other career touchdown.
DaQuan Jones, defensive tackle
- Round: 4
- Pick: No. 112 overall
- College: Penn State
- The skinny: Jones spent seven seasons with the Titans. He signed a three-year, $21 million contract extension with the Titans before the 2018 season. A solid performer, and a good locker-room presence, Jones is still in the league, having spent 2022 on the Buffalo Bills roster.
Marqestion Huff, defensive back
- Round: 4
- Pick: No. 122 overall
- College: Wyoming
- The skinny: Huff appeared in 26 games over two seasons with the Titans and recorded 32 tackles.
Avery Williamson, linebacker
- Round: 5
- Pick: No. 151 overall
- College: Kentucky
- The skinny: A Milan, Tennessee native, Williamson outplayed his rookie contract during his four seasons in Nashville. Williamson ended his time with the Titans, having collected 376 total tackles in four seasons. His play earned him a three-year, $22.50 million contract that includes $16 million guaranteed and $6 million in signing bonus with the New York Jets before the 2018 season.
Zach Mettenberger, quarterback
- Round: 6
- Pick: No. 178 overall
- College: LSU
- The skinny: Mettenberger appeared in 14 games, starting ten in his two seasons with the Titans. For his career in Nashville, he passed for 2,347 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Titans' hits in 2014
While this class needed more significant contributors, the Titans managed to secure a franchise left tackle in round one with Lewan and a solid defensive tackle in Jones. However, arguably the best of this class was their fifth-round pick, Kentucky linebacker Avery Williamson.
Williamson will never be enshrined in Canton. Still, as a fifth-rounder, he outperformed his contract and was a very productive linebacker who became a defensive leader both on the field and in the locker room.
As for Lewan, he was a three-time Pro-Bowler, remained the team's left, and was the starter in 2022 until a knee injury ended his season after just two games. No decision on his future with the team has been announced, but it is widely speculated that the colorful personality will not remain on the roster in 2023.
Titans running back Bishop Sankey runs the ball against the Indianapolis Colts.
Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports
Titans' misses in 2014
Second-round pick running back Bishop Sankey was undersized but showed some flashes early on. He was unable to sustain and ultimately left the Titans with little to show for his second-round draft position.
Marqueston Huff spent two seasons (2010-15) with the Titans before becoming a journeyman and bouncing through around five other rosters in his four seasons in the league. Huff never spent an entire season with any team after leaving Nashville.
A big-armed quarterback, Zach Mettenberger, got his chance under center in 2015 and showed his toughness in the beating he took from the Houston Texans during a late-season contest. After two seasons, he would leave the Titans and spend the 2016 campaign between the Chargers and Steelers before exiting the league. His most significant claims to fame during his Titans tenure were a bar fight where he was the victim of an assault on Broadway and dating the daughter of his head coach, Ken Whisenhut.
Conclusion
Lewan, Jones, and Williamson place this class in the top ten, as each made significant contributions during their time in Tennessee, with each player earning a second contract. However, Williamson's deal came with the Jets.
While providing little overall, Sankey, Huff, and Mettengberger did have moments of flash during their short careers, but not enough significance to change the franchise's fortunes during the dark days they were part of the roster.
While there was a little in the bottom of this class, considering some of the others this team has produced during their time here, there is enough to place it as the No. 10 best Titans draft class since their arrival in Nashville.
Coming Tuesday: A look at our No. 9 choice.
