The Difference Between Wants And Needs In The Draft

We often hear people talk of wants and needs in their personal lives, but when it comes to the NFL Draft, is there a difference?

NASHVILLE - As a youth growing up, one of the things my mom taught me early on was the difference between wants and needs. For instance, did I need that candy bar, or was it something I just wanted but could live without?

Life in the NFL as a general manager and head coach are similar when adding talent to their roster, but not the same. 

For instance, the Tennessee Titans are believed to be in the market for a left tackle despite having recently signed Andre Dillard to potentially fill that position. 

While the Titans could, and likely should, take a tackle in this draft, could they pass on adding one and allow Dillard to sink or swim on his own? 

Yes, but wouldn't it be better to have a backup plan by adding another tackle to avoid another season like 2022?  

Receiver is, without doubt, a position where the Titans need help. Other than Treylon Burks and possibly a healthy Kyle Phillips, things are scarce further down that list.  

Adding one or two players here would go a long way toward soothing this need. 

Then there's cornerback, where the Titans currently have Krisitan Fulton and Roger McCreary as their top two corners, with Caleb Farley as an unknown factor based on his top-flight abilities but his inability to remain healthy as critical factors. 

With the Titans having those two in place, corner doesn't appear to be a need, at least early on, unless you factor in the old theory about always looking to get better at every position. 

At the same time, none of these corners are true No. 1's unless Farley can return healthy and fulfill the plan for him when he was selected. So while corner could be passed on until later, should the Titans choose to add one in round one, it would be because they need to improve that position.    

The same can be said of edge rushers; as the old NFL saying goes, "You can never have enough pass rushers."

The Titans have Harold Landry returning from injury and added Arden Key, Denico Autry, and Rashad Weaver. While that group seems solid, and with Jeffrey Simmons hopefully returning, as last season showed, you are only one injury (or more, as has been the case for the Titans the previous two seasons) away from trouble. 

While adding a rusher is not their most pressing need, should they decide to add another pass rusher in round one or two, it is because they feel it is necessary to have another player in that position.   

Unless you are the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 70s or the Dallas Cowboys of the 90s, where you are littered with future Hall-of-Fame talents, then you should always look to improve your roster at all positions.    

So, sometimes what we in the media and fans see as wants isn't always what the team sees; what one deems a want, the other sees as a need. 

In the end, improvement at every position should never be discouraged. 

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