Titans NFL Draft Daily (Jan. 16): Titans Address Needs at OT, WR in Latest 3-Round Mock Draft
The 2024 NFL Draft is a few months away, but mock drafts are off and running. USA Today's Draft Wire published a three-round mock draft that has the Tennessee Titans addressing roster needs at offensive tackle and wide receiver.
Draft Wire's Curt Popejoy dropped a full three-round mock draft, which includes the predicted Titans' selections in the first two rounds. Currently, Tennessee does not have a third-round pick in the 2024 draft, having traded that pick to the Arizona Cardinals.
With the trade last April, Tennessee acquired the draft picks to select quarterback Will Levis in the second round and running back Tyjae Spears in the third round.
1st Round: Penn State OT Olu Fashanu
Almost everyone agrees that the Titans will select an offensive tackle with their first-round pick in the NFL Draft. Who that lineman is varies based on outlet.
Draft Wire has Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu landing with Tennessee with the No. 7 overall pick. He's considered to be one of the top two players at the position, along with Notre Dame All-American Joe Alt.
Fashanu was a consensus All-America selection in 2023 and was named the Big Ten's Offensive Lineman of the Year. If he lands in Nashville, he'll be expected to start at left tackle.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) has Fashanu listed as the top-ranked offensive tackle in the 2024 draft class. PFF's Trevor Sikkema compares Fashanu to Dallas Cowboys eight-time Pro Bowler Tyron Smith and former Cleveland Browns star and 10-time Pro Bowl selection Joe Thomas.
"Olu Fashanu is one of the smoothest movers we've seen in pass protection since Tyron Smith and Joe Thomas," Sikkema wrote. "His tenacity in the run game could be better, but he's a dream offensive tackle prospect for what he can do as a pass-blocker."
The Titans have a strong history of selecting offensive tackles over the past decade, picking up players like Taylor Lewan (Michigan), Jack Conklin (Michigan State) and Peter Skoronski (Northwestern). All three of those players have Big Ten ties, too.
Could Fashanu be Tennessee's latest home-run selection out of the Big Ten?
Tennessee's left tackle combination of Andre Dillard and Jaelyn Duncan surrendered 21 sacks during the 2023 NFL season. It wouldn't take much for Fashanu to lock down that starting job if selected by the Titans.
2nd Round: North Carolina WR Devontez Walker
Another key need for the Titans in this draft class is at wide receiver. It's unlikely that Tennessee will have an opportunity to pick up Ohio State superstar Marvin Harrison Jr. with their first-round selection, but the Titans still can land a highly regarded player.
Draft Wire predicts the Titans will draft North Carolina receiver Devontez Walker, the No. 4-ranked receiver in the 2024 draft class, per PFF.
Walker spent two years at Kent State before transferring to North Carolina for the 2023 season. His most productive season came in 2022 with the Golden Flashes: 58 receptions for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In his lone season with the Tar Heels, Walker played in eight games and totaled 41 catches for 699 yards and seven touchdowns. He missed his first four games due to an eligibility dispute with the NCAA.
"In a receiver class full of great athletes who can stretch the field, Walker might be the best of the bunch," PFF's Sikkema writes. "While at Kent State, his team played against the likes of Washington, Georgia and Oklahoma, and not only did Walker look like he belonged, he looked like the best player on the field at times. He’s still raw in his consistency, but he is a toolsy receiver who could be a big difference-maker in the pros."
Last season, the Titans got very little production from the receiver room, outside of DeAndre Hopkins. The 31-year-old ended the year with 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns on 75 receptions and 137 targets. Only one other receiver — Chris Moore — exceeded 400 yards (424).
Tennessee really needs a receiver to provide quarterback Will Levis with options in the passing game. Plus, Hopkins is entering the second year of.a two-year deal with the Titans. The team needs to add playmakers for the future.
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