George Walker IV, The Tennessean
Ranking Titans' Best Draft Classes: No. 9 Group Is 2008 Anchored By Chris Johnson
NASHVILLE — As we continue our countdown of the top ten draft classes of all time for the Tennessee Titans, today we visit the No. 9 class, one that, like its predecessor on our countdown at No.10, had little depth, but the top half was a good one.
Our No. 9 class is the 2008 class that brought the league's fastest man to Nashville, and could he ever electrify a crowd in a hurry?
Here is the entire 2008 class, with the impact they had.
Chris Johnson, running back
- Round: 1
- Pick: No. 24 overall
- College: East Carolina
- The skinny: Johnson turned in the fastest time ever recorded in the 40-yard dash at the combine, running a 4.24s. That run was the determining factor in the Titans selecting him in the first round. Former Titans tight end and radio analyst Frank Wycheck calls this pick for the Titans shortly after Johnson's run in Indy.
Jason Jones, defensive end
- Round: 2
- Pick: No. 54 overall
- College: Eastern Michigan
- The skinny: Jones spent four seasons with the Titans, where as a rookie, playing behind Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch, he got the start when both the aforementioned were out with injuries in a week 16 game against the Steelers. That day, Jones recorded 3.5 sacks, five tackles, and three forced fumbles.
Craig Stevens, tight end
- Round: 3
- Pick: No. 85 overall
- College: California
- The skinny: Stevens became a fan favorite based on his blue-collar style and physical play. He spent his entire eight-year career with the Titans.
William Hayes, defensive end
- Round: 4
- Pick: No. 103 overall
- College: Winston-Salem State
- The skinny: As a fourth-round pick, Hayes signed a minimum-dollar rookie contract. He never signed another deal with the Titans.
Lavelle Hawkins, wide receiver
- Round: 4
- Pick: No. 126 overall
- College: California
- The skinny: Nicknamed "the Hawk," Lavelle came to Nashville along with his college teammate Craig Stevens. Hawkins was selected with the pick the Titans acquired when they traded Pacman Jones.
Stanford Kegler, linebacker
- Round: 4
- Pick: No. 134 overall
- College: Purdue
- The skinny: Kegler spent three very nondescript seasons with the Titans, with his best season coming in his rookie campaign, where he totaled 12 tackles. He spent one more season in the NFL with the Texans before his career ended.
Cary Williams, defensive back
- Round: 7
- Pick: No. 229 overall
- College: Washburn
- The skinny: Williams spent eight years in the league but only two with the Titans. Though Williams provided little during his time in Nashville, he does own a Super Bowl ring he earned as a member of the Baltimore Ravens in 2012.
Titans' Hits in 2008
George Walker IV, The Tennessean
Titans Hits In 2008
During his six-year run with the franchise, Chris Johnson was not just a hit; he was a grand slam. He produced 7,965 yards and 50 touchdowns on the ground. He also added 8 receiving touchdowns and never had less than 30 receptions in any season with the team. Of course, the biggest highlight of his Titans career came in 2009, when he ran for 2,006 yards, making him just the fifth back in league history to surpass the 2,000-yard mark in a single season.
Though Jones never rose to stardom as a Titan, he did fill his role with solid play. It was enough, in our opinion, that he found a place on the positive side of the ledger despite his short-lived career here.
As for Stevens, in his eight years in two-tone blue, he produced just 60 receptions for 724 yards and six touchdowns. The intangibles, like blocking and his leadership on and off the field, made him a favorite of his teammates, coaches, and fans. For those reasons alone, Stevens was a solid selection for the 2008 class.
Like Stevens, William Hayes lands as a hit based on his minimum contract and the fact that he was a solid yet unspectacular part of the defense. Hayes was good enough that the Titans coach that drafted him, Jeff Fisher, signed him to a deal with the Rams when Hayes's run with the Titans ended.
Titans Misses in 2008
Lavelle Hawkins leads off the misses for this class, though he did have a solid season along the way. Hawkins caught 71 receptions for 771 yards during five seasons with the Titans. His most productive season was in 2011, when he played in all 16 games and caught 47 passes for 470 yards and one touchdown.
One note fans might not know of Hawkins was his relationship with the then-offensive coordinator, Mike Heimerdinger, who was known for his colorful and firey language during practices. Hawkins was a frequent recipient of verbal tongue lashings from "Dinger," including being called a baby one day during practice in from of the entire media throng.
There's not much to say about both Kegler and Williams, as neither provided much in the way of spectacular plays during their Titans tenures. However, Williams would go on to have his moment in the sun when he intercepted a pass from Tom Brady in the end zone in the 4th quarter with 1:06 remaining in regulation, sealing the win for the Ravens 28-13 and a trip to Super Bowl XLVII where he would get the ring we mentioned earlier, as the Ravens defeated San Francisco 34-31.
CONCLUSION
Johnson alone makes this class a home run, but getting solid, if not spectacular, contributions from Stevens, Jones, and Hayes makes this a solid class worthy of being in our top ten draft classes of all time for the Titans version of this franchise.
Also, remember that the Jeff Fisher regime selected this class, and for the most part, they produced solid classes, as you will see as we continue our top ten countdown.
Coming Tuesday: A look at our No. 8 choice.
Ranking Draft Classes No.10: Here's the first in our series ranking the Titans top draft classes. CLICK HERE
QB Envey, What Might Have Been: A day after his second Super Bowl win, Tom Brew looks at what might have been for the Titans and others had they chosen Patrick Mahomes. CLICK HERE
Tyler's Take: Our Tyler Rowland shares his thoughts on Taylor Lewan and his future with the Titans. CLICK HERE
