Tennessee Titans Select Florida State EDGE Jared Verse in ESPN 2024 NFL Mock Draft

The Tennessee Titans may have the biggest gap between internal expectations and what outside sources, whether media or fans, think the team will do of any NFL team. Most outside the Titans' ecosystem think the Titans are looking at a top-ten pick while the other side is thinking playoffs.

One group is going to be proven right, but it will be no secret what side ESPN falls on. ESPN's "Football Power Index" or "FPI" has the Titans finishing with the sixth pick in the 2024 NFL draft according to Miller. He used that process to form one last 2024 mock draft before the 2023 season kicks off.

Selection: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

Miller's Analysis

"The Titans have two young quarterbacks on the roster behind Ryan Tannehill in Will Levis and Malik Willis, so it's unlikely the front office would draft another, even with a top-10 pick. Instead, they could address the defensive line. Verse would likely have been a top-15 draft pick had he entered the 2023 draft; he returns for his senior season as one of the top defenders in the nation. His nine sacks and 31 pressures last season put him on the map, and at 6-4 and 260 pounds, he has the ideal build to play in coach Mike Vrabel's scheme."

The Titans miss out on some of the clear top names in the class like quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu.

However, they still have a great option on the table, but Miller has them look elsewhere. Jared Verse may be a solid player out of Florida State, but the Titans have Harold Landry and now newly-signed Arden Key. I believe the pick would be better spent on the player who was picked directly after the Titans' choice.

Enter Joe Alt, the large offensive lineman from Norte Dame. The easy counter here could be that the Titans signed Andre Dillard in the offseason in a similar way to Key. My retort would be, I simply believe in Key as a long-term answer more than Dillard.

Even if Dillard proves to be an answer at left tackle, right tackle is certainly still a major need. Nicholas Petit-Frere may only be suspended for six games this year and is under contract for two additional seasons, but with his play as a rookie and now a suspension, Petit-Frere is far from a certainty.

Alt would be a perfect fit for the Titans and could play either tackle spot depending on how things unfold in 2023. The Titans may be moving away from quarterback Ryan Tannehill after the year and going with one of their young quarterbacks.

If that happens, the best possible thing to do would be to invest in keeping that young passer upright. Even if it means going with two offensive linemen in back to back seasons and three out of the last five drafts. If things go the way the Titans hope this year though, they may never get the chance to select either of the players discussed.

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