By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

The Titans 2024 draft class is in the books, and they desperately need it to be a good one. Whether it was or not is certainly not up for judgment today, no matter how big of a business draft grades are for national websites.

However, we can analyze the players, the likely rationale behind the selections and how those new pieces potentially fit in the re-made Titans' roster.

My overall view of the class is positive and that should come as no surprise given the players picked, especially the first three. I wrote glowingly of JC Latham’s dominant skill set and tape here several weeks ago, I listed T’Vondre Sweat as one of “my guys” for a piece two weeks ago, and Cedric Gray is a player who I started to become very fond of late in the draft process.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – To recover from a fourth-place finish in 2023, the Titans must fare far better than their 1-5 AFC South record that was a core ingredient in their 6-11 record.

“I think when you’re building a roster before you can compete with the elite teams in the league you’ve got to be able to compete in your division," president of football operations Chad Brinker told me at the annual league meeting in March. “It’s not like that’s the only thing we look at. But we pay attention to what our division is doing and how they are building their rosters so that we can combat that for sure.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Let's look at the Titans' offensive and defensive depth charts after their seven-man draft.

Rookies are underlined. Read left to right and then back to left on a second line.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Could the Titans have overdrafted JC Latham at No. 7 and T’Vondre Sweat at No. 38?

Sure.

Is the primary rationale being used to tell us in the aftermath of the 2024 NFL draft that that’s what happened flawed?

Absolutely.

This is one of the big problems with Big Industrial Draft Media.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A review of the Titans’ five Day Three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft…

ILB Cedric Gray, North Carolina, No. 106 in the fourth

Every pre-draft write-up I found about Cedric Gray said the weakness is play recognition. But the North Carolina inside linebacker said he believes things clicked in for him as a sophomore and he feels he’s got a good feel for the game.

He didn't remember talking to the Titans at all, but they said the did meet him at the Senior Bowl.

Ran Carthon said he was so clean they didn't need to have him in for one of their 30 visits.

“I believe I have great play recognition,” he said. “Something that I pride myself on. Just having a high knowledge of the football game, understanding defenses, understanding how the offense is trying to attack us. It’s something that I’ve studied in film sessions over the years, discussed with coaches, teammates.

“And I think that part of my game has evolved over the years. So I just continually need to do that going to the next level." [Unlocked]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mass in the middle.

That’s the Titans' approach to the defensive line after selecting Texas’ mammoth defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat 38th overall in the second round of the NFL draft Friday evening. He’s 6-foot-5, 366 pounds and while I’m getting conflicting reports on his body fat measurement at the scouting combine, both numbers I was told are giant.

“He’s going to present problems in the middle," Ran Carthon said. "Hard to move.”

By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

The Titans will enter day two of the draft with just one selection, pick No. 38, the sixth pick of the second round and there are still some very high-level players available. The Titans could see a player who many viewed as a potential top-20 pick fall into their laps or they could consider trading back to try and add draft capital after not doing so on night one.

If they trade back, there are a few teams that make some sense as partners, including the Bengals, who could send picks 49 and 97 for pick 38, a deal that works out pretty close to even on the Jimmy Johnson trade chart. Cincinnati could target Johnny Newton, who it was frequently connected to in the predraft process if he lingers on the board at 38. [Unlocked]

By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

After weeks of speculation and debate about Joe Alt and wide receivers, the Titans ended up sticking at pick No. 7 and taking hulking tackle JC Latham of Alabama in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Interest in Latham had been reported before the draft, but the Titans were thought to be high on Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt, who went off the board at pick No. 5 to the Chargers, as well. Certainly, legendary offensive line coach Bill Callahan would be signing off on any tackle selection. [Unlocked]