By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special contributor
The Titans roster is starting to look competitive again after years of poor drafting and free-agent signings that have depleted the team's talent pool. The Titans will be without their best player over the past decade in Derrick Henry. The team also loses productive veterans Denico Autry, Ryan Tannehill, Azeez Al-Shaair, Aaron Brewer and former starters Kristian Fulton, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Chris Hubbard.
The new-look Titans will infuse some much-needed youth and speed into their roster with the likes of Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley, Lloyd Cushenberry, Saahdiq Charles, Kenneth Murray, L’Jarius Sneed, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Kenneth Murray and Chidobe Awuze.
The upgrades in the secondary and at center are dramatic, while also adding Ridley to pair with Deandre Hopkins. Pollard will have a hard time living up to Henry’s production and dominance, but he adds a very productive compliment to last year’s third-round pick, Tyjae Spears, while Murray needs only to replace the speed and production of Al-Shaair.
Make no mistake -- this team will only go as far as second-year quarterback Will Levis can take it. With the additions of Ridley, Pollard and Cushenberry the team has replaced or added stable players with past production. The Titans are still in rebuilding mode and have some major holes to fill at left and right tackle along with the defensive line, outside pass rusher, another inside linebacker and safety. Rebuilds are not done in one year. Still, the draft will help them fill some major holes while also adding, youth and inexpensive replacements.
My Mock
- Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
After trading Justin Fields, the Bears need a franchise Quarterback. General Manager Ryan Poles is picking his second QB in the first round in the last three years. Williams is a high-end playmaker who creates passing lanes for himself with his unique ability to improvise and move in the pocket and who can make throws off balance to either arm side. His arm strength is good and so is his touch and accuracy. Williams is far from a sure thing with too many inconsistencies, poor play in big games and an attitude and demeanor on the field that has brought serious questions that need to be answered. He is going to be forced to be the face of the organization. Is he capable of handling that? This is a gamble on talent. The Bears must ensure they did their due diligence on his character and makeup.
- Washington Commanders: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The Commanders created space for a quarterback by trading away last year’s starter Sam Howell. They need a playmaker and face of the franchise. Maye has outstanding size, athletic 
ability and the skillset and ability to be a top 10 QB in the NFL once he develops. For such a poor team the Commanders have two outstanding young receivers in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, along with free agent pickups Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz to allow the young QB the opportunity to have some early success. The Commanders must address the offensive line to lift the offense in 2024. Maye has the skills to develop into the best quarterback out of this draft class and with a solid offensive unit around him his growing pains should be lessened.
- New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Patriots traded Mac Jones and forced themselves to take a quarterback at No. 3. I feel bad for the quarterback they chose because they lack playmakers on offense and have a depleted offensive line. Daniels is an excellent athlete but had the unfortunate trait in college of not avoiding hits and defenders on the collegiate level. Considering his slight frame, poor offensive line and very few NFL-caliber playmakers it could be a long year in New England. Daniels has an upside but needs more talent around him to have ultimate success.
- Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
When new GM Monti Ossenfort took over from the Cardinals, he was stuck with a huge contract for Kyler Murray and a talent-deficient roster. In Year Two he continues to upgrade the lack of talent on the roster. Harrison Jr helps with the ultimate success of Murray and this team. Harrison is an excellent short to intermediate receiver who can separate with his size, strength, power, and route-running ability. Strong hands, instincts and awareness make him the best receiver in the draft and an immediate upgrade to the Cardinals offense. Murray can have success with players like Harrison because of the size, strength and consistency he plays with.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Chargers added Jim Harbaugh but allowed their three most productive offensive players to leave in free agency, receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen and running back Austin Ekeler. Quarterback Justin Herbert has not reached that elite category of quarterbacks even though his raw talent says he should be there. He hasn’t lacked offensive talent in his first four years in the league, but the team must add Nabers because of the glaring need at receiver. Nabers adds a vertical threat. He is an effective run-after-catch receiver who can separate on routes and run away from defenders on the second and third levels. He can help the quarterback and offense by giving them a true deep threat.
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- New York Giants: JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
G.M.’s only have so much time to build a team, and the Giants' boss Joe Schoen knows Daniel Jones isn’t that guy. McCarthy is a winner, but what isn’t talked about as much are his skills. McCarthy has size, arm strength and good movement in the pocket to go along with speed as a runner. He is an instinctive player who hasn’t reached his true ceiling. In a perfect world, the Giants would like to select Rome Odunze or Brock Bowers, but they can’t pass up McCarthy and the ability to allow the GM and head coach to reset their clock on winning.
- Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Titans are another team that forced themselves into a selection because of the lack of free-agent moves at a need position. They could have signed Isaiah Wynn as insurance, and he could have kicked to guard if and when they drafted a tackle. Other insurance options: Jonah Williams, Tyron Smith on the cheap deal he got from the Jets (even with his injury history), George Fant or Brandon Parker. With no one in-house, the Titans must select a left tackle. Alt is going to be a solid pro at the left tackle position.
He is not elite but he is an experienced, productive player with outstanding size, frame and technique. With Alt and last year’s first-rounder Peter Skoronski, they should have a solid left side of the line for years. But this will make for two top-11 draft choices in the last two years where they forced themselves to take needs and not the best player available. Leaving Bowers, Odunze and Dallas Turner on the board could come back to haunt the team in years to come.
The other scenario for the Titans is to trade down in the draft and select another tackle in the mid-portion of the first round. Alt is going to be solid, but he is not the elite, can’t-pass-him-up type prospect. This would allow the team to further rebuild by acquiring multiple extra selections in this year’s draft or next.
- Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama
The best pass rusher is on the board and the Falcons are in desperate need of defense with so many resources spent on the offensive side of the ball in recent drafts and in free agency this year. Turner is not an elite rusher but will be a solid double-digit sack player who will impact their defensive situation and how teams will block the Falcons' defensive front. Pass rush is a premium in every draft and the Falcons can’t pass this one up.
- Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Odunze and Williams help this team with immediate upgrades in talent and productivity. Adding Odunze with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift allows Williams to have immediate success and really upgrades the Bears’ options on offense. Odunze is a big, physical receiver with enough speed to stretch the defense. The Bears have a chance to surprise in a few years with this collection of talent.
- New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Bowers is one of my top five players in the draft. He was productive in all three years with the Georgia Bulldogs and a true mismatch for linebackers because of his speed and athletic ability plus a size mismatch against safeties. All the top teams have elite tight ends (just look at the Super Bowl) and the Jets are getting Aaron Rogers a plug-and-play playmaker. Bowers is exactly what this team has been missing and this selection could save GM Joe Douglas and HC Robert Saleh jobs.
- Minnesota Vikings: Michael Penix, QB, Washington
Add the Vikings to the list that has needs because of the poor job of roster construction. The Vikings have two top-tier receivers in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and an all-star tight end in TJ Hockenson but don't have anyone to throw the ball to them. With Sam Darnold penciled in as their starter there is only one place to go. I expect the Vikings to trade up to select McCarthy, but if they must stick and pick, Penix can be the accurate passer who can succeed with the Vikings’ receiving options.
- Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
This is a team in major need of talent. Losing Jerry Jeudy and Cushenberry only added to the void. Another team that put itself in the quarterback market by getting rid of Russell Wilson but is too far down to acquire a top talent at the position. Excellent trade-back candidate to acquire more picks and drop back to take a QB. But they can’t go into the season with Jarrett Stidham at QB. Nix is a talented but wildly inconsistent player. He won’t have a lot of help once he is selected which is never a good thing for a young player.
Coast to Coast. It’s official!🦆 #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/XozWIW7wMi
— Bo Nix (@BoNix10) December 19, 2021
- Las Vegas Raiders: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Another team that is in dire need of talent. Past regimes have depleted this roster. The need for a QB is real but there isn’t one left at 13. The team will select a starting right tackle in Latham who fits a need and provides a long-term answer on the offensive line.
- New Orleans Saints: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Trevor Penning has been overmatched at left tackle since he was drafted, and veteran Ryan Ramczyk has talked about retiring due to injury issues. Fashanu plays left tackle on day one and moves Penning to the right tackle spot. Good choice and value for the Saints.
- Indianapolis Colts: Quinn Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Colts could go in several directions here, but they settle on a corner with big upside in a division that just brought in Gabe Davis, Stephon Diggs and Calvin Ridley at the receiver position. The need for corners who can run and cover are a must. Pass rush is their secondary option. Mitchell is a true cover athlete who has a big upside.
- Seattle Seahawks: Laiatu Latu, DE/OLB, UCLA
They have a major need for outside pass rush. The Seahawks could also go interior offensive line with this pick, but the pass rush is a premium and harder to find in the second and third rounds. Latu is consistent and just started to tap into his ability as a pass rusher. He showed excellent get-off and good production this past season.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The Jaguars have a major need at corner. They busted on first-rounder CJ Henderson a few years ago, only adding to their troubles in coverage. Arnold is an instinctive and athletic coverage player who can play outside or cover inside in the nickel. His best football should be ahead of him with a late breakout season in 2023 for the Tide.
- Cincinnati Bengals, Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The Bengals have to protect Joe Burrow, but they also need to replace Tyler Boyd and potentially Tee Higgins in a year at the wide receiver position. I like Ladd McConkey in this spot for the Bengals but the need for a tackle is a must. Fuaga is a tough, physical player who can help change the line's identity for years. He is an immediate starter at right tackle.
Among Pac 12 tackles, Taliese Fuaga finished 3rd with a Blown Block Rate of 1.3% (min 400 snaps) 📈
— SIS Football (@football_sis) April 18, 2024
How does the Oregon State product project as an NFL prospect?
Check out our scouting report below 👇https://t.co/pWxAR8F8ZE pic.twitter.com/poIx4ssagF
- Los Angeles Rams: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Their best player, Aaron Donald, retired leaving a gaping hole along the defensive front. The Rams have a number of positional issues that need addressing, but one draft won’t get it done. Newton won’t replace a Hall of Famer but he does bring, size, quickness and emerging pass-rush skill to a team that needs it.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The need at receiver is too big to pass up. Adding quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in the offseason is fine but they both need someone to throw to for success. Thomas adds a ready-made player opposite George Pickens. The Steelers will still need to add on the offensive side of the ball in the early rounds of the draft.
- Miami Dolphins: Byron Murphy, DT, Texas
Losing Christian Wilkins in free agency hurts. They currently have no replacements for his important spot in the middle of the defensive line. Murphy has size, strength and very good quickness for the position. He sounds a lot like Wilkins.
- Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Philly tends to win the draft each year. GM Howie Roseman and his staff do an excellent job of taking the best player available each year and that is why his roster is one of the most talented in the NFL. They could turn to multiple spots with this pick: Offensive tackle to eventually replace an aging Lane Johnson, a pass rusher to replace Hassan Reddick or a corner to compete this year. DeJean will play this year and has a chance to replace Darius Slay who enters the season at the age of 33.
- Minnesota Vikings: Jared Verse, DE/OLB, Florida State
The Vikings get a gift with Verse falling this far. They can replace departed free agent Danielle Hunter with a productive, experienced pass rusher. Verse has the strength and pass-rush skills to have immediate success on a team that needs to replace consistent production.
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- Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Cowboys lost multiple starting players in free agency but only signed aging inside linebacker Eric Kendricks. Much is needed to fill in this roster. Replacing Tyron Smith is a must and Mims is a high-upside player who can be penciled in at the right tackle spot now but has the movement skills to move over to left tackle in the future.
- Green Bay Packers: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
This is a need position for the Packers and Fautanu is a good athlete who can play tackle or guard. Green Bay needs help at both. Fautanu is a very good value pick here.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Tall corners with length and speed are a Tampa Bay staple. Wiggins fits the skill set and also a need. Wiggins has speed to burn to go along with size and length.
- Arizona Cardinals: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Cardinals must resist the potential to double dip at the wide receiver position and add Ladd McConkey at WR to play the slot. Cover corners are a need for the team that signed Sean Murphy-Bunting as a starter.
- Buffalo Bills: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
The Bills once had a very talented roster, but it has been depleted this offseason. They have major needs at receiver and cornerback. The potential for a surprise pick is NC State linebacker Payton Wilson, who would be an ideal fit in their defense. But the need at wide receiver must be addressed or Josh Allen won’t survive this season. Mitchell replaces the production of Gabe Davis.
- Detroit Lions: Graham Barton, G, Duke
Barton played tackle in college but moves inside in Detroit where he will be a plug-and-play starter and has a chance to ascend to All-Star level, especially around a good team like the Lions.
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- Baltimore Ravens: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
The Ravens need weapons around Lamar Jackson to complement Zay Flowers. McConkey is a run-after-catch player and adds to the competitive mentality that the team has created on offense.
- San Francisco 49ers: Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
Robinson is a true ascender in college and exactly what every team is looking for along the defensive front. After losing Arik Armstead, the team needs to add interior rush. Robinson is versatile enough to rush inside and out and have production versus the run and pass. He’s not an elite talent but he’s the type of player that every defense has on its roster.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The big needs are receiver and offensive line. The Chiefs have a few options and trading back is one of them. But adding a starter at tackle is a solid choice for the defending champions.
Note: NFL front offices have taken an unorthodox approach to this offseason. So many teams have forced themselves to select a certain position of need in the draft because of the inability to fill those spots through free agency or their development of younger players.
The draft was always set up to allow teams to replenish their roster with younger players. Where a player was selected determined the immediate or long-term expectations. General managers today tend to use the draft to select players to produce in Year One despite their level of readiness and ability to handle a 17-game season and the responsibility of an NFL starter.
The Bears, Patriots, Commanders, Vikings and Titans are all forcing themselves to select a certain position because of a lack of planning leading up to the draft. The Bears were the only team that controlled who they would be able to select, so that was easier to handle.
But the other teams are going to be forced to select whoever else is available. Successful teams take talent and do not just fill needs.
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