By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

The Titans continued to build around Will Levis with the addition of yet another reliable veteran receiver in former Bengal Tyler Boyd, agreeing to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

The 6-2, 203-pound Boyd is entering his ninth season in the NFL, but this will be his first outside of Cincinnati, where he spent the last five seasons as new Titans head coach Brian Callahan’s primary slot receiver. There is little question that the slot will be Boyd’s primary role in Tennessee. Boyd played at least 84 percent of his snaps in the slot for Callahan in each of his last four seasons and has never seen fewer than 64 percent of his snaps inside since entering the NFL as a second-round pick in 2016.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tyler Boyd wouldn’t bring the Titans great speed and explosion, qualities the team would definitively like to add to its receiver mix.

They got them with Calvin Ridley in free agency, but at this stage of the season if you’re adding a free agent, he’s got some sort of major limitation.

Boyd would bring a super-understanding of Brian Callahan’s offense and workflow, and he could be the primary guy working out of the slot. An offense with Ridley and Hopkins outside and Boyd inside with Chig Okonkwo as the primary tight end and either Tony Pollard or Tyjae Spears as running back would be a significant upgrade in pass-receiving weapons from last year.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – We’ve said all along the Titans had too many holes to fill with one free-agency period and one draft.

There will be spots where the team isn’t as talented as it would like to be. Even if the Titans can find a free-agent tackle, right tackle will be one of those spots.

The free-agent list at this point is poor. Available guys are predominantly old or coming off injury. James Hurst, who played the most among these free-agent tackles, retired. Charles Leno is coming off serious hip surgery and may not play again. Andrus Peat, being touted by some, played a nice season at left tackle for the Saints last year but isn’t listed here because he built his career as a left guard.

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]