NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In 2005 the Titans were looking for a successor for Brad Hopkins at left tackle. He was heading into his 13^th season and Floyd Reese and the scouting staff were looking to be ready for the following season.

It came down to a second-round pick, 41^st overall. Blake Beddingfield -- special contributor to this site now, southeast regional scout for the Titans then -- remembers the team narrowing the conversation to Khalif Barnes of Washington (who ultimately went 51st to Jacksonville) and Michael Roos of Eastern Washington.

Mike Munchak, the franchise’s Hall of Fame guard and the Titans' offensive line coach at the time had huge input.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – So there is your No. 1 question during Titans' training camp.

Who’s the left tackle and who’s the left guard? Who’s the left guard and who’s the left tackle?

The Titans signed Andre Dillard, a former Philadelphia Eagles No. 1 pick, in free agency. Dillard said the team told him it was looking for fast, athletic linemen who could work in space. Now, they’ve drafted Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski at No. 11 in the first round.

The two will sort things out in training camp. 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – My most favorable scenarios for the Titans tonight in the first round of the NFL Draft…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- There has been so much time -- too much time -- to contemplate what the Titans will do with No. 11 tonight in the first round of the NFL Draft, or if they will move up or back from the spot.

As I sketched out my final thoughts I realized I've been too hard on a couple of prime prospects, using broad context that extends beyond this draft too often. It's important to look at comps and to see things in the framework of recent drafts, sure.

But ultimately, the next three days are obviously about what's available in the next three days and Ran Carthon and Mike Vrabel doing their very best with all the work they and the scouting staff and assistant coaches have done in the build-up to all this.

Here's a video-only edition of The Paul Kuharsky Podcast where I come to some clarity on my own over-reach on the class of 2023.

All brought to you by Jasper's. [Unlocked]

By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It’s officially NFL Draft week, one of my very favorite weeks of the year. Rumors are already flying and Thursday night we’ll finally get some real answers about the direction of the Tennessee Titans under Ran Carthon as well as the rest of the league.

Every year, I like to put together a list of “my guys” in the draft… the quick explanation is simply that it’s players that I’m either higher on than most or simply would pound the table for them to be drafted specifically for the Titans.

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Drafting for your team is about roster construction. Most of the teams picking in the top 15 should be looking to add quality players to their roster no matter what the position – draft the best player available. 

Most teams seem to select need positions and let better players fall to organizations that aren’t afraid to select talent.

There are teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills that can draft for need or draft quality depth because of their quarterback stability and also their roster depth and talent.

A great example of taking quality players a year before they are needed is the Eagles draft in 2022.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ran Carthon posed for a picture with a fan at a recent event and she leaned in.

“You better not trade Derrick,” she whispered sternly, Carthon said at his Monday pre-draft press conference. “And she scared the hell out of me because it came from a motherly, authoritative place. I was like, ‘Yes ma'am.’”

Usually, Carthon said, he doesn’t say anything to that common plea about Derrick Henry.

“I just smile and kind of nod and just hope that someone comes in a just kind of saves me,” he said. [Unlocked]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A former player with ties to the agency that represents Derrick Henry tweeted that the Titans' running back is heading to the Eagles in a trade and the internet went crazy the Saturday before the draft.

There’s just one problem.

The Titans and Eagles have had zero conversations about a trade for the running back who’s heading into his eighth season, his last under contract with Tennessee. [Unlocked]