As the start of Tennessee Titans training camp approaches on July 28, we’re going to start taking a look at what to expect from each of the team’s position groups.
But before getting to position groups, we’re going to start with a deep dive into the team’s 2020 NFL Draft picks.
As is the case with all rookies entering the league this year, the Titans’ six draft picks are at a disadvantage due to an abbreviated offseason that saw no rookie mini-camp in June.
While virtual meetings have replaced normal activities, there is simply no replicating learning on the practice field, and just how much of an impact this has on the development of the Titans’ youngsters remains to be seen.
Let’s go rookie-by-rookie and take a look at each of their backgrounds and what could happen in their respective competitions in training camp.
Isaiah Wilson | RT
Background
There were some experts who thought Wilson could have benefitted from staying in college another year, but he was still able to show enough at Georgia to be a first-round selection in 2020.
On the surface, Wilson’s massive 6-foot-6, 350-pound frame fits in perfectly with what the Titans do offensively. He’s a run-blocking specialist who can impose his will on defenders to pave the way for Derrick Henry.
Wilson’s pass-blocking is a bit underrated, though, as he allowed just nine pressures in 358 pass-blocking snaps and earned a stellar Pro Football Focus grade of 84.6 in pass protection last season.
Now, that doesn’t mean his skills will immediately translate into NFL success, but the potential is certainly there for him to eventually be a very good all-around tackle.
The competition
Entering camp, Wilson will have a chance to start right away via a competition for the right tackle job with Dennis Kelly, as general manager Jon Robinson revealed shortly after the Georgia product was picked.
There’s no question the edge goes to Kelly, who is already familiar with the Titans’ offense and has the trust of coaches after spending the last four seasons in Nashville and proving to be an effective starter in 2018.
When it’s all said and done, Wilson is likely to lose out to Kelly, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see him at some point during the season. It’s quite possible that Kelly — who is somewhat of a wild card himself — falters, leaving the door open for the first-round pick to get his shot.