ESPN’s draft guru, Todd McShay, has released his latest mock draft ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, and in it he makes projections for the Tennessee Titans’ first two picks.
In the first round, McShay mocks Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to the Titans. The wideout has become a popular selection among experts recently with Tennessee failing to add one in free agency.
It’s not often a team uses a top-20 pick on a wide receiver in back-to-back years. In fact, you need to go back to 2003-05 for the last time, when the Lions actually did it three times in a row. But there’s no arguing that Tennessee needs playmakers, even after selecting Treylon Burks last year. The Titans’ top four wideouts combined for 1,446 yards and six touchdowns last season; A.J. Brown — whom Tennessee traded away — surpassed those numbers on his own.
Smith-Njigba barely played in 2022, but he’s just one year removed from cracking 1,600 receiving yards. He’s such a good route runner, creating separation with high-end acceleration out of his breaks and hauling in passes with soft hands. He’d be an immediate favorite for quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Speaking of Tannehill, I wouldn’t rule out Tennessee drafting Levis as the future franchise signal-caller, especially since Malik Willis struggled in his rookie year. And I think Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. could make a lot of sense, too.
In the second round, McShay tabs Arkansas inside linebacker Drew Sanders to Tennessee. Here’s his thoughts on that one:
Our first inside linebacker is finally off the board. Tennessee signed Azeez Al-Shaair to replace David Long Jr., but Sanders does a little bit of everything. He had 111 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 10 run stops and an interception last season. His versatility, instincts and burst would be welcomed on a defense that gave up 5.4 yards per play last season (19th).
While I’m not exactly in love with taking any wide receiver at No. 11 overall, the Titans may just have to thanks to their inaction at the position. If I was going to take one there, it would be JSN, who I firmly believe is the best receiver in this class.
Smith-Njigba would be limited to slot work and he doesn’t add the top-end speed and size Tennessee needs, but he is a polished route-runner and gets separation, making him a good complement to Treylon Burks.
One of the bigger concerns for JSN is the fact that he’s coming off an injury-plagued season, which is particularly notable for a team like the Titans that has been ravaged by injuries the past few years.
As for the second-round pick, Sanders is no doubt a good player, but the Titans have bigger fish to fry on offense before they can look at defensive additions.
That said, it isn’t crazy to think the Titans will address the linebacker spot at some point in this draft, as the team needs someone who can cover (Sanders checks that box), and the Titans have a young group overall with a pair of uncertainties atop the depth chart in Azeez Al-Shaair and Monty Rice.
At the very least, the Titans should be going all offense with their first two picks. As a result, I’m not a fan of this mock.
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