Titans turning attention to draft after big free agency

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- After making several high-profile free agent additions and a major trade acquisition, the Tennessee Titans brass is turning its attention to the 2024 NFL draft.

The roster is in better shape on paper after signing free agents like wide receiver Calvin Ridley, center Lloyd Cushenberry and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. Adding cornerback L'Jarius Sneed from the Kansas City Chiefs via trade before extending him was just another move to solidify the future.

But there are still holes that general manager Ran Carthon and the crew will have to fill with seven draft picks at their disposal. All of the tape has been graded, and the draft board is gradually working toward being set as the front office works through personnel meetings.

"We want to continue to balance this thing out and make this a balanced football team," Carthon said last week.

Part of the process includes prospect visits. As of last week, Tennessee had 17 prospects come to Saint Thomas Sports Park.

"You just try to have every bit of information you can get and gather on the person because the tape is the tape, you grade that," coach Brian Callahan said last week when the team started voluntary workouts. "Some guys, we're bringing in to find more out about who they are as a person."

The Titans have had an extensive list of prospect visits ranging from Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry to Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt. The 11 different positions included on the prospect list is indicative of the various needs remaining on the roster.

Fortifying the offensive line is at the forefront for Tennessee. The left tackle position is a huge question mark. Last year's starters combined to allow 29 of the 64 sacks -- Jaelyn Duncan (16) and Andre Dillard (13) -- the Titans gave up last season.

Carthon has mentioned on multiple occasions how deep the draft class is at tackle, and there should be options beyond the first round. But it's reasonable to expect the Titans to add a top prospect to the offensive line when they pick at No. 7.

Callahan also highlighted another position of need: "We need tight ends. We've only got three on the roster."

Georgia's Brock Bowers is unanimously considered the top TE prospect, so getting him would require an early pick. 

The team seems to be somewhat satisfied with their top two tight ends in Chigoziem Okonkwo and Josh Whyle. Callahan said he feels good with where Okonkwo is and is really pleased with Whyle's development. Thomas Odukoya is the only other tight end on the roster. If the Titans select a tight end in this year's draft, it will likely be more for depth.

Like free agency, the Titans want to make significant additions on both sides of the ball. Sneed and Awuzie will combine with nickel corner Roger McCreary to give the Titans a starting trio that matches up well with most teams when they use 11 personnel (3 WRs) packages.

Their sticky coverage and ability to be physical at the line of scrimmage will help the pass rush, which is another area for improvement on the Titans' roster. Defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and outside linebackers Harold Landry III and Arden Key are a solid group but will need to be bolstered.

"In the past, we've had our strength to be up front, and that's kind of shifted right now," Carthon said. "But we're still looking to address those positions as needed."

New defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has made his mark as a secondary coach. But he still believes "football is won in the trenches." The Titans could add defensive line help in the second round if a player like Missouri's Darius Robinson, who they hosted for a visit, is still available at pick No. 38.

"The way you win in the NFL is you stop the run and affect the quarterback," Wilson explained. "All these guys up front, if they beat their one-on-ones, the ball has to come out. Rush and coverage goes hand in hand on everything we do."

Wilson will likely use free agent addition Kenneth Murray Jr. to help the pass rush by blitzing him from the inside linebacker position. The coaching staff doesn't want to take away from Murray's fast and explosive style of play by having him read and react. Wilson wants him to "cut it loose," so he can go make plays.

Murray has more starts than any other inside linebacker on the roster. But it seems more likely that someone else will wear the green dot communicator helmet to relay the plays from the sideline to the defensive huddle allowing Murray to play more freely.

That responsibility fell on linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's shoulders last season. Al-Shaair signed a three-year, $34 million deal with the Houston Texans this offseason. After starting 14 games in 2023, Jack Gibbens figures to get the first crack at starting next to Murray and wearing the communicator.

There is still a possibility the Titans draft a linebacker and give him an opportunity to win the job. Knowing his own assignment and everyone else's while still playing fast would seem like a daunting task for a rookie.

But Carthon has seen it before when he was director of pro personnel for the San Francisco 49ers in 2018.

"Fred Warner -- his first year -- he was the green dot," Carthon said. "So, it's all about that person, what that person's comfortable with. And if they're able to handle the communication and they're a three-down player, then they'll be out there."

Last year, Carthon got his first exposure running a draft as a general manager, and this year, it'll be Callahan getting his first taste of responsibilities as a head coach.

"They're long days, but it's fun," Callahan said. "I've enjoyed every second of it."