The Tennessee Titans go into this 2024 draft with the seventh overall pick due to their lackluster 2023 season, which saw them go 6-11, finishing bottom of the AFC South for the first time since 2015.
This disappointing season led to the departure of head coach Mike Vrabel, who had led the team through six seasons, which saw two divisional titles and an AFC championship game appearance, the most successful spell the franchise had seen for years. The Jaguars and the Texans have configured their rosters for a shot at winning the AFC South in 2024, but the Titans are not far behind in the race.
Last week, the Texans made a massive splash at wide receiver, trading for Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for second and fifth-round draft picks. This is an accurate statement of intent from an ascendant Texans side, furthering the idea that this next campaign is primarily a year where the Titans will either sink or swim under with quarterback Will Levis under center.
The Titans currently have eight selections in this draft, and this mock draft explores how they can best utilize these in the rebuilding process, starting with…
7. Olumuyiwa Fashanu: Penn State (OT)
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At pick number seven, the Titans should be looking at offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu out of Penn State. This will be the second year under center for starting QB Will Levis, and the Titans must give him the best possible situation to succeed, and that begins with a solid offensive line.
The Titans O-Line struggled a lot last year, giving up 64 sacks, the 4th worst total in football. There are several elite O-Linemen in this draft, but Fashanu is just about the best one on the board, just edging out Notre Dame’s Joe Alt.
With many of the teams above Tennessee looking at QBs in this draft, Fashanu should still be on the board, and he looks as close to a sure thing as there is at OT, with fantastic pass-blocking, tremendous athleticism, and a consistent ability to lock up pass rushers who challenge him on his side.
Fashanu was a consensus All-American last year for the Nittany Lions and was awarded the Rimington-Pace Award as the top O-Lineman in the Big Ten. This is a no-brainer pick for the Titans to start the draft, taking the best available player at the most significant position of need.
New Titans head coach Brian Callahan will be hoping that Fashanu is a mainstay of the side for many years to come as he looks to get this rebuild off to the best possible start.
38. Edgerrin Cooper: Texas A&M (LB)
The Titans’ second selection is at pick number 38, and they will be looking to fill the gap at linebacker left by Azeez Al-Shaair, who joined the Texans in free agency. Al-Shaair led the team in tackles last year with 163, a big part of why the team’s defense sneaked into the top half in scoring defense.
The LB corps isn’t exactly loaded with talent, and it would make sense for the Titans to use this early 2nd-rounder on one, namely Edgerrin Cooper out of Texas A&M. Cooper was one of the Aggies very best players last year, being named as a Consensus All-American despite the program having a relatively disappointing 7-6 season.
Cooper has exceptional speed for a linebacker, and his overall athleticism is among the best in this draft. In addition to this, he is extremely good at reading quarterbacks, getting to them, and recording ten sacks in his senior year at A&M.
If Cooper is still on the board at 38, the Titans should be calling his number.
106. DeWayne Carter: Duke (DT)
As a result of trading away their 3rd round selection, the Titans are not scheduled to pick again until the 3rd day of the draft. That selection is currently the 106th-overall pick at the start of round four.
Here, they should be looking at DT to assist two-time Second-Team All-Pro Jeffery Simmons, a first-round pick from 2019. Tennessee could use a reliable defensive tackle in this draft, and DeWayne Carter out of Duke fits the bill nicely, assuming he is still available on day 3.
Carter was a First-Team All-ACC for the Blue Devils and has demonstrated an ability to shut down run plays on the outside and through the middle. He was also a team captain at Duke and could be a leader in the Titans locker room in future years.
146. Jalen Coker: Holy Cross (WR)
The Titans are hardly weak at receiver, as DeAndre Hopkins and the new $92 million man Calvin Ridley are a duo many teams in this league would kill for. However, Hopkins is approaching his 32nd birthday, and the Titans could be looking at taking a flyer here, trying to find a replacement for some of his output.
One late-round option that could provide that is Jalen Coker, who spent his college career at the low-key surroundings of Holy Cross in the Patriot League. Coker majored in Psychology at the prestigious school but also shined on the gridiron, racking up over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns last year.
Coker’s doubters draw on the caliber of competition he faced in college, but he is an exciting project pick for a team looking for a bit of depth at receiver. Coker has demonstrated good ball skills and strength despite a lack of NFL-level speed.
Overall, Coker has a high ceiling that could justify using this fifth-round pick on him.
182. Deantre Prince: Ole Miss (CB)
In the 6th and 7th rounds, the Titans will be looking to bolster some positions of minor need, starting with CB. The Titans did make a considerable trade recently in acquiring elite corner L’Jarius Sneed from the Kansas City Chiefs, but they could still be looking for depth at the position, and Deantre Prince could fit that mold.
Prince was a 4-year starter at Ole Miss, playing a role in a successful spell of Rebels football, culminating in last year’s Peach Bowl victory over Penn State. As a result, he has plenty of experience, and the Titans could be looking for him as a backup if Sneed or others suffer injuries this year.
Prince is not an elite CB, but he’s shown enough in his college career, and his NFL Combine shows that he could be worth a shot on an NFL roster with this pick.
242. Dillon Johnson: Washington (RB)
Photo courtesy of Chris Kontoravdis.
In free agency, the Titans attempted to fill their vast Derrick Henry-sized hole by bringing in ex-Cowboy Tony Pollard, who had a solid year in Dallas in 2023 with his 2nd 1,000-yard season.
But Pollard and Tyjae Spears won’t fully cover Henry’s workload, and the Titans will likely bolster that RB room in the 7th-round. Here, they could look at Dillon Johnson, who rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns on the 14-1 Washington Huskies, so close to being national champions.
Johnson could fall as far as here, partly due to his injury issues at the tail end of last year. This led to him having a disappointing combine, with just a 4.68 40-yard dash time, but his toughness, intensity, and football IQ could all make up for that lack of speed.
252. Gabriel Murphy: UCLA (EDGE)
If Gabriel Murphy is still on the board in the 7th round, the Titans could do far worse than snapping him up. Murphy has been inconsistent in college and can struggle against the elite O-Linemen, but his pace and power on the line cannot be denied.
At UCLA, Murphy racked up 9.5 sacks in two years, helped the Bruins to an 8-5 season in 2023, and rounded off with an LA Bowl victory over Boise State.
Murphy is another potential high-ceiling pick; he could be an asset for these Titans with the right coach and system. It’s worth a last-round pick.
