Our final Tennessee Titans 7-round mock draft shows how they can ace 2023 NFL Draft
Don't overthink this. The Tennessee Titans need receivers and their 2023 NFL Draft needs to reflect that.
The draft starts with Thursday's first round (7 p.m. CT, ESPN) and runs through Saturday. The Titans own six picks, starting with No. 11 in the first round and including a pick in every round except the fourth. Neither the rumors about trading up for a quarterback nor the urgent needs for starters or depth at offensive line, linebacker and defensive back supersede the Titans' pressing need at receiver, and more broadly at the offensive skill positions.
As the draft approaches, here's The Tennessean's final seven-round Titans mock draft, one that tries to turn a weakness into a strength by overloading picks on the Titans' biggest need.
UNTOLD TALES: Behind-the-scenes tales of greatness for Tennessee Titans' top targets in 2023 NFL Draft
GETTING READY: Sleepless nights, nosy rivals: Tennessee Titans GM Ran Carthon preps for 1st NFL draft
Round 1, pick 11: Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Smith-Njigba is the best receiver in the class. Picking him at No. 11 might be a little early since he's coming off a season lost to a hamstring injury. But if there's any receiver to reach on, it's him. He's a route-running specialist who gets open as well as any prospect in recent years. He's not big-bodied like the Titans have favored, but along with 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks, he gives the Titans a one-two punch of young receivers to build around.
Round 2, pick 41: Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave
Here, GM Ran Carthon has the chance to pair 2022 breakout rookie Chig Okonkwo with a 6-foot-6, 253-pound willing in-line blocker who also runs a 4.61-second 40-yard dash and runs well over the middle. Musgrave is another prospect coming off an injury, an alarming theme for the already injury prone Titans. But in drawing comparisons to standouts like Mike Gesicki and Dallas Goedert, Musgrave is too big a talent to pass up.
Round 3, pick 72: Ohio State C/G Luke Wypler
Wypler was a two-year starter for Ohio State at center, but his 6-foot-3, 303-pound frame should allow him to play center or guard for the Titans. Adding an interior offensive lineman who can play Day 1 has to be a priority for the Titans, and the poise Wypler displayed in Ohio State's electric offense should translate into a chance to play early, just as it did for 2022 Day 2 pick Nicholas Petit-Frere.
Round 5, pick 147: Cincinnati LB Ivan Pace Jr.
It's hard to describe Pace as anything other than a Mike Vrabel football player. He's undersized at 5-foot-10 1/2 but he's a productive bruiser who can anchor the middle of a defense. His 261 tackles and 33.5 TFLs over the last two seasons prove he's always around the ball. He immediately helps as an early-downs linebacker who also contributes on special teams and proves surprisingly valuable as a pass rusher.
Round 6, pick 186: Virginia WR Dontayvion Wicks
Early in the draft process, Wicks seemed poised to be a Day 2 pick. Now, he could fall to the Titans in Round 6. But let's not downplay the talent the 6-foot-1, 206-pound receiver possesses. He caught 57 passes for 1,203 yards and nine touchdowns in a first-team All-ACC season in 2021 before regressing in 2022 and not running particularly well at the NFL combine. But even without elite straight-ahead speed, he averaged 18.8 yards per catch across three college seasons and helps the Titans stretch the field.
Round 7, pick 228: Alabama-Birmingham CB Starling Thomas V
An experienced, four-year contributor at UAB, Thomas was among the best pass defenders in college football a year ago, breaking up 15 passes in 13 games. He's also got experience as a punt and kick returner and is physical enough to contribute in all phases of special teams.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Final Tennessee Titans 7-round mock shows how they ace 2023 NFL Draft
