Tennessee Titans 7-round NFL mock draft: Who Titans should pick with win-now attitude

Maybe the Tennessee Titans really are just five or six players away.

The 2023 NFL Draft is approaching, and there hasn't been much, or any, indication the Titans stopped building to win now. They signed free agents to plug most of their biggest holes. They freed up money to sign All-Pro Jeffery Simmons to a long-term extension. They brought in experienced assistant coaches to redesign an offense that fell flat in 2022.

So as much speculation as there's been about the Titans are tearing the roster down, or selling to trade up for a quarterback, there's still plenty of reason to think the Titans are maximizing a roster to compete now in the AFC South.

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Let's imagine that's the case. Here's a seven-round mock draft for the Titans in win-now mode, plugging their biggest holes with rookies who should be able to contribute in September.

Round 1, pick 11: Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

It's a tough look for the Titans, the NFL's most injury-prone team, to draft a receiver who missed most of 2022 with a hamstring injury. But put simply, Smith-Njigba is the best receiver in the class and receiver is the Titans' biggest need. Smith-Njigba has elite change-of-direction skills and, when healthy in 2021, was one of the best receivers in the nation despite sharing the field with 2022 first round picks Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. His smooth play style pairs well with Treylon Burks' more physical style and gives the Titans a one-two punch they desperately need.

A second option: Northwestern OL Peter Skoronski

Round 2, pick 41: Kansas State edge defender Felix Anudike-Uzomah

With Harold Landry III and Arden Key in place, the Titans don't need to draft an edge defender who can start immediately. But in Anudike-Uzomah, they can draft a long, athletic pass rush specialist who has a track record of making big plays. Anudike-Uzomah logged 19 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons. He does not have much experience in coverage and probably comes to the Titans as a situational pass rusher. But after the Titans' pass rush disappeared in the second half of last season, adding depth and burst off the edge is huge.

A second option: Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes

Round 3, pick 72: Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims

Drafting Smith-Njigba improves the Titans' receiving corps. Adding Smith-Njigba and Mims goes much farther toward making it competitive. Mims is a true deep threat; he averaged more than 20 yards per reception in 2021 and 2022 and blazed a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Mims is one of just 10 college players to average more than 20 yards per catch in a season with at least 50 catches in the last decade, joining a list that includes NFL stars like Ja'Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb and Mike Evans.

A second option: Texas A&M RB Devon Achane

Round 5, pick 147: Michigan OL Olu Oluwatimi

If the Titans can pick a player with Oluwatimi's experience in the fifth round, consider it a steal. Oluwatimi played nearly 3,500 snaps as a four-year starting center at Virginia and Michigan. He only allowed seven sacks in four years and, as a senior, he anchored one of college football's best run games. Drafting Oluwatimi would allow the Titans to keep Aaron Brewer at guard or to try Oluwatimi at guard and beef up the interior if the smaller Brewer bumps inside.

A second option: Cincinnati LB Ivan Pace Jr.

Round 6, pick 186: UAB CB Starling Thomas V

It's harder to find true starters after the fifth round, but value is still lurking. Especially in players like Thomas, a first-team All Conference USA cornerback in 2022 who ranked fourth in college football with 15 pass breakups and also has experience returning kicks and punts. The 6-foot Thomas, who also flashes high school track star speed, can contribute on special teams and line up in dime, or maybe even nickel, packages.

A second option: Purdue QB Aidan O'Connell

Round 7, pick 228: Chattanooga OL McClendon Curtis

It's the seventh round. There's no reason not to pick a local kid with high upside potential. Curtis will have to take some time to adjust to the size and speed of the NFL after playing FCS football at Chattanooga. But he has guard and tackle experience, elite size and good instincts that can be developed into starting material with the right attention from coaches.

A second option: Central Michigan edge defender Thomas Incoom

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: Tennessee Titans 7-round NFL draft mock: Picking 6 players to win now