The Tennessee Titans had an active first round. First, they dealt star receiver, A.J. Brown, to the Philadelphia Eagles for a first-round pick and a third-round pick. The Titans made their pick at No. 18 before trading back with their original pick, moving down nine spots. They slid 32 picks up in the third round, and they nabbed an extra fifth-round pick. Losing Brown will be tough to swallow, but the Titans answered the bell with a strong draft class.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Draft Recaps.
Best Pick: Malik Willis (Round 3, Pick 86)
There was some buzz that Willis could go as high as the No. 2 pick. Many draft analysts had him going off the board in the first 10 to 20 picks. However, Willis suffered a stunning draft-day slide, landing in the laps of the Titans. Willis won’t start in 2022, but the runway could be clear for him to take off in 2023. Ryan Tannehill has a fully-guaranteed contract in 2022, but his 2023 money has no guarantees. Unless Tannehill dominates in 2022, the Titans got their future star quarterback for the cheap price of a third-round pick.
For more on Willis, check out our scouting report on him.
Grade: A+
Worst Pick: Nicholas Petit-Frere (Round 3, Pick 69)
The Titans acquired this pick after trading down with the New York Jets. However, they selected Petit-Frere with the likes of Abraham Lucas, Bernhard Raimann, Dylan Parham, Sean Rhyan, and Daniel Faalele on the board. Petit-Frere was highly regarded coming out of high school, but he never matched his pedigree while at Ohio State. He has plenty of warts as a pass blocker, and he is not exactly a menace as a run blocker. If Petit-Frere played for any team besides Ohio State (or an SEC school), he likely would have gone in the fourth or fifth round.
For more on Petit-Frere, check out our scouting report on him.
Grade: C-
Sleeper Pick: Kyle Philips (Round 5, Pick 163)
The Titans notch their second A+ pick with Philips in the fifth round. He is a ready-made slot receiver with a special release package. He has elite burst and tremendous agility. In an offense with Robert Woods and Treylon Burks, expect Philips to establish himself as Tannehill’s go-to option on third downs. If all else fails, Philips should be an above-average punt returner for the Titans, bringing even more value. He is the Hunter Renfrow of this class.
For more on Philips, check out our scouting report on him.
Grade: A+
Summary
Despite trading Brown, the Titans came out of the draft with an excellent haul. They got two starting-caliber receivers, their quarterback of the future, a starting-caliber cornerback, a No. 2 tight end, and a dart throw at tackle. They even added another bruising running back in Hassan Haskins. The Titans have set themselves up well for the present and the future. They should be able to defend their AFC South title yet again. It may not be pretty, but the Titans remain the cream of the crop in the division.
Grade: B+
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