The Tennessee Titans were quite active during the free agency period. Tennessee lost Corey Davis, Jonnu Smith, Desmond King, Kalif Raymond, and Matt Dickerson to the open market. Along with that, the Titans released Adam Humphries, Malcolm Butler, and Adoree’ Jackson. The prized possession of Tennessee’s free-agent class was Bud Dupree. Tennessee signed Dupree to a five-year contract worth $82 million. To accompany the departures of Jackson and Butler, the Titans signed Kevin Johnson and Janoris Jenkins. Denico Autry was brought in to help solidify the defensive line alongside Jeffery Simmons, and Josh Reynolds was signed as a complementary receiver to A.J. Brown.
The Titans’ biggest holes remaining are cornerback, receiver, tight end, right tackle, and strong safety. Depth at linebacker and pass rusher could also be addressed.
To help with this mock draft, I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Team Mock Drafts.
Round 1, Pick 22: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Tennessee gets a best-case scenario for their first-round selection. Bateman, paired with Brown, is an outstanding receiver duo. Bateman isn’t spectacular at one specific thing but is good at just about everything. He will immediately line up as the second receiver in the offense and give Ryan Tannehill another weapon in the passing attack.
For more on Bateman, read our scouting report on him here.
Round 2, Pick 53: Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
There is a saying about not drafting for need in the draft. Unfortunately, the Titans have to do so with their recent moves. The departures of both Jackson and Butler are far too strong to not do anything about it. Adding Johnson and Joseph is a fine start, but Tennessee desperately needs more youth at the position. Kristian Fulton was a steal in the second round last year, and the Titans get another steal by finding Campbell falling right into their laps in the second round again. The duo of Fulton and Campbell gives the Titans two great young options at one of the most important positions in the sport.
For more on Campbell, read our scouting report on him here.
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Round 3, Pick 85: Hunter Long, TE, Boston College
The loss of Smith drastically affects the offense. He was used in many ways in the offense, and his departure is an enormous loss. Anthony Firkser is a solid number two option, but finding a dynamic tight end is a necessity for Tennessee. Enter Long, who is eerily similar to Smith. Long can be used in many ways and offers excellent blocking in the running game.
For more on Long, read our scouting report on him here.
Round 3, Pick 100: Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
The Isaiah Wilson experiment was more than a bust. Tennessee signed Kendall Lamm as a stopgap at the right tackle spot but would be wise to add a developmental option at the position. Brown is a perfect example of this case in the 2021 draft. After a year of development, Brown should be the starting right tackle for the 2022 season.
Round 4, Pick 126: Cameron Sample, EDGE, Tulane
After Dupree and Harold Landry, the Titans have virtually no depth at pass rusher. Tennessee only had 19 sacks during the whole 2020 season. In his four years at Tulane, Sample had 10.5 sacks and over 20 tackles for loss. He would immediately be the third man in the pass-rush rotation.
Round 5, Pick 166: Damar Hamlin, SAF, Pittsburgh
Kevin Byard is one of the best free safeties in the league. The Titans will likely have a competition between Dane Cruikshank, Amani Hooker, and a draft pick for the strong safety spot. Hamlin is one of the best safeties on day three of the draft and is a versatile piece in the secondary. He can play either safety spot as well as nickel cornerback. Getting Hamlin as a versatile piece will help the Tennessee secondary immensely.
Round 6, Pick 205: Rachad Wildgoose, CB, Wisconsin
Speaking of nickel cornerbacks, that is exactly what Wildgoose would be for the Titans. Tennessee signed Johnson to a one-year deal and could develop Wildgoose into the starting nickel role for the 2022 season. After opting out of the 2020 season, Wildgoose has caught a lot of steam from draft twitter, and more specifically, PFF.
Round 6, Pick 215: Grant Stuard, LB, Houston
The Titans have three solid linebackers already. Jayon Brown, Rashaan Evans, and David Long Jr are an intriguing trio of young players that can man the middle of the defense. Grabbing a player like Stuard in the sixth-round not only offers depth at the linebacker spot but also gives Tennesee a superstar special teams player. Stuard was close to blocking a few punts at the Senior Bowl and would have if the game allowed for blocked punts. Tennessee has shown they have wanted to invest in their special teams this offseason by adding Olasunkanmi Adeniyi. Having both of those two players would make the Titans’ special teams even better.
Round 7, Pick 232: Elijah Mitchell, RB, Louisiana
To round out the mock, the Titans add an intriguing depth piece to their running back room. Yes, Derrick Henry is arguably the best running back in the league, and the team selected Darrynton Evans in the third round of the 2020 draft. It is a seventh-round pick, and Mitchell was linked as one of the players that could perform like James Robinson did last year as a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent.
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