When you talk about the career highlights of Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson, the 2019 NFL draft class is right at the top.
In that class, Robinson landed defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, wide receiver A.J. Brown, right guard Nate Davis, safety Amani Hooker, and linebacker David Long, all of whom have turned into starters.
Simmons has become one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL, Long and Hooker are coming off career years and are emerging as two of the better players at their respective positions, and Davis has been mostly solid upfront.
Of course, only Brown is no longer with the team after being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2022 NFL draft, but he has emerged as one of the most exciting young receivers in the league and boasts elite skills.
In a recent list ranking the best draft classes of the Pro Football Focus era (since 2006), Michael Renner placed Tennessee’s 2019 group as the sixth-best. Here’s what he had to say:
This was general manager Jon Robinson’s version of when Josh Hamilton hit four home runs and a double in one game. There’s only one player in the Titans 2019 class you’d even want a slight do-over on, and that’s obviously D’Andre Walker. Jeffrey Simmons, A.J. Brown and Amani Hooker all graded out as top-10 starters at their respective positions in 2021, while Nate Davis and David Long graded out above-average. Sadly, Tennessee is a man down from the class heading into 2022 after the A.J. Brown trade, but it doesn’t change how ridiculous this haul was.
Tennessee’s 2016 draft class featuring All-Pros like right tackle Jack Conklin, running back Derrick Henry and safety Kevin Byard was also mentioned by Renner but didn’t make the rankings.
If not for the disappointment that was D’Andre Walker, Robinson would have been a perfect six-for-six with that 2019 class. Still, five out of six isn’t bad.
As much as the Titans have enjoyed the five aforementioned players during their cheap rookie contracts, the time to pay up is rapidly approaching.
Hooker, Long and Davis are all free agents in 2023. Simmons, on the other hand, won’t hit free agency until 2024 but the Titans would be wise to lock him up with a massive extension as soon as possible.
