Since the Tennessee Titans’ season ended, we’ve covered mock drafts of experts from different media outlets, but now it’s time to bring you one of our own to give a local perspective of what the team could do once the 2024 NFL draft rolls around.
The Titans have a ton of needs on both sides of the ball, but the most glaring of the bunch are at wide receiver and offensive line, where the Titans must improve to put quarterback Will Levis in a better position to succeed.
In my first mock draft of the offseason, I have the Titans addressing both of those needs with their first two picks.
For this mock, I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator and the only stipulation was that I only had one crack at making picks for Tennessee, so there weren’t any redos.
Here’s a look at how things shook out under that condition, and make sure to vote in our poll at the bottom to give your grade for this five-rounder (note: Titans don’t have a third-round pick).
Round 1: LT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
It’s certainly possible that Alt goes before No. 7 overall, but he was still on the board in this particular simulation, so I jumped at the chance to fill the Titans’ biggest offseason need with a player who projects to be the best left tackle in this year’s class.
“Joe Alt has the physical stature, strength, movement skills, and on-field play to become a franchise left tackle for the next decade,” The Draft Network’s Damian Parson writes.
What makes drafting Alt even more exciting is the fact that he’d be working under esteemed offensive line coach Bill Callahan, so the sky’s the limit for how good the Notre Dame product can be once he’s fully developed. That said, he would be a Day 1 starter.
Round 2: WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
I was hoping Mitchell would be around for the second-round pick, and sure enough he was. The Texans product checks multiple boxes for what the Titans need in a wide receiver.
The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez describes Mitchell as a prospect who is “a smooth route-runner that creates separation from defenders in the short, intermediate, and deep portions of the field.”
As Titans fans well know, separation has been a major issue for the team’s receivers in recent years, so grabbing a wideout who can get open at any spot on the field — including deep — would be ideal.
Mitchell’s measurables are impressive, also. He could benefit from adding a little weight (195 pounds), but his 6-foot-4 frame would give Tennessee’s receiving corps. some much-needed size.
With DeAndre Hopkins in tow, Mitchell doesn’t have to be the top dog in the receivers room right away, which takes pressure off him while he develops.
Adding to that, if Treylon Burks revives his career and/or the Titans bring in a veteran in free agency, Mitchell’s plate will have even less on it in Year 1.
Round 4: CB Cam Hart, Notre Dame
At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Hart has good size for the position, but he also possesses a “high-level athletic profile” that features “top-end speed” and good length, according to The Draft Network.
“Cam Hart is an athletic, refined defender who showcases outstanding footwork and maturity in man coverage,” the outlet wrote.
Hart’s biggest issue stems from his struggles with playing with his back to the quarterback, but that’s fixable.
Tennessee needs to get bigger and faster in the secondary and Hart addresses those needs. He could factor in as CB2 in his rookie year but has the tools to be a No. 1 down the line if all goes well.
Round 5: DL Jordan Jefferson, LSU
The Titans parted ways with Teair Tart last season, leaving them with a need up the gut on defense. Jefferson certainly has the makings of a player who could slide into that role and be the effective run-stopping nose tackle Tart was.
At 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, Jefferson specializes against the run, has a good motor and an explosive first step, according to Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network.
Jefferson doesn’t offer much as a pass-rusher and struggles with anchoring against double teams, but he may not face a ton of those with Jeffery Simmons playing alongside him.
He’ll need some development but Jefferson has the traits to be a solid rotational run defender at the next level.
Grade this mock!
