Now look, I’m sitting here in Germantown, got my coffee from Bongo Java, and I’m telling you, this year’s draft for the Tennessee Titans has folks around Nashville feeling… complicated. We went into this thing hollering for some help on that offensive line, maybe a game-changing receiver. And while we did get a big body in JC Latham from Alabama early on, which is good for protecting our young quarterback, Will Levis, it felt like we were holding our breath a little too long on some other spots. Our second-round pick, T’Vondre Sweat, he’s a massive defensive tackle from Texas, a real run-stuffer. He’s going to make some noise in the trenches, no doubt, but the immediate impact on our passing game, or giving Levis more time to throw, that’s still a question mark for a lot of folks from East Nashville to Bellevue.
The thing is, after a 3-14 season last year, you’re looking for a seismic shift, a real "Music City Miracle" kind of feeling in the draft. We got some good players, bless their hearts, but it felt a little… safe. We picked up Cedric Gray, a linebacker from North Carolina, and Jarvis Brownlee Jr., a cornerback from Louisville, later on, which helps shore up the defense. But a lot of us were hoping for a bigger splash, a true difference-maker on offense that could get the Nissan Stadium crowd on their feet every Sunday. It’s not a bad haul, not by a long shot, but it didn't quite hit that euphoric note we were hoping for.
So, the mood around town? It’s a mix, I reckon. You’ve got some folks down on Lower Broadway at Acme Feed & Seed saying we played it too conservative, others are giving Ran Carthon the benefit of the doubt. My one-word grade for this Tennessee Titans draft class is: *Solid*.
* **Round 1, Pick 7:** JC Latham, OT, Alabama * **Round 2, Pick 38:** T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas * **Round 4, Pick 106:** Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina * **Round 5, Pick 146:** Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB, Louisville * **Round 6, Pick 182:** Jha'Quan Jackson, WR, Tulane * **Round 7, Pick 221:** James Williams, S, Miami (FL) * **Round 7, Pick 242:** Jaylen Harrell, EDGE, Michigan
We’ve addressed some needs, especially in the trenches and on defense, but the pressure’s still on to get that offense humming. This is a class that could be good for the long haul, but for folks hoping to see us back in an AFC Championship game *this* year, they might have to temper their expectations just a little bit.
Tennessee stands tall, boys. Cody Ray, signing off from Music City.
My buddies on the morning show are still hollering about this — catch 'em live at mornings.live.