Tennessee Titans mock draft 2023: Huge first draft for Ran Carthon

Under new general manager Ran Carthon, the Tennessee Titans have pretty much blown up their roster this offseason.

That includes moving off three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan, among a slew of other veteran players.

Carthon is looking to build this thing in his mold while working with incumbent head coach Mike Vrabel. It’s certainly an interesting dynamic in Nashville.

With the Titans looking to build more for the future, what they plan on doing in the 2023 NFL Draft will shape the franchise moving forward. That includes what Carthon and Co. think about current quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis.

Before diving into our Titans mock draft, here’s a rundown of Tennessee’s draft picks and needs in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

Tennessee Titans draft picks 2023

Here is the list of the Tennessee Titans draft picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Round 1, 11th overall
Round 2, 41st overall
Round 3, 72nd overall
Round 5, 147th overall
Round 6, 186th overall
Round 7, 228th overall

Tennessee Titans draft needs 2023

Wide receiver
Defensive line
Safety
Offensive tackle
Guard
Center
Tight end
Quarterback

Tennessee Titans mock draft: Stockpiling picks for rebuild

Sportsnaut used Pro Football Focus’ NFL Draft simulator, which provides the flexibility to trade and work through a variety of scenarios. Let’s dive into our Titans mock draft.

Round 1, 24th pick: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

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Trade: Tennessee Titans trade 11th pick to the Jaguars for 24th pick, 2nd-round pick, 3rd-round pick

Last offseason saw the Titans exhaust the first-round pick they acquired for A.J. Brown on another receiver. While Treylon Burks was inconsistent as a rookie, the young receiver did display some flashes. The expectation here is that Tennessee will once again double down at wide receiver early in the 2023 NFL Draft.

In this scenario, the Titans pick up two Day 2 selections in a trade down with the division-rival Jaguars. They then add a uber productive Zay Flowers to the mix. He caught 78 passes for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns for Boston College a season ago. The 5-foot-10 Flowers is seen as electric after the catch and can provide game-changing ability at all three levels. This would be a home run pick.

Round 2, 41st pick: Will McDonald, EDGE, Iowa State

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Round 2, 63rd pick: Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State

Trade: Titans trade 56th pick to the Chiefs for 63rd pick, 3rd-round pick and 4th-round pick

As we noted earlier, the expectation is that Carthon will move down the board as a way to fill the vast number of holes on Tennessee’s roster. In this scenario, he adds two more mid-round selections while finding a player at a need position following the release of former high-priced free agent signing Bud Dupree.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound McDonald has to be seen as an ideal fit in Mike Vrabel’s 3-4 defense. His upside coupled with tremendous athleticism could make McDonald an early contributor as a pass-rush specialist behind Harold Landry and the recently signed Arden Key. Over the course of the past three seasons at Iowa State, McDonald recorded 33.5 tackles for loss and 27 sacks. That’s some absurd production right there.

Round 3, 72nd pick: Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State

NFL: Combine — Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Whether it’s free safety or strong safety, the Tennessee Titans obviously have a need in the back end. Pro Bowler Kevin Byard pushed back against taking a pay cut and could actually be moved ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. From the strong safety position, Amani Hooker struggled big time in coverage last season (70% completion, 101.6 QB rating when targeted).

In this scenario, we find a replacement for Hooker in a natural hard-hitting strong safety. Robinson is an in-the-box type player who makes tackles in a sure-handed manner. He can go sideline-to-sideline defending the run and actually has an ability to get into the offensive backfield. Add in the four interceptions Robinson recorded for Florida State in 2021, and he can be seen as a ball hawk at times.

Round 3, 88th pick: DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB

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There was some talk of a Derrick Henry trade earlier this spring. After all, Tennessee has already moved on from several key contributors. While it’s highly unlikely that the two-time rushing champion will be dealt, it’s important to note that he’s entering a contract year. In short, King Henry might not be with the Titans long-term.

Looking ahead, Tennessee adds an absolutely dynamic back in that of DeWayne McBride. His brilliance was on full display over the past two seasons with Alabama-Birmingham with the 215-pound back recording north of 3,000 rushing yards to go with 32 touchdowns. Last season alone, he averaged an absurd 7.4 yards per rush. We’re talking about a true home run threat and someone who could lead Tennessee’s offense moving forward in a dynamic way.