Titans top 2020 draft pick Isaiah Wilson already at career crossroads
The Tennessee Titans made somewhat of a surprising pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft when they took Georgia offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson. Wilson was known at Georgia for his impressive but raw and underdeveloped talent.
At nearly 6-foot-7, 350 pounds, with 35.5-inch arms, Wilson is a hulking presence and the Titans hoped that — even as raw as he was coming out — he could step into the right tackle position vacated by free agent Jack Conklin and start as a rookie, helping pave the way for running back Derrick Henry.
Unfortunately, things did not go the way the Titans had planned. Not even a little bit.
Wilson was arrested for a DUI in September and had multiple stints on the COVID/reserve list before being suspended by the Titans for a game, reinstated, then placed on the non-football injury list two days later.
The latest update from Titans general manager Jon Robinson is not much more encouraging.
Robinson on Isaiah Wilson: We put him on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list, and haven't spoken to him since. He's going to have to make a determination on whether he wants to do what it takes to play pro football. That will be on him.@Titans
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) February 16, 2021
Wilson was placed on that non-football injury list on December 9, 2020, which means the Titans haven’t spoken to him in over two months at this point. That’s incredibly concerning for a player who seemingly needs all of the off-field attention he can get.
Robinson also told the media that the Titans have “exhausted” a number of avenues to help Wilson get back on the right track, but that the ball is in his court at this point.
Robinson on Isaiah Wilson: We've tried to exhaust a lot of resources, trying to help him. But at the end of the day, he's going to have to make a decision on if he wants to do things the way we want it done.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) February 16, 2021
Hopefully, Wilson is able to get the help he needs. The Titans know his situation better than anyone, so obviously if tough love is the way they’re going about it, they know the person well enough at this point.
How Wilson responds could be crucial for the trajectory of more than just his football future. There is no question that we all want to see him succeed as a football player, but more than anything we want to see him excel in life.
Wilson finds himself at a crossroads and you have to wonder how much this will play a factor in the way teams go about vetting options for the 2021 NFL Draft.