In our final mock draft before the 2023 NFL Draft begins, the Titans find a centerpiece to build the offense around.
The Tennessee Titans concluded the 2022 season with their worst record since 2015, and despite finishing as the first seed in the AFC just two seasons ago, this team desperately needs an offensive rehaul to compete in the near future. Outside of Derrick Henry and 2022 first-round selection Treylon Burks, the Titans offense has little to nothing to work with, and with quarterback Ryan Tannehill on the last year of his deal, it might be time to think about finding a long-term replacement for the 35-year-old signal caller.
Mock Draft: Titans Tab Will Levis as QB1 in Nashville
Outside of their offensive skill positions, the Titans appear to have a fairly talented and promising roster, especially on the back end of their defense, and in a weak AFC South, it seems like this team is not too far away from seriously competing for the division crown in 2023 and beyond. With several solid free-agent acquisitions such as Arden Key, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Andre Dillard, the Titans are in a great position to add a bunch of talent in this year’s draft at premium offensive positions.
Titans Look Towards Future of QB Position in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Mock Draft
Round 1, No. 11: Will Levis, QB – Kentucky
Tennessee could go best player available in the first round of this mock draft, but if Kentucky quarterback Will Levis is available, it should be a no-brainer selection for the Titans. Despite drafting Malik Willis in the third round just a season ago, Levis is a much better option moving forward for a team who needs to find its eventual Ryan Tannehill successor.
In reality, the Titans might have to move up to secure Levis, especially with other AFC South teams such as the Texans and Colts potentially being in play for a quarterback, but the Kentucky product would be a great option to transition into the starting role in the long run.
Levis and Tannehill have a lot of similarities, especially when looking at their size and athleticism, and while Levis might not be quite as accurate as Tannehilll has been at times throughout his career, the Kentucky prospect’s ceiling is much higher due to his arm strength. To be successful in the NFL, Levis will likely need to redshirt at least the majority of his rookie season.
Working under a perpetually successful quarterback like Tannehill would be a good way to learn what an NFL quarterback does on a day-to-day basis, as well as allowing the young player to work on some throwing fundamentals before being thrown into the fire.
Plus, with a strong running game already in place, Derrick Henry would be a great crutch for a young quarterback to lean on early in his professional career.
Round 2, No. 41: Jalin Hyatt, WR – Tennessee
After finding their future franchise quarterback in the first round, the Titans immediately turn around and give the offense another dynamic playmaker in the form of Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt. Hyatt is one of the most dynamic playmakers at the receiver position in this year’s class, and adding him to a Titan’s receiving room that desperately needs a downfield threat would be a great use of their second-round pick.
Measuring in at 6-foot and 176 pounds, Hyatt is a slender yet explosive receiver who dominated in Tennesee’s pass-happy offense last year to the tune of 67 receptions, 1267 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns. As a prospect, Hyatt is an intriguing outside receiver who is capable of taking the top off of the defense on nearly every play.
Alongside Treylon Burks, who is more of a threat with the ball in his hands out of the slot, Hyatt could join the Titans as one of their de facto starting receivers, and would dramatically improve the pass-catching options for whoever lines up under center.
Round 3, No. 72: Chandler Zavala, IOL – North Carolina State
In the third round of this mock draft, the Titans can keep addressing the offensive side of the ball, this time selecting a lineman in the form of North Carolina State guard Chandler Zavala. Zavala is one of the more underrated linemen in this year’s NFL, and while he isn’t getting the hype as some of the other top interior players available, Zavala is an intriguing player who should translate well to the NFL.
At 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, Zavala is a broad-based offensive guard who has versatility across the interior of the offensive line. Zavala fits the profile of a Titans’ lineman, as he is a large-bodied player who is at his best as a downhill blocker in the run game. As a pass protector, he does an adequate job getting in front of his pass rusher and is athletic enough to stop finesse pass rushers while maintaining a wide frame and a strong base to halt bull rushers.
In the NFL, Zavala will likely need to improve his agility and his ability to get off of the snap, but in a downhill blocking scheme like Tennessee likes to run with Derrick Henry, the North Carolina State prospect would be a great fit up front to not only create lanes in the run game but to protect the quarterback from interior bull rushers.
Round 5, No. 147: Moro Ojomo, IDL – Texas
For their first defensive pick in this mock draft, the Titans use their fifth-round selection to add a defensive lineman in Texas’s Moro Ojomo. Ojomo fits the profile of a 3-4 defensive end and could serve in a reserve role early in his career before potentially becoming a consistent starter.
At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, Ojomo tested very well at this year’s Combine, with a 5.04 40-yard dash and 29 reps on the bench press. On the field, Ojomo relies heavily on his strength and showed the ability to play across the defensive line in college. Ojomo is an aggressive down lineman but will need some help to fine-tune some of his techniques before becoming a solid contributor in the NFL.
With Jeffrey Simmons resigned, Ojomo would be served well to learn behind one of the premier interior rushers in the NFL and could contribute as a pass rusher in a similar fashion from the interior. Ojomo is certainly a raw prospect, but for a team who needs depth across the defensive line, he is definitely worth a fifth-round selection.
Round 6, No. 186 (via ATL): Payne Durham, TE – Purdue
The Titans seem to have found something in 2022 fourth-round pick Chigoziem Okonkwo, but pairing up the young player with a more in-line tight end like Purdue’s Payne Durham would greatly diversify the skills of the position group. Okonkwo is more of an H-back tight end, and adding a more traditional-sized player to the end of the line would give the Titans more options in the run-blocking game.
Payne isn’t quite the athlete that Okonkwo is, but at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, the sure-handed tight end is a reliable target over the middle of the field and would be a safe outlet for whoever lines up behind center for Tennessee. Like many tight ends making the transition from college to the NFL, some of the run-blocking techniques will need to be improved, but Durham has shown to be a willing blocker.
Durham would be a great late-round addition in this mock draft to add another layer of complexity to an otherwise somewhat stale offense that Tennessee has utilized over the past few seasons, to varying degrees of success.
Round 7, No. 228: Aubrey Miller Jr, LB – Jackson State
With the final pick of the final mock draft for Tennessee, the Titans might look towards a local product in Jackson State linebacker Aubrey Miller Jr. A Memphis native, Miller has the size and physicality that could help solidify the front seven of the defense. At 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, Miller is a thumper in the middle of the defense and has a great explosion coming downfield.
Linebacker isn’t a huge need currently for the Titans, but if Miller can turn into a more dependable player stopping the run and can gain some technique to perform better against the pass, he could turn into a great player in the NFL. With a former linebacker in head coach Mike Vrabel looking over a player of Miller’s natural size and power, he should have a solid chance to turn into a dependable player for the Titans over the middle of their defense.