Tennessee Titans: Former NFL GM predicts top playmaker over top rated tackle at No. 7

A former NFL general manager has a bold prediction of what the Tennessee Titans will do in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft and it may excite fans more than surprise them based on the team’s needs entering the draft.

Mark Dominik, a former GM of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, believes the Titans will go with Georgia tight end Brock Bowers over Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt with their top 10 pick.  Both areas of need, Dominik believes Bowers would be too good to pass up with what he brings to the table on offense.

“My dark horse is Brock Bowers,” Dominik said, per the team's official website “If he’s available, I think he’s going to go over the tackle for the Titans.”

The Titans are onto a new chapter with the hiring of Brian Callahan as the 20th head coach in franchise history.  The former offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals will be acquiring a team with a young quarterback in Will Levis leading an offense looking to be more explosive in 2024. 

Would the Tennessee Titans make a major mistake by selecting Brock Bowers over Joe Alt?

But with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the the team has an opportunity to stabilize the offensive line by drafting Alt, the top-rated tackle entering the draft.  Building a line in front of Levis with newly signed running back Tony Pollard as the featured back is a necessity, but in a deep draft at the tackle position, perhaps the Titans can find a diamond in the rough later in the draft.  As for if it comes down to a tackle or wide receiver, prior to the team singing Ridley Jr., top receivers like LSU’s Malik Nabers or Washington’s Rome Odunze would’ve been intriguing.

Not anymore says Dominik, who feels the Titans have all they need with the Hopkins, Ridley Jr and Treylon Burks. 

“If it’s down to tackle and receiver, then I think they’ll take the tackle,” he said. “I think the receiver class is deep enough where you could go to Round 2, especially with what they have done at receiver with (Calvin) Ridley and (DeAndre) Hopkins, and (Treylon) Burks. I just don’t think that is going to be the fit that they’re looking for.”

Again, another position deep with talent, the Titans could explore the receiver position later in the draft. 

So, with their desperate need at tackle, would the Titans make a mistake in selecting Bowers over a talent like Alt?  Dominik doesn't necessarily believe so:

"I'm a huge fan of Brock Bowers, and I think he's very low in a lot of peoples' mock drafts. I think he is going to go easily in the top 10 in my opinion. And so, I think if he is available, that's the direction I would go (at 7) and then come back in the second round and take the tackle in the second round, because the tackle draft class is a lot stronger. I think there's going to be 8 to 10 tackles taken in the top 50-60 players."

With what the two-time Mackey Award winner brings to the table, the Titans offense will be more dynamic with the weapons they will have at all positions, but if there is no protection for Levis, would that all really matter?

In all, an interesting decision ahead for the Titans, who like many teams, if a talent like Bowers is available, it suddenly comes down to best available vs area of need.