Tennessee Titans 2021 NFL Draft grades: OT Dillon Radunz
By Will Lomas
The Tennessee Titans wanted to get younger on the offensive line and they did that in the 2021 NFL Draft by selecting North Dakota State offensive tackle Dillon Radunz with the 53rd pick. Here’s what that means if you’re a fan.
Right now, the starters on the offensive line should be set with Taylor Lewan, Rodger Saffold, Ben Jones, and Nate Davis locked in at left tackle, left guard, center, and right guard respectively.
Unfortunately, the Titans have had some questions about what they will do at the right tackle position. While Kendall Lamm and Ty Sambrailo were brought in through free agency this offseason, there isn’t a guarantee that either one of them will have the starting job.
The expectation likely won’t be for Radunz to start year one, but it wouldn’t be shocking. This is very similar to the selection of Nate Davis a few years ago where the Titans drafted a guy from a smaller school and by the end of the season, he was starting.
What did the Tennessee Titans miss out on?
The board fell really well for what the Tennessee Titans needed so even if they made the perfect selection, there was still going to be some room for what-ifs. With a run on offensive linemen, it was unlikely that the Titans were going to be able to pick up a starting-caliber offensive tackle when they picked again in the third round.
Related Story. Jon Robinson hinted at tackle depth at the Senior Bowl. light
The general consensus was that they could have taken a shot on one of the wide receivers on the board which would have fit their biggest need, but the offensive tackle position was one of this team’s middling needs that was likely to be addressed somewhere on Day 2.
Interestingly, this draft is starting to look a lot like the 2019 draft where the Titans took a player with incredible upside (and injury concerns) in the first round and then spent Day 2 loading up on value picks at positions of need.
All-in-all a ‘backup’ offensive lineman is never going to be the most exciting pick, but given his athleticism, experience, maturity, and versatility it is hard to dislike this pick. Grade: B-