Tennessee Titans 2023 NFL mock draft: Rebuilding the team from inside out
By Lee Vowell
How to rebuild the Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans have been a consistently good, but not great, team for years now.
However the status quo has changed and unless they rebuild the trenches, they might be in trouble. Yes, the team needs a quarterback that can lead the franchise to long-term success, but the team took Malik Willis in last year’s draft and may give him a chance to start at some point.
Regardless of whether the Tennessee Titans quarterback is Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis, Joshua Dobbs, or a rookie, they need an offensive line in front of him that can protect him.
The Titans are currently in a state of change along the offensive line. Tennessee already released oft-injured left tackle Taylor Lewan this offseason. Over the next month, they might lose two more starters since center Ben Jones has suffered multiple concussions over his career and could call it quits and with Nate Davis set to test free agency.
Derrick Henry is probably entering the last few seasons of being a high-impact running back and if the Tennessee Titans are going to take advantage of that, they must have an offensive line that can open lanes for Henry to run through to keep drives alive.
Assuming Ryan Tannehill returns as the quarterback, he isn’t going to be the real key to Tennessee scoring points since the entire offense is built around run-run-pass. If Henry can’t run, Tannehill isn’t going to win games on his own.
Tennessee Titans mock draft rebuilds the offensive line
While most teams want to get guys who can pass protect first and run block second, Mike Vrabel is looking for maulers. There is nothing wrong with that identity either. Tennessee has won a bunch of games over the years by doing what other teams don’t. That means a run-first offense that grinds out wins. It isn’t always beautiful football, but it is winning football and that’s the most important thing.
Tennessee currently has six picks in the 2023 NFL draft. They have one in each round except round four. Using Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator, I was able to add one pick for the Titans through a trade and help pick up the pieces to rebuild the offensive line but also make the linebacker group much better.