There have been and will continue to be a slew of thoughts and opinions on what the Tennessee Titans should do with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. The last time the franchise was in this position was 2016. The team opted to trade the selection to the Los Angeles Rams, adding enough picks to draft Derrick Henry and Corey Davis, among others. This time, there’s roughly eight weeks to go before things get underway on April 24 at legendary Lambeau Field.
Plenty of needs for Brian Callahan’s team
When a club finishes in last place with a 3-14 record, and ends the season on a six-game losing streak, there’s likely not enough fingers or toes to count the needs. Recently, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released another mock draft, and stated the case for Penn State outside linebacker Abdul Carter.
“The quarterback question looms large here at No. 1. Could Tennessee trade the pick to a QB-needy team looking to land Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders? Sure. In fact, new GM Mike Borgonzi has even suggested the Titans will listen to offers. Could Tennessee also choose to take one of those passers itself here to replace Will Levis? Of course. But there are other ways to attack the quarterback position—Aaron Rodgers? And I already said it’s too early to start projecting trades.
“Besides, the Titans would love having Carter—who isn’t working out this week at the combine--on this defense. He creates so much pressure off the edge with the burst and instincts to get home for sacks. He had 12 of them in 2024, along with a nation-leading 23.5 tackles for loss. For a Tennessee team that was 25th in pressure (29.0 percent) this past season, sliding him next to Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat makes a lot of sense.”
The Titans recently granted EDGE Harold Landry permission to seek a trade during the NFL Combine. Landry led the Titans in sacks last year with nine quarterback traps. His departure would create another glaring hole at outside linebacker, increasing the possibility that the Titans select Carter at the top of the draft.
Adding Carter to a defense that finished tied for the third-fewest sacks in the league (32) in 2024 would be huge plus. He could also be a factor against the run. Dennard Wilson’s unit faded as the season unfolder, and the Titans finished a dismal 26th in the league in rushing defense.