Live 2024 NFL Draft grade: Tennessee Titans draft James Williams and Jaylen Harrell
By Will Lomas
The 2024 NFL Draft is wrapped up and the Tennessee Titans have completed their draft class.
That doesn't mean that the roster-building process is over though. Not only do the Titans still have a crop of UDFAs coming in, but everyone in the building from Ran Carthon to Mike Keith has talked about how the team still has $30 million in cap space this year and plans to use some of it.
While we wait on that, let's look at how the Titans finished up their draft class by looking at who they took in the seventh round.
After already selecting a left tackle, nose tackle, linebacker, cornerback, and wide receiver, they went with Miami linebacker-turned-safety James Williams and EDGE Jaylen Harrell.
What does it mean for the Tennessee Titans?
James Williams is the type of guy who makes sense as a flier on Day 3 because he has all of the traits of a good player. He was a 5-star recruit and the top safety in his recruiting class, and he started all three years for the Miami Hurricanes.
The problem with him is that he is 6'4, 230 lb. and he only runs a 4.65. With those measurables, he really doesn't have a great fit on defense. He was a safety, but he will probably spend most or all of his time as a linebacker. The good news is that he is a physical player and he is someone with experience on special teams which buys him time to figure out what exactly his role can be in the NFL.
Then there is Jaylen Harrell who had a much different career arc. Harrell was a 3-star recruit who didn't start until his final two seasons, but he is a player who got better and better each year and who has a clear role on the Titans defense.
Harrell led the best defense in college football in sacks, pressures, and TFLs and he is a blue-collar guy who has plenty of special teams experience. He will compete for that fourth EDGE spot behind Harold Landry, Arden Key, and Rashad Weaver.
This tandem gets a high grade for me because it is rare that you see two players drafted this late who have a real chance to make the roster and get on the field as rookies.