The Tennessee Titans NFL draft picks 2023 is the annual selection process of college football players by the Tennessee Titans, a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans are one of the 32 teams that participate in the National Football League (NFL) draft, which is held every year in late April or early May. The Titans have six draft picks this year, beginning with the 11th overall selection in the first round. The Titans are expected to use their draft picks to improve their roster and address their needs at various positions.
History: The NFL draft was first proposed by Bert Bell, the co-owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, in 1935 as a way to distribute talent more evenly among the teams and prevent bidding wars for college players. The first NFL draft began at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia on February 8, 1936. Ninety names were written on a blackboard in the meeting room from which the teams would choose. The first player ever drafted was Jay Berwanger, a halfback from the University of Chicago, who was selected by the Eagles but never played in the NFL. The draft, like the NFL, evolved in the face of competition — specifically the emergence of the upstart American Football League (AFL) in 1959. The competition between the new league and the NFL for draft picks was fierce. The addition of another league meant more teams and more roster spots for drafted players. In 1967, the NFL and AFL agreed to merge and hold a common draft. Since then, the NFL draft has become one of the most popular and anticipated events in sports, attracting millions of viewers and fans every year.
Here is a 2023 NFL draft pick-by-pick breakdown for the Tennessee Titans draft picks 2023:
Round 1, No. 11 overall: Peter Skoronski, G, Northwestern. The Titans bolstered their offensive line by selecting Skoronski, a versatile and athletic guard who can also play tackle. Skoronski was a four-year starter at Northwestern and earned All-Big Ten honors as a senior. He has good size (6-foot-4, 310 pounds), strength and footwork, and can excel in both run blocking and pass protection.
Round 2, No. 33 (via trade with Arizona Cardinals): Will Levis, QB, Kentucky. The Titans traded up to get their quarterback of the future in Levis, a transfer from Penn State who had a breakout season at Kentucky. Levis completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 2,827 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while also rushing for 457 yards and six scores. He has a strong arm, good mobility and leadership skills, but needs to work on his accuracy and decision-making.
Round 3, No. 81 (via trade with Arizona Cardinals): Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane. The Titans added some depth and explosiveness to their backfield by picking Spears, a dynamic runner who averaged 7.1 yards per carry in his college career. Spears missed most of his senior season due to a knee injury, but he showed his potential as a sophomore when he rushed for 1,039 yards and nine touchdowns on just 146 carries. He also caught 29 passes for 244 yards and two scores. He has good speed, vision and balance, but needs to improve his pass protection and ball security.
Round 5, No. 147: Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati. The Titans addressed their need at tight end by selecting Whyle, a productive and reliable target who led Cincinnati in receptions (54), receiving yards (688) and touchdowns (10) as a junior. Whyle has good size (6-foot-6, 245 pounds), hands and route-running ability, and can also contribute as a blocker. He lacks elite athleticism and speed, but he knows how to use his body and leverage to create separation and make contested catches.
Round 6, No. 186 (from Atlanta Falcons): Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland. The Titans added some depth and competition to their offensive tackle position by picking Duncan, a former four-star recruit who started at left tackle for Maryland as a sophomore and junior. Duncan has impressive physical traits (6-foot-6, 325 pounds), with long arms, quick feet and power. He is still raw and inconsistent in his technique and discipline, but he has upside as a developmental prospect.
Round 7, No. 228: Colton Dowell, WR, UT Martin. The Titans took a flyer on Dowell, a small-school standout who dominated at the FCS level. Dowell caught 66 passes for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior at UT Martin, earning All-OVC and All-American honors. He has good speed, agility and ball skills, and can also contribute as a returner. He faces a big jump in competition and needs to refine his route-running and strength, but he has potential as a slot receiver and special teams player.
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Here is a detailed summary of the last five top draft picks of the Tennessee Titans in the NFL draft:
- 2023: The Titans selected Peter Skoronski, an offensive tackle from Northwestern, with the 11th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Skoronski was a consensus All-American and a finalist for the Outland Trophy in 2022. He is expected to be a cornerstone for the Titans’ offensive line and protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
- 2022: The Titans picked Treylon Burks, a wide receiver from Arkansas, with the 18th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Burks was a prolific playmaker for the Razorbacks, recording 1,104 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2021. He is a big-bodied receiver who can stretch the field and create yards after catch.
- 2021: The Titans drafted Caleb Farley, a cornerback from Virginia Tech, with the 22nd overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Farley was a highly rated prospect who opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. He has elite speed and athleticism, but also has injury issues that caused him to fall in the draft.
- 2020: The Titans took Isaiah Wilson, an offensive tackle from Georgia, with the 29th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Wilson was a massive lineman who started for two seasons at right tackle for the Bulldogs. He was supposed to replace Jack Conklin, who left in free agency, but he had a disastrous rookie season that ended with him being traded to the Miami Dolphins.
- 2019: The Titans chose Jeffery Simmons, a defensive tackle from Mississippi State, with the 19th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Simmons was a dominant force in college, but he tore his ACL before the draft and missed most of his rookie season. He recovered well and became a key contributor for the Titans’ defense, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2021.
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FAQs
Q: Who is Peter Skoronski, the Titans’ first-round pick?
A: Peter Skoronski is an offensive tackle from Northwestern who was selected by the Titans with the 11th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He was a consensus All-American and a finalist for the Outland Trophy in 2022. He is expected to be a cornerstone for the Titans’ offensive line and protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Q: Why did the Titans draft a quarterback in the second round?
A: The Titans drafted Will Levis, a quarterback from Kentucky, with the 33rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Levis transferred from Penn State to Kentucky in 2022 and had a breakout season, throwing for 3,127 yards and 28 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He also ran for 421 yards and four scores. He is a strong-armed and mobile passer who could challenge Logan Woodside for the backup role behind Tannehill.
Q: How did the Titans acquire the 81st pick in the third round?
A: The Titans acquired the 81st pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft from the Detroit Lions through the Arizona Cardinals. The Titans traded their original third-round pick (75th overall) and their fourth-round pick (115th overall) to the Cardinals for their third-round pick (81st overall) and their fifth-round pick (147th overall). The Cardinals then traded the 75th pick to the Lions for their third-round pick (88th overall) and their fourth-round pick (121st overall).
Q: Who is Tyjae Spears, the Titans’ third-round pick?
A: Tyjae Spears is a running back from Tulane who was selected by the Titans with the 81st overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Spears was a dynamic playmaker for the Green Wave, averaging 7.5 yards per carry and scoring 14 touchdowns in his college career. He also caught 37 passes for 392 yards and two scores. He is a versatile and explosive back who could complement Derrick Henry and Darrynton Evans in the Titans’ backfield.
Q: Who is Josh Whyle, the Titans’ fifth-round pick?
A: Josh Whyle is a tight end from Cincinnati who was selected by the Titans with the 147th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Whyle was a reliable target for the Bearcats, catching six touchdowns in each of his last two seasons. He also earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2020 and honorable mention in 2021. He is a tall and athletic tight end who could fill the void left by Jonnu Smith’s departure in free agency.
