A 2-7 start for the Tennessee Titans has many fans already thinking about April, and what’s to come of the current brass in charge of leading the Titans each week. While there’s still a long way to go in the campaign, here is an early look at where general manager Ran Carthon could go in April to boost a roster that has pieces present on both sides of the ball.
Round 1 (No. 3 overall): Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
The Titans have a massive need at right tackle, and in this situation, they add Kelvin Banks Jr. at left tackle to allow 2024 first-rounder JC Latham to slide back to his natural home on the right side. Building from the inside-out is never the sexy approach for an organization, but further solidifying the offensive line with a player of Banks’ caliber could be wise for Carthon. Deploying the likes of Banks, Latham, and guard Peter Skoronski would be a heck of a security detail to work behind if you’re Tennessee’s signal-caller… whoever that may be.
Round 2 (No. 37 overall): LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
LT Overton is just a flat-out good football player. He’s not overly explosive or powerful, nor will he enter the process with an immense amount of pressures and sacks, but he’s the type of high-floor defender that you can throw into the fire of an NFL game right away and not think twice about. An experienced athlete who has spent time at multiple SEC programs (Texas A&M transfer), Overton would provide much-needed juice to Tennessee’s edge group.
Round 4 (No. 104 overall): Jack Bech, WR, TCU
An LSU transfer, I personally think Jack Bech is going to light up the pre-draft circuit should he declare. TCU hasn’t had the national spotlight on their program like in years past, but Bech has been a common topic of conversations with scouts. Bech plays with a massive chip on his shoulder. He’s totaled 56 catches for 979 yards through 11 weeks.
Round 4 (No. 117 overall): Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
I do think Will Levis is the guy for the immediate future. How immediate that is remains to be seen, but deploying Levis with Jaxson Dart in his rearview mirror could be a competition worth entertaining. A highly rated recruit who's been through the wringer in his career, Dart is the type of talent that could come in and compete but also wouldn’t hurt to sit for a season. Coaching and development matter and Dart is a prospect under Brian Callahan’s tutelage that has the traits to succeed on Sundays.
Round 5 (No. 143 overall): Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
More weapons for the Titans’ offense! Jaylin Noel is expected to be the second Cyclones wideout to hear his name called in April—following Jayden Higgins—but he has the traits to be just as good at the next level. A mature and intelligent pass-catcher with more than 2,500 yards under his belt in the Big 12, Noel would provide vertical pop to the offense with the toughness and YAC ability to create in the shallow areas as well. He is also expected to compete for snaps on special teams as a return man (86 combined kickoff/punt returns in his career).
Round 5 (No. 168 overall): Hunter Wohler, SAF, Wisconsin
Hunter Wohler is another athlete, similar to Overton earlier in this mock, who touts an intriguing floor as a prospect. An uber-competitive defender who can align at all three levels, he’s a modern-day defender in that he can flip and run with flex weapons, while also not being shy when asked to stick his face in the mud against the run.
Round 6 (No. 180 overall): Gus Hartwig, IOL, Purdue
More depth for the big boys up front. A long-time contributor for the Boilermakers with more than 3,000 snaps at center, Gus Hartwig provides rotational value at the pivot spot with the footwork and lateral agility to compete for time at guard. He’s not an overpowering mover along the front five, but he moves extremely well and has no issue sliding with even the most athletic of one and three-techs in the trenches. Everything starts with footwork, and you won’t find many more linemen here on day three with better agility and balance than Hartwig, a four-time All-Big-Ten honoree.
Round 7 (No. 239 overall): Alex Harkey, OL, Texas State
With it being so early in the process, I like to use these selections to introduce players to the audience that are currently unknown to the public eye. One of the premier pullers in the country, Alex Harkey projects as a versatile piece at the next level. In this spot, Tennessee adds depth to the offensive front where expectations are minimal and you allow Harkey to compete for a backup spot right away. In the best-case scenario, he progresses into a swing guard/tackle with starter potential in case of injury.
