We are officially just one day away from the 2023 NFL draft. After months of speculation and constant debates, football fans everywhere will finally get definitive answers as to which direction their favorite team is heading.
When it comes to the Tennessee Titans, it’s no secret that the offense desperately needs help at several different areas.
The defense, on the other hand, is relatively strong across the board, but there are undoubtedly a few areas where they could use some improvements as well.
The following players who are listed in this article aren’t necessarily my top players at each position group but rather the best fits for the Titans and likely to be available when they’re on the clock.
If you want to see my actual top 10 rankings by position, you can find the entire list linked here. Mike Moraitis also ranked the Titans’ biggest needs going into the draft, which you can check out here.
Now, let’s see which prospects are a perfect fit for what the Titans need.
Quarterback: CJ Stroud, Ohio State
This pick was made under the assumption that there’s no realistic way to get Bryce Young. With that said, C.J. Stroud is the perfect quarterback for the Titans to potentially build around.
I know S2 is important and trendy, but I’m not talking myself out of someone who can throw like this because of it either
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) April 21, 2023
Earlier this offseason, new general manager, Ran Carthon, said in an ideal world, he wants his quarterback to be an accurate anticipatory passer, and that describes Stroud to a T.
“Earlier this offseason, new #Titans GM, Ran Carthon, said he wanted a QB that is accurate and can throw with anticipation.
By his own description, CJ Stroud may be the perfect QB for Carthon to build around for the next decade.”
Full scouting report 📖:https://t.co/Wnk1RD5Mh7 https://t.co/SXk5S257qy pic.twitter.com/r31kEO6C69
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) March 7, 2023
However, for this marriage to take place, Tennessee is likely going to have to make an aggressive move to get to the top of the draft. For that to happen, the Titans must emphatically believe that Stroud (or any quarterback) is unequivocally the their guy for the foreseeable future.
If that does end up being the case, whatever they end up paying will look like a bargain a few years from now.
Wide receiver: Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss
Now, I personally believe Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the best wide receiver in the draft, and if the Titans take him in Round 1, there will be zero complaints out of me.
Smith-Njigba is the type of prospect who will likely thrive in any offense as long as he can stay on the field. But when it comes to perfect fits for this team, Jonathan Mingo plays the game like a Mike Vrabel type of player.
The Ole Miss product is fast, athletic, physical, versatile and unselfish when it comes to putting his body on the line for his teammates.
Mingo is not only lethal once the ball is in his hands, he’s a tone-setter in the run game who embraces the opportunity to beat up on smaller defensive backs any chance he gets.
Mingo also possesses tons of untapped potential, and he is someone who will likely be a much more productive wide receiver in the pros than he was in college.
If the Titans don’t go wide receiver in Round 1, you’d have to imagine that Mingo will be a prime Day 2 target for this team.
Offensive tackle: Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
Paris Johnson Jr. is another prospect who would be a dream addition to the Titans’ offense. On top of having rare length at his disposal (36-inch arms), Johnson also happens to be one of the most fluid movers in the class.
Johnson isn’t the most technically sound lineman at the moment, but his overall athletic profile allows him to mask a lot of those deficiencies.
If the Ohio State product gets to a point where he blends his natural traits with fundamentally sound technique, he has a chance to become one of the top offensive tackles in the league.
Selecting Johnson would also allow newly acquired Andre Dillard to kick inside and focus on his new spot.
After the disaster Tennessee experienced in 2022, you really can’t blame the team for going this route if the former Buckeye is still on the board when the Titans are on the clock.
Interior offensive lineman: Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Over the last few months, I’ve made it known how much of a believer I am in Peter Skoronski. I genuinely don’t care where he lines up, all I know is he’s someone I would take on the Titans’ offensive line any day of the week.
Skoronski is a bona fide technician whose game translates very well to the next level, and he pairs this with one of the most impressive athletic profiles at his position.
Despite his score undoubtedly being brought down by his sub-33-inch arms, Skoronski finished with a Relative Athletic Score of 9.90 for an interior lineman (highest among guards and centers), and 9.30 for an offensive tackle (11th-highest).
Skoronski needs to improve his strength a bit, but he’s the type of prospect who would excel anywhere. The Northwestern product won’t be a sexy pick by any means, but he’s someone who could legitimately be a franchise pillar in the trenches for a team that desperately needs one.
Tight end: Darnell Washington, Georgia
When thinking of “perfect prospect fits” for the Titans, there was one name that immediately came to mind, and that was the massive tight end out of Georgia, Darnell Washington.
The former Bulldog is essentially a sixth offensive lineman in the run game who is capable of physically imposing his will on the opposition.
Washington would thrive in Tennessee’s run-heavy offense that would allow him to take advantage of his unique blend of size, strength, and athleticism.
The Georgia product also offers some sneaky upside in the passing game where he becomes a real problem for opposing defenses to account for.
He isn’t the most nuanced or sudden route-runner, but more often than not he’s bigger than most defensive backs and more explosive than most linebackers.
Washington would be a dream player to pair with a productive pass-catching tight end such as Chig Okonkwo. 12-personnel packages with those two out there together could become a really intriguing situation.
Unfortunately, considering the team has major needs at receiver and along the offensive line, the Titans may not be in a position to take a luxury piece such as Washington this year. Although, if they do go that route, you can’t blame them one bit for it.
Cornerback: Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
The Titans have invested a ton of premium draft capital in their cornerbacks room, and you could make a strong argument that they still don’t have that true No. 1 shutdown cornerback.
Devon Witherspoon would change that the second he arrives. The Illinois product is a true alpha on the boundary who can more than hold his own against the opposing team’s best receiver.
If the Titans are going to invest ANOTHER premium pick on a cornerback, they need to walk away with someone with this type of potential.
Today’s prospect breakdown:
CB Devon Witherspoon, @IlliniFootball2022 Grades:
•Overall: 92.0
•Coverage: 92.5
•Run Defense: 78.6•Witherspoon allowed fewer than 35 receiving yards in 11/12 games in 2022 #Illini #HTTO #2023NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/AM3v8um68b
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) February 20, 2023
Linebacker: Jack Campbell, Iowa
The modern-day linebacker position is like the running back of the defense in the sense that nobody likes to heavily invest in the position these days.
However, every now and then someone comes along who is impossible to ignore.
Despite being the reigning Butkus Award winner (nation’s best linebacker), Jack Campbell is still being overlooked by many for whatever reason.
The Iowa product’s skill set is the perfect blend of old school and modern day. Campbell has the size and physicality of an 80s defender, while also having the athleticism and fluid movement skills of a modern linebacker.
Campbell is capable of defending every blade of grass from sideline to sideline, and he has a natural and cerebral ability to drop back into coverage to defend his area/man.
The thought of pairing the All-American linebacker with Azeez Al-Shaair and allowing them to operate behind the Titans’ dominant front four is the type of stuff that makes defensive coordinators salivate.
Today’s prospect breakdown:
LB Jack Campbell, @HawkeyeFootball2022 Grades:
-Overall Grade: 91.7
-Pass-Rush: 65.3
-Run-Defense: 85.6
-Coverage: 92.9
-Missed Tackle Rate: 9.0%-Campbell finished his college career as the Butkus award winner and a Unanimous All-American#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/JthgcQYCBn
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) February 8, 2023
EDGE: Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Lukas Van Ness is one of my favorite players to watch on the defensive side of the ball. The Iowa product is a true bull-rushing savant who can line up all across the formation in order to take advantage of potential mismatches.
Van Ness would also give the team a power rusher along the edge to pair with Harold Landry’s speed on the other side.
Plus, Denico Autry’s contract is set to expire after 2023, so the former Hawkeye would be a fantastic replacement for that role.
If the Titans do in fact decide to go edge in Round 1, you’d have to imagine that Van Ness will be on the short list of potential options.
"This guy's just a piece of clay that [teams] are going to mold into a pretty special player."@ChuckPaganoNFL breaks down Lukas Van Ness' tape 🎥 pic.twitter.com/b2cfzZmOkg
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) April 24, 2023
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