After going over the Tennessee Titans’ NFL draft history with their first two picks of the 2023 NFL draft (we’ve linked to those articles at the bottom of this one), we’re now moving on to their third-round selection at No. 72 overall.
The third-round pick is one of six Tennessee has in total in this year’s draft, with the team owning one in every round but the fourth thanks to, of course, the 2023 trade with the Atlanta Falcons for Julio Jones.
The Titans have made a pick at No. 72 overall a total of six times in their history, but only once since moving to Tennessee. That pick was wide receiver Taywan Taylor, who ended up being a disappointment.
Prior to moving to Nashville, the Titans made this selection five other times in franchise history. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and see who else the team came away with at No. 72 overall in its history.
1961: OT Ralph White, Bowling Green
Ralph was selected both in the 1961 AFL draft by the Oilers (ninth round) and in the 1961 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts (11th round). He never played a snap for either team.
1979: RB Kenny King, Oklahoma
King spent just one season and played sparingly over 12 games in Houston before moving on to play for the Oakland Raiders, where he put together his two best seasons in 1980 and 1981, with the former earning him his only career Pro Bowl nod.
King saw his carries dry up over his final four seasons in the NFL, but he did win a pair of Super Bowl rings with the Raiders before calling it quits.
1982: Stan Edwards, Michigan
The third No. 72 overall pick in franchise history was yet another running back in Edwards, who spent five of his six seasons in Houston.
His best season came in 1984, when Edwards tallied a career-high 267 rushing yards. He finished his career with the Detroit Lions in 1987.
Edwards’ son, Braylon, also played at Michigan and in the NFL, spending eight seasons in the league.
1988: P Greg Montgomery, Michigan State
Drafting a punter in the third round is never a good idea, but the Oilers were actually able to get a good one in Montgomery.
He was the lead man in Houston for six seasons, earning a Pro Bowl nod and First-Team All-Pro selection along the way (both in 1993). He also led the NFL in yards per punt three times.
Following his days with the Oilers, Montgomery played in one season with the Lions, and then his final two with the Baltimore Ravens, where he was the franchise’s first punter.
1990: DE Willis Peguese, Miami
It wasn’t long before Houston was back at No. 72 overall, but this time the franchise decided to go with a defensive player, which didn’t work out.
Peguese ended up playing in just 10 games (one start) in total for the Oilers over two-plus seasons.
He then landed with the Indianapolis Colts, where he spent the final season-plus of his career, playing in 25 games over that span. Peguese tallied a career-best two sacks in 1993, his final campaign in the NFL.
2017: WR Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky
With their first and only No. 72 overall pick after moving to Nashville, the Titans selected Taylor with the hope he could become an impact player in their receiving corps.
Unfortunately, this is another pick that didn’t pan out for the franchise, with Taylor tallying just 53 catches for 697 yards and two touchdowns over his two seasons in Tennessee.
Taylor was traded to the Cleveland Browns prior to the start of 2019 but didn’t recorded a single catch over two years. Taylor hasn’t played a snap in the NFL since 2020.
NFL draft history with Titans' 2023 picks
Shaun Calderon's 2023 NFL draft scouting reports
2023 NFL draft position rankings from Shaun Calderon
