Looking at mock drafts for the Tennessee Titans this offseason hasn’t been too fun, as the team is routinely projected to take one of the top left tackles at No. 11 overall in the 2023 NFL draft in Peter Skoronski or Paris Johnson Jr.
However, we’ve seen some more variety in recent weeks after the moves the team has made in free agency, and namely the signing of Andre Dillard, which potentially gives Tennessee the starting left tackle it needs.
In a recent mock draft from former NFL general manager and ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum, he has the Titans taking Anthony Richardson in the first round. Here’s his take on the pick:
Ryan Tannehill turns 35 years old in July, and the early returns on 2022 third-rounder Malik Willis haven’t been encouraging. The Titans make a lot of sense for Richardson. He has compelling upside but needs more time to develop, and Tennessee wouldn’t have to rush him with Tannehill under contract for another year.
Richardson started one full season in college, and his 53.8% completion percentage ranked 116th in the country last season. That must greatly improve for him to be an effective NFL quarterback. No college quarterback, however, broke more tackles as a runner in 2022 than Richardson (22), and he showed off 4.43-second speed in the 40-yard dash at the combine. Plus, he has a huge arm. Richardson’s ceiling is as high as that of any prospect in this class.
There’s no question the Titans need a franchise quarterback, and Richardson has the potential to be that with his ridiculous physical tools. However, he’ll be a project, making him a risky pick, and that’s especially true for a team like Tennessee that has whiffed on a few first-round picks in recent years.
Depending on who you ask, Richardson may not even be around in that spot, as there are as many as five teams who could conceivably take a quarterback after Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud come off the board with the first two picks.
The top options beyond those two are Richardson, Will Levis and Hendon Hooker, with the latter two surprisingly being taken before Richardson in Tannenbaum’s mock.
While I don’t expect that to happen, nothing can be ruled out in the crapshoot that is the NFL draft. After all, people were talking about Malik Willis as a top pick in 2022 before he slid all the way to the third round.
Up to this point, there hasn’t been much connecting the Titans to interest in Richardson outside of a scheduled top-30 visit with the prospect.
With Dillard on board, the Titans’ options at No. 11 have opened up. I don’t think his signing precludes them from taking a left tackle at all, but it does allow them to focus on other positions like quarterback or wide receiver if they see fit.
