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Tennessee Titans Win Offseason Despite the NFL Draft

By Dan Salem

Dec 6, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) carries the ball to score a 87-yard touchdown during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium. The Titans won 42-39. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) carries the ball to score a 87-yard touchdown during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium. The Titans won 42-39. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Tennessee Titans won the offseason, but we’re split on how their draft haul materialized. Either way, the Titans have a star quarterback with tons of young depth around him, a proven recipe for NFL success.

We’re tackling each team in the league, traveling alphabetically to debate their biggest offseason issues. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

The Tennessee Titans were one of the busier teams in the NFL this offseason. Things started with the big trade Tennessee made with Philadelphia for DeMarco Murray. It then signed wide receiver Rishard Matthews, among some others, before making the biggest of waves by trading away the number-one overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

On draft day, Tennessee wasn’t content at staying at 15 where it was slotted after its deal with Los Angeles, which, by the way, was a great deal for the Titans. They moved down out of the number one spot, knowing they wouldn’t need to draft either of the top quarterbacks. But instead of staying put at 15, they moved back up with another deal to the eighth spot to grab their offensive lineman they probably would have taken at number one had no deals gone through. It was a brilliant bit of maneuvering.

The only problem was Tennessee, like many teams around the top of the draft, overreacted to all the news swirling around offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil on draft day. Instead of moving back from one (to 15) to eight and taking Tunsil anyway while accummulating a number of other assets, the Titans pushed the panic button and grabbed Jack Conklin instead.

Related Story: Instant Analysis of Titans' pick Jack Conklin

The Baltimore Ravens already came out and admitted to the public that Tunsil was going to be six if not for his off-field issues. It would be foolish to assume Tennessee isn’t in the same boat and actually preferred Conklin all along. They panicked, plain and simple.

They ended up adding Kevin Dodd in the second round of the draft, a player some thought had first-round potential. They also grabbed running back Derrick Henry with another one of their second-round picks…for some reason. Henry is a big, bruising back who likes/needs to run north and south. Remind you of anyone, like maybe the player Tennessee just traded for, DeMarco Murray? Why have both of these guys if you believed in either one? It doesn’t make sense. They aren’t complementary talents at all.

I would have said the Titans had a tremendous offseason before draft day actually happened. Now, it looks they like misfired on at least two of their top picks. That is very troublesome for a young team still looking to build depth.

The weapons around Marcus Mariota should be much improved in 2016, as could the defense, but I can’t help but feel the team left opportunities on the table.

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Jack Conklin (Michigan State) is selected by the Tennessee Titans as the number eight overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Jack Conklin (Michigan State) is selected by the Tennessee Titans as the number eight overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

DAN:

Just because Tunsil was projected as a better player than Conklin, it does not make Tennessee’s selection a bad one. Conklin was one of three top offensive lineman in the draft and will be a huge addition to the Titans. That pick is solid, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the decision. They couldn’t have gotten him at 15, so trading up to secure a player of his caliber was sound maneuvering.

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I’m not completely against the Derrick Henry pick either, because giving a running back one season to develop behind a Pro Bowl talent who plays just like him is an excellent idea. We rarely see this with running backs, but perhaps its why they’ve proven so challenging to draft of late. Murray has a few excellent years left on his legs. Henry may or may not be ready to go this season. I realize its odd to stack a position, but when injuries are so prevalent at a position like running back, its not a bad idea to have more than one good option.

Nothing the Titans have done this offseason is traditional, so drafting Henry merely continues a trend that I personally like very much. Tennessee is building through the draft, using the only proven way to become successful in the NFL. The Titans took six defensive players in the draft and two in the second round prior to grabbing Henry. One of them should have been Myles Jack, who went to their division rival in Jacksonville. But fans can be happy with the draft haul that Tennessee brought home.

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What worries me about the Titans is the receiving core. Do they have a true number one receiver for Mariota to throw to? I also need to see the defense get better before I believe this team can overtake its division rivals. The AFC South remains fiercely competitive, but Tennessee destroyed expectations this offseason, giving them a real opportunity to do so when games get underway.

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