Titans’ playoff chances sank to an unlikely 3.3% after being overrun by the Bucs 20-6 in Tampa Bay Sunday and falling to .333 (3-6) on the season. With the Titans season all but over, let’s explore Tennessee’s most dire position needs and who likely they can land on for the first round of the 2024 draft. 

The Titans climbed up two draft spots to number 7 after their loss on the road Sunday. The team could get an even higher position, being only two games out from the number 1 pick, as shown below: 

https://titanswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2023/11/draftorder.png

The Titans obviously have more needs than Josh Allen has turn overs on the season. That’s 14 if you were wondering. But the biggest needs other than a new coach and offensive coordinator are offensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver in that order.  With offensive tackle being the most glaring need for this team, let’s see the top three tackles the Titans will have a shot at taking . 

THE FIRST ROUND PICK IS…. 

Coming into the season everyone knew the Titans offensive line was the weak link. But no one thought it would be this bad. Per Paul Luhansk (Analytical Review of the Titans Offensive Line), Andre Dillard leads the NFL with the most pressures (36), leads the league in sacks allowed (10) and ranks 59th out of 64 tackles overall. That’s more than double our second-worst offensive lineman. And I’m surprised there’s five tackles even worse than him, to be honest. But, this draft capital gives us an opportunity to get an elite offensive tackle this offseason and that’s what I expect the Titans to do.  

1. Olu Fashanu (PSU) - Fashanu has been spectacular at Penn State not allowing a single QB pressure or sack in his debut season in 2022 and ranking as the number 1 tackle this season. At 6-6 , 319 lbs, Fashanu would be a home-run pick and would be an immediate impact his first year. But he’s most likely going in the first three picks and the Titans would have to lose a whole lot more games to nab him. But there’s a good chance that happens with this current hand dealt. 

2. Joe Alt (ND) - If the Titans don’t end up with a top 5 pick, they’re unlikely to land Fashanu. However, no worries as Joe Alt is a very close second. At 6-8 and 315 lbs, Alt is an athletic freak running a 4.9 in the forty. In 2022, the tackle only allowed 8 pressures, 0 sacks and committed just 1 penalty, Alt is an excellent pass blocker. Further, Alt is an even better run blocker than Fashanu with that elite speed and athleticism which is Tennessee’s bread and butter. If Tennessee can creep into the top five, they will take Joe. 

3. JC Latham (BAMA) - If the Titans stay at pick 7 or fall a little they still have a solid choice in 6-6, 360lb JC Latham from Alabama. Like the other top tackles, Latham is an athletic monster who runs a 4.85 in the forty and has one of the best verticals at that position. Latham too, is an elite pass blocker which the Titans desperately need and is an excellent run blocker. In 2022, Latham only allowed 9 QB pressures and 1 sack. As of now, Latham is the likely pick in their current draft position and would do wonders replacing Dillard on the left side. 

Tennessee won’t take a corner in the first round. I could see them taking a possible shot at Marvin Harris Jr. if he falls to pick 7 to give Levis some more weapons and hope a few tackles Like Mims at Georgia fall to the early second round. But my bet is on Latham being the pick at number 7. And it’d be a solid choice locking down the left side with Skoronski for the next decade.