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Turron Davenport, ESPN
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The big smile that Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon flashed to open his post-draft news conference said it all.
Carthon had just orchestrated a draft that allowed the Titans to potentially address several needs for a roster that was desperately in need of a talent influx. The second-year GM explained how good he feels about the draft results because he believes they picked players who will compete to start right away.
First-round pick JC Latham should fill a huge void at left tackle. T’Vondre Sweat gets to pair with veteran defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to give the Titans a physical tandem up front. There are high hopes that Cedric Gray should eventually land himself a starting role at inside linebacker alongside Kenneth Murray Jr. as well.
Carthon acknowledged there’s still more work to be done, though.
“And know there’s still some holes to fill, and we’re going to get to it,” Carthon said.
The Titans will attempt to address the remaining roster needs as they progress through the offseason workout programs. New coach Brian Callahan is still in the early stages of laying the groundwork for what he hopes to be a refreshed Titans group that rebounds from consecutive losing seasons under the previous coach.
After making his initial assessment of the roster, Callahan immediately saw an area that requires help.
“We need tight ends,” Callahan said before the draft. “We’ve only got three on the roster. Obviously three tight ends isn’t what you’re going to take into training camp.”
Third-year veteran Chigoziem Okonkwo‘s 54 receptions last season were second only to DeAndre Hopkins‘ team-high 75.
This year’s staff hopes tight end Josh Whyle can improve upon a rookie season that saw him only play 24% of the offensive snaps. Thomas Odukoya flashed his ability to help out as a blocker in the run game during the preseason, but he is yet to play a down in a regular season game.
The options to upgrade the tight end group are scarce. This year’s free agent group doesn’t offer much in terms of help. Maybe a possible contributor come available as a post-June 1 cut when teams part ways with veterans for salary cap reasons.
Tennessee did sign a couple of undrafted free agent tight ends in Temple’s David Martin-Robinson and Iowa’s Steve Stilianos.
Callahan issued a challenge for someone to emerge in the slot when he was asked about the receiver group before the draft.
Sixth-round pick Jha’Quan Jackson will take his first steps toward earning a role as a slot receiver, but Tennessee also signed Tyler Boyd, who played mostly in the slot for Callahan during his tenure as the Cincinnati Bengals‘ offensive coordinator, last week.
Kyle Philips was the dedicated slot receiver last season, but injuries and inconsistency limited him to 15 receptions for 181 yards in nine games.
Carthon said the team intentionally left some spots open for veterans by signing fewer undrafted free agents and left the door open for players like Boyd despite making some big splashes in the offseason already
Unlike wide receiver, safety is a position the Titans didn’t address in the draft or free agency. As of now, veterans Amani Hooker and Elijah Molden sit atop of the safety depth chart. Tennessee’s pass defense had six interceptions last season, the fewest in the league.
Expect the Titans to make some additions to the group leading at some point.
“That’s one that we’re going to address,” Carthon said. “It’s a lot of good veteran safeties that are out there on the street.”
Tennessee brought former Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons in for a visit in March but didn’t get a deal done with him. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has ties to free agent safety Marcus Maye dating back to their time together with the New York Jets from 2017 to 2020.
But for now, Wilson is going to strive to get the best out of the guys who are in the locker room.
“The guys we have here, they have talent,” Wilson said. “In terms of the acquisition period, we’re still going through that. I don’t know who we’re going to add. But whoever is here, we’re going to coach the hell of them.”
