2024 NFL Draft Grades

[AussieTitanFan08]

 

[AussieTitanFan08]

Tennessee Titans: C+

Top needs entering the draft: Offensive tackle, wide receiver, linebacker

 

The Titans were a popular team in mock drafts for predictions on the first team to take an offensive tackle, but I said a few times I thought they could trade down from No. 7 and still get one of the best tackles in the class. With Joe Alt gone to the Chargers at No. 5, though, it seemed like Tennessee panicked at least a lit bit in selecting JC Latham (7).

 

Yes, the offense ranked 31st in sack rate per dropback (11.1%) last season and allowed 64 sacks, which were the second-most in the history of its franchise. But as I wrote Thursday night, I have doubts about whether Latham can play left tackle, and the Titans have now taken a right tackle and guard in the top 11 in back-to-back drafts. Is that the best use of high picks? I'm not so sure, though I do think Latham can be a physically imposing run-blocker.

 

In Round 2, Tennessee reached for nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat (38), who I thought was more of a third-rounder because of his inconsistent play and an arrest for driving while intoxicated earlier this month. Cedric Gray (106) could be a steal in Round 4; he might never be great in coverage, but he can blitz off the edge and be a menace between the tackles in the run game. James Williams (242) is a 6-foot-4 safety who likely will have to play linebacker at the next level.

 

If Latham makes an easy conversion to left tackle and immediately dominates, this class looks much better. As is, I don't love the value overall.

 

https://www.espn.com.au/nfl/draft2024/insider/story/_/id/40030429/2024-nfl-draft-grades-all-32-teams-mel-kiper-winners-losers-steals-sleepers-favorite-picks-classes#TEN

Edited April 28, 2024 by AussieTitanFan08

[AussieTitanFan08]

Tennessee Titans A-

 

Draft picks

Alabama OT JC Latham (No. 7 overall)

Texas DT T'Vondre Sweat (No. 38)

North Carolina LB Cedric Gray (No. 106)

Louisville DB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (No. 146)

Tulane WR Jha'Quan Jackson (No. 182)

Miami LB James Williams (No. 242)

Michigan LB Jaylen Harrell (No. 252)

 

Day 1 grade: A

Day 2 grade: B+

Day 3 grade: B+

 

Analysis: With Joe Alt off the board, the Titans picked the other top 10-caliber tackle. Latham's a wall on the outside who will excel on either side of the line. The team needed a big body like Sweat on the defensive line and chose him even after Sweat's recent DWI arrest; GM Ran Carthon said he discussed the incident with Sweat, and that Sweat "accepted his responsibility." Tennessee will hope he can be dominant at the next level. The Titans' third-round pick was part of the package to move up for quarterback Will Levis last April.

 

Gray's recognition skills and quickness make him a fit in the middle of Tennessee's defense. Brownlee has the talent to step into the fray as a rookie and earn a starting job down the line. Jackson's quickness helps fill two needs: depth at receiver and as a returner. Harrell should have been picked much earlier as an edge rusher, a spot where the Titans needed depth.

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-draft-final-quick-snap-grades-for-all-32-teams

[OilerTitanHybrid]

10 minutes ago, AussieTitanFan08 said:

Tennessee Titans: C+

Top needs entering the draft: Offensive tackle, wide receiver, linebacker

 

The Titans were a popular team in mock drafts for predictions on the first team to take an offensive tackle, but I said a few times I thought they could trade down from No. 7 and still get one of the best tackles in the class. With Joe Alt gone to the Chargers at No. 5, though, it seemed like Tennessee panicked at least a lit bit in selecting JC Latham (7).

 

Yes, the offense ranked 31st in sack rate per dropback (11.1%) last season and allowed 64 sacks, which were the second-most in the history of its franchise. But as I wrote Thursday night, I have doubts about whether Latham can play left tackle, and the Titans have now taken a right tackle and guard in the top 11 in back-to-back drafts. Is that the best use of high picks? I'm not so sure, though I do think Latham can be a physically imposing run-blocker.

 

In Round 2, Tennessee reached for nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat (38), who I thought was more of a third-rounder because of his inconsistent play and an arrest for driving while intoxicated earlier this month. Cedric Gray (106) could be a steal in Round 4; he might never be great in coverage, but he can blitz off the edge and be a menace between the tackles in the run game. James Williams (242) is a 6-foot-4 safety who likely will have to play linebacker at the next level.

 

If Latham makes an easy conversion to left tackle and immediately dominates, this class looks much better. As is, I don't love the value overall.

 

https://www.espn.com.au/nfl/draft2024/insider/story/_/id/40030429/2024-nfl-draft-grades-all-32-teams-mel-kiper-winners-losers-steals-sleepers-favorite-picks-classes#TEN

 

Apparently ol' Mel Kiper missed where our 4× First-team All-Pro WR Antonio Brown Jha'Quan Jackson factors into the mix!  That would move it from a C+ to a least a solid B+ for sure.

[AussieTitanFan08]

Tennessee Titans

 

The Latham pick was a bit surprising, yet it wasn't a brutal selection. Sweat in the top 40 was. After that, GM Ran Carthon pieced together a rock-solid haul. Gray is one of the younger but polished off-ball linebackers in the class, and Jackson can really get down the field with elite burst and long speed. 

Williams finds the football frequently because of his length and movement skill. Don't sleep on Harrell, either. He's young and really flashed as a pure outside rusher with a diverse set of pass-rush moves at Michigan. 

Grade: B-

 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-draft-grades-for-every-team-patriots-chiefs-with-awesome-hauls-cowboys-others-receive-poor-marks/

[titanskick8851]

One thing we can take to the bank in future years under Carthon and Callahan, especially as long as Anthony Robinson is here, they are seriously going to scout the Senior Bowl and multiple guys will be drafted from there each year. 

[Strunk'sDessert]

It's always great to put the draft into perspective. 

 

Was browsing through the top 75 picks or so from the last 5 years. It's amazing how much, as fans, we analyze this prospect vs. the one we got intrigued by and positional value.

 

A good draft consists of a good starter, an avg. starter and or two contributors. 

 

So many prospects I remember endless arguments and fist shaking about over the years that haven't done shit or are already out of the league. And that's the top prospects!

 

As it stands, I can hate the value of some picks, have very fair criticisms, and ask if it's the right strategy; however it seems like we have 3 guys that will play meaningful snaps this season and a couple of others that could contribute in specific roles. 

 

Hard to bitch too much about that. 

[Supernope]

Those are some friendly graders.  If Rass had teachers like this he would have completed the 5th grade

[Justafan]

The consensus big board is the troubling one to me. The best teams in the NFL and teams that are historically good at drafting all ranked high on the consensus boards. Meanwhile, teams that have a poor history of drafting or aren't very good trended towards the back end of the consensus boards. Titans are on the bottom half of this chart. There are always outliers, and in the big scheme, it doesn't mean much - there could be a HOFer in the Titans class that heavily skews the value of this draft - but I think it's fair if fans have some concern with some of these picks. 

 

11 hours ago, AussieTitanFan08 said:

 

 

[AussieTitanFan08]

 

[AussieTitanFan08]

 

[Guest]

12 hours ago, AussieTitanFan08 said:

Tennessee Titans: C+

Top needs entering the draft: Offensive tackle, wide receiver, linebacker

 

The Titans were a popular team in mock drafts for predictions on the first team to take an offensive tackle, but I said a few times I thought they could trade down from No. 7 and still get one of the best tackles in the class. With Joe Alt gone to the Chargers at No. 5, though, it seemed like Tennessee panicked at least a lit bit in selecting JC Latham (7).

 

Yes, the offense ranked 31st in sack rate per dropback (11.1%) last season and allowed 64 sacks, which were the second-most in the history of its franchise. But as I wrote Thursday night, I have doubts about whether Latham can play left tackle, and the Titans have now taken a right tackle and guard in the top 11 in back-to-back drafts. Is that the best use of high picks? I'm not so sure, though I do think Latham can be a physically imposing run-blocker.

 

In Round 2, Tennessee reached for nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat (38), who I thought was more of a third-rounder because of his inconsistent play and an arrest for driving while intoxicated earlier this month. Cedric Gray (106) could be a steal in Round 4; he might never be great in coverage, but he can blitz off the edge and be a menace between the tackles in the run game. James Williams (242) is a 6-foot-4 safety who likely will have to play linebacker at the next level.

 

If Latham makes an easy conversion to left tackle and immediately dominates, this class looks much better. As is, I don't love the value overall.

 

https://www.espn.com.au/nfl/draft2024/insider/story/_/id/40030429/2024-nfl-draft-grades-all-32-teams-mel-kiper-winners-losers-steals-sleepers-favorite-picks-classes#TEN

 

This is the exact kind of draft talk that IMO is not insightful but is bullshitting. 

 

It "seems like the team panicked"---there is absolutely nothing that gave that indication. 

 

They only "panicked" because Latham was usually available at 13 in the PFN mock draft simulator that makes you millions of dollars a year annually. 

 

I am all for being critical of teams and what they do, but I prefer it when those criticisms line up with reality. All knowledge we have is that Titans were thrilled with Latham, and he was the target not the panic pick. Stupid. 

 

 

[OILERMAN]

5 minutes ago, Bink said:

 

It "seems like the team panicked"---there is absolutely nothing that gave that indication. 

 

Exactly. They panicked they they drafted the OL coaches fave player in the draft at a position they were absolutely were going to draft at 7

[rns90]

These things are utterly useless because they always go in with a flawed /biased viewpoint of what the grader thinks which is not often reality.

[big2033]