And just like that, the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. Per usual, it was a wild and unexpected ride, starting with all the Round 1 action. Day 2 and Day 3 delivered surprises of their own. Some teams capitalized on the opportunity, while others came up short. Let’s take a look at the 2023 NFL Draft recap, analysis, and grades for the Tennessee Titans. NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.
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- Thor’s Draft Grades (AFC | NFC)
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- Fitz’s Round 1 NFL Draft Picks: Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook (Day 2 | Day 3)
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2023 NFL Draft Recap, Analysis & Grades: Tennessee Titans
NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.
Thor Nystrom’s Overview & Grades
Tennessee Titans | Draft Grade: A
| Pick | Team | Position | Rank | Name | School | Comp |
| 11 | Titans | OL1 | 9 | Peter Skoronski | Northwestern | Steve Hutchinson |
| 33 | Titans | QB4 | 15 | Will Levis | Kentucky | Carson Wentz |
| 81 | Titans | RB4 | 66 | Tyjae Spears | Tulane | Travis Etienne |
| 147 | Titans | TE11 | 191 | Josh Whyle | Cincinnati | Coby Fleener |
| 186 | Titans | OT11 | 99 | Jaelyn Duncan | Maryland | Tony Ugoh |
| 228 | Titans | WR71 | — | Colton Dowell | UT Martin | Justin Watson |
Slick work this weekend from Tennessee’s new administration. There were ample rumors that Tennessee would take QB Will Levis at No. 11 if he was available. The Titans, smartly, did not panic and reach when he was. They instead accepted strong value at a position of need in OL Peter Skoronski, who I ranked as the class’ best offensive lineman.
Then, in Round 2, with Levis having plummeted down the board, the Titans got aggressive. Tennessee flipped No. 41, No. 72, and a 2024 third-rounder to Arizona for No. 32 (Levis) and No. 81. I wasn’t bullish on Levis – but for that price, he’s worth the dice roll on upside alone.
Could say the same, on a lesser scale, about OT Jaelyn Duncan. Duncan has all the tools to develop into a strong starting NFL offensive tackle – but he hasn’t put them together. At No. 186 in a shallow OT class, though? Easy call.
RB Tyjae Spears was one of my favorite prospects in the draft. Explosion like that doesn’t grow on trees. Spears is unfair in the open field. His cuts are so sudden, and his decisions are so resolute at high speeds that he discombobulates defenders. So long as his knees hold up, Spears will pose a problem to NFL defenses.
Andrew Erickson’s Overview & Grades
The Titans’ OL needed some fine-tuning after going under a massive overhaul at the start of the offseason. I like the fit of Peter Skoronski whether the Titans play him at guard or at tackle. Tennesse also addressed their glaring hole at quarterback by selecting Will Levis at the top of the second round. They traded up with Arizona for essentially the cost of a 2024 third-round pick. Great value for a quarterback, whether Levis hits or not. When a healthy Levis played in an NFL-style offense under former Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen in 2021, the Kentucky product finished as PFF’s 10th-highest-graded QB in the Power Five.
The Titans tied a bow on Day 2 with the selection of RB Tyjae Spears. Spears gives the Titans a solid backup option for Derrick Henry, but I’d be wary about his long-term prospects. He was projected to go higher than 83rd overall but fell because of worrisome issues concerning the health of his knees.
On Day 3, I was not a huge fan of the Titans drafting Jaelyn Duncan. Among the 2023 tackle class, no player allowed more blown pass blocks per game than Duncan. With 33″ inch arms (13th percentile) and pass protection issues, he might struggle.
FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B+
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