Tyler’s Take: Despite Need, Titans Should Avoid Wide Receiver in Round One

The Tennessee Titans biggest need may be at wide receiver, but based on the receivers available at the top of the draft, the Titans should pass on a pass catcher in round one of the 2023 NFL Draft.

NASHVILLE — I get it. The Titans desperately need a receiver. They currently sport the worst receiver room in the NFL. However, based on the draft class they have in front of them, they should not be fooled into taking a receiver in the first round.

I will confess I do like Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of Ohio State. He is the only receiver the Titans could take in round one where I would not roll my eyes in displeasure. I just don’t see players like Quentin Johnston, Jordan Addison or Zay Flowers as first-round talents. Not saying they won’t be taken in round one, but at pick number 11? That is certainly too high.

Jim Nagy, the director of the Senior Bowl, recently put out some information that only hammered home that feeling for me. Nagy stated that based on his calls around the NFL, teams are not nearly as high on the receivers in this class as some in the media are. Nagy also outlined how a lot of teams echoed what I mentioned earlier; there is only one first-talent in this draft at receiver.

One thing has become clear on calls around league past couple weeks: NFL isn’t nearly as high on this year’s WR class as media.

Frequently seeing 4-5 wideouts in mocks. Have spoken to numerous teams that have only one first round grade at the position. That guy is JSN.

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) April 10, 2023

This is something I have been thinking for over a month now and to see Nagy confirm that NFL teams are thinking similar is not a surprise. Receivers are flashy and fun to watch. It is easy to know when they are doing a good job which leads to more confident opinions on them than other positions. It also leads to an infatuation from fans. Fans want to draft someone they know and can see produce.

The reality here is that even though some of these receivers are fun to watch, they aren’t better options early in the draft than the offensive line or defensive talent. If the Titans draft purely for need and take a receiver, the odds are they are reaching and missing on a more talented prospect. Something they can’t afford to do.

The right thing here is to pass on receiver, find a good fit on day two of the draft and select a player worth it at pick 11. If these teams feel the way Nagy says they do, which I believe, then there will be a lot of good options at the position later in the draft. The Titans can attack at pick 41 or pick 72. Either way, going receiver at pick 11 is just not the right move with this year’s class.

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