Late Round Gems: Guards the Titans Could Target on Day 3 of 2023 NFL Draft

The Tennessee Titans have one obvious hole on their starting offensive line and if they choose to fill it during the draft, there are a few smart options that could be available on the third day of the process.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans will need to add offensive linemen in the NFL draft and while the expectation is for the Titans to hunt linemen early, there is a chance they wait until later in the draft to add one. The Titans also have a gaping hole at the left guard spot based off an early projected starting lineup that has Andre Dillard at left tackle, Aaron Brewer at center, Daniel Brunskill at right guard and Nicholas Petit-Frere at right tackle. If the Titans want to try to fill that open spot at left guard, here are some late round options who could fit the bill and what Sports Illustrated’s Draft Bible had to say about each prospect.

Anthony Bradford, LSU

“In terms of size, guards don’t get much bigger than Bradford. He has a thick lower half, to go along with an enormous upper body. Bradford is going to be a power gap scheme guard only. His strengths start with his size. That is by far his best trait. A lot of Bradford’s flaws are mitigated by how hard it is to get around him. His size saved him from giving up a lot of pressure. In very condensed spaces, Bradford has good enough foot speed for his size. In terms of his motor, Bradford looks out of shape and his play can get lazy at times. Over the course of the game, his pad level will get too high and his hand placement will get reckless. Bradford has a tendency to overset and play with his head too far forward, causing him to lose his balance. For a player of his size, he isn’t an impactful run blocker. His hands get too wide and because he plays high, Bradford consistently lost the leverage battle. He had a tough time with smaller defensive tackles, who could uproot him and then shed his block. On the move, Bradford is really slow and struggles to get to his landmarks. He’d be a liability if asked to do anything more than block in a phone booth at the next level. Overall, Bradford has size and SEC experience but there is a lot of work that needs to happen for him to develop into a backup. His traits just aren’t good enough to make up for his lack of technique and consistency.”

Emil Ekiyor, Alabama

“Agile right guard who has positional versatility to play all three positions on the interior. Ekiyor plays at a low pad level, allowing him to operate with a low center of gravity and win the leverage battle. Opponents are rarely able to get underneath him. He is capable of blocking on the move, showing the footwork required to pull and locating opponents reliably. In pass protection, he can mirror rushers using his foot speed and lateral agility. Ekiyor has pop in his hands, finishing smaller defenders. He recognizes and picks up blitzes from the second level. A lack of functional strength limits his game and given his frame is filled out, it will be difficult to add muscle. Ekiyor is unable to drive defensive linemen out of their gaps. He does not sustain leverage, as opponents are able to overpower him. In pass protection, Ekyior does not anchor consistently and frequently gets outreached by defenders, showing a lack of length. When rushers counter, he does not have the strength to shut them down. His pass sets need to be cleaned up as he looks uncomfortable moving backward. A versatile interior offensive lineman who can play all three spots on the interior. Ekyior possesses agility and athleticism desired by zone teams. He can be used on the move with his movement skills and ability to locate opponents. A lack of strength limits most phases of his game, not creating movement upfront and being a power rush target. Ekiyor projects as a potential backup at any or all three interior positions for a zone running team, to take advantage of his mobility. If forced into action, he will have to be given considerable help in pass protection and cannot be relied upon to open running lanes.”

McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga

“Curtis primarily started at right guard for the Mocs, but he also has some experience at left guard and started several games at left tackle in 2022. The sixth-year redshirt senior has elite physical tools with arms expected to reach roughly 35 inches. With his massive, powerful frame, Curtis has the build of an imposing tackle. However, he’ll likely play guard at the next level. Besides his rare arm length and wingspan, Curtis has impressive core and upper body strength to torque and seal defenders. His anchor is sturdy enough to deaden power rushes. As a run blocker, the former two-star recruit offers terrific power and accuracy as a pulling guard. Curtis usually lands blocks as a puller because of his natural feel for angles. He has enough mobility for pulling duties. Curtis’ leg drive displaces defensive linemen downfield, and there are plenty of examples of him finishing defenders to the ground. Most importantly, the Tennessee native didn’t look overwhelmed or out of place when Chattanooga played Kentucky (2021) and Illinois (2022). Curtis appeared on Bruce Feldman’s 2022 Freaks List for The Athletic. Per Feldman, the hulking offensive lineman deadlifts 775 lbs. and power cleans 345 lbs. His body fat was at 23.7% over the summer. Despite being an older college prospect, Curtis doesn’t display a natural feel for his role. He allows linemen into his chest, frequently plays with an elevated pad level, looks uncomfortable with his footwork, and consistently places his hands too low on defenders. His clamp strength must improve to sustain blocks and protect his shoulders, which are too soft and easy to win. Curtis is a plodder in the open field, and his feet look heavy. Speed rushers beat him across his face. Curtis lacks the agility to mirror defenders and can’t recover with his athleticism after being beaten off the snap. He lacks the speed, agility, and footwork to operate on an island at tackle. Curtis’ heavy feet lead to a slow and labored kick slide. His lack of balance leads to a lot of time spent on the ground. The All-Southern Conference selection becomes off-balance and top-heavy as a run blocker, which allows his man to slip past. Curtis is still learning how to maximize his arm length. His spatial awareness is below average, and he’s frequently late to identify and respond to stunts. While Curtis rose to the occasion against Kentucky and Illinois, he doesn’t consistently generate significant displacement against a lesser-level competition.”

Titans Related Stories

DUPREE JOINS FALCONS: The Tennessee Titans released Bud Dupree earlier this offseason and now the ex-Titans’ edge rusher is joining the Atlanta Falcons at a much lower salary than what he was set to make with the Titans. CLICK HERE

WR HELP WANTED: The Tennessee Titans may attack wide receiver on the first day of the NFL draft, but if they wait until day two, there will be some fantastic options they should target at the position. CLICK HERE

FIRST ROUND PASS RUSH: The Tennessee Titans could be aiming to bolster their pass rush group with their first-round pick according to recent buzz from ESPN’s draft analyst Matt Miller. Something that would be quite the surprise. CLICK HERE