The Tennessee Titans currently possess the eleventh overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and have some questionable projected starters on this list. They are hungry to find their quarterback of the future and have been linked to trade talks involving the Arizona Cardinals and the 3rd overall pick. Long-time QB Ryan Tannehill’s injury history and age are factors that may lead the Titans to draft his heir apparent.

The Titans may also elect to use their first-round pick to start the rebuild of their offensive line, which appears to be losing three starters from the 2022 season. All of the turnover of this roster make this projected starters list a tough one to make. Plenty of unproven players will be starting for the Titans this season, and there is an opportunity to find some will-be starters in the draft.

Quarterback

Titans Projected Starters: Ryan Tannehill

Titans QB Ryan Tannehill (17) – Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Ryan Tannehill/Highly Drafted QB

With the eleventh overall pick, it may be difficult for the Titans to claim a prospect that has the ability to supplant Tannehill. This is the main reason why the Titans are looking to trade with the Cardinals for the third overall pick. Securing a trade-up would assure the Titans of a top-three quarterback prospect. By compiling the latest draft buzz and rumors, they would likely choose between former Florida Gator Anthony Richardson and Former Kentucky Wildcat Will Levis.

If Arizona and Tennesse cannot find common ground on a trade, or if the Indianapolis Colts see a true gap between Richardson and Levis, the Titans would likely make their selection at eleven and not select a quarterback. This would leave Tannehill and Malik Willis in a competition for the starting spot

Willis started three games and found the field in five others. Over 50% of his snaps (108/211), Willis handed the ball off to the running back and became a theoretical run blocker. The level of trust the Titans had in him was low, and that was obvious. Willis’s ball security was the most troubling part of his game in 2022. He fumbled the ball three times on 19 rushing attempts and threw three interceptions on 61 pass attempts.

Even though Tannehill will be 35 by the start of the season, he is battling some nagging injuries; he looks like he will win the starting job and is the first of the names on this projected starters list.

Offensive Line

LT Andre Dillard, LG Daniel Brunskill, C Aaron Brewer, RG Dillon Radunz, RT Nicholas Petit-Frere

If the Titans cannot secure the third overall pick, then it is likely that they will use the eleventh pick to fill one of the multiple holes on their offensive line. The team is bringing back two of their five starting offensive linemen from 2022, and that puts center Aaron Brewer and right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere as the first two sure names locked onto this projected starters list.

The eleventh pick likely gives the Titans a chance to select the first offensive lineman off the board; they can get their guy. That may be the consensus top lineman, Peter Skoronski, out of Northwestern. But some NFL minds may not consider him a true tackle, so he may be transitioned to guard at the next level, and not many teams take guards in the first round.

The Titans also possess the 41st and 72nd overall picks; one or both of these could be used on offensive linemen. The Titans could target tackles such as Darnell Wright or Matthew Bergeron with these later picks. Or if they are looking for guards, then they may target Cody Mauch (if he makes it that far) or Andrew Vorhees, whose stock dropped immensely after tearing his ACL.

You would have to wait a year to see what you got in Vorhees, but the Titans are already stuck with at least one of their linemen in Dillard, Brunskill, and Radunz. This could mean that this year is a complete wash, at least with the O-line.

Running Back

Titans Projected Starters: Derrick Henry

Titans RB Derrick Henry (22) – Elaine Thompson/AP Photo

Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry was reportedly on the trading block one month ago and is yet to find a new team. Bill Barnwell of ESPN mentioned Henry in an article as a replacement for Ezekiel Elliott after a theoretical release of Henry. Then the internet did what it does and spread that word as if it were true. There is a good chance that Elliot will reunite with the Cowboys after he gained little interest in the open market.

Yes, the Titans should probably look to move on from Henry and just start off into a larger-scale rebuild. But Henry has sacrificed his body throughout his career for the Titans. He deserves to play out his contract, and as of now, it looks like he’ll be the starting running back and make it on this projected starters list.

Tight End

Chigoziem Okonkow

Chigoziem Okonkow started seven games in his rookie season, per Pro Football Focus. He caught 31 of his 45 targets with only three drops. His best game came in Week 14 against the Jaguars; he caught all six of his targets, including one of his three touchdowns of the year. Okonkow struggled at times to be a formidable run blocker. This tends to be a problem with pass-catching tight ends early in their career, but Okonkow showed some flashes of play where he was able to hold his own, and help lay the groundwork for a solid run game. There is a lot of hope surrounding him and his potential.

Wide Receiver

Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Philips

This group of projected starters is young. Treyon Burks (23), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (26), and Kyle Philips (23) have five seasons combined under their belts. That’s not to say that they can’t be competent. With the addition of some vets, these three should be able to carry the bulk of the needs here. If the Titans back some FAs, they may be okay. The group seems to have the least problems on this projected starters list.

This all pivots on one thing. Burks needs to stay healthy and have a breakout sophomore campaign. After trading away A.J. Brown, the Titans put their chips on Burkes, and he’s going to need to be great to keep this team afloat.

Defensive Line

Titans Projected Starters: Jeffery Simmons - Defiant Takes Football

Titans DT Jeffery Simmons (98) – Will Newton/Getty Images

DE Denico Autry, NT Teair Tart, DT Jeffery Simmons

On paper, this is the best unit on the team. Denico Autry and Jeffery Simmons received the highest season grades among Titans defenders from PFF (82.2 and 81.1, respectively). Teair Tart had the sixth-highest grade at 73.1. The three players totaled 18 sacks and kept this team’s hope alive for so long last season. With the right edge support, this trio could be absolutely devastating with the right edge help. One of our next projected starters’ return may be the solution.

Linebackers

LOLB Harold Landry III, ROLB Arden Key, LILB Monty Rice, RILB Azeez Al-Shaair

Harold Landry III missed the entirety of the 2022 season after suffering an ACL injury at the end of 2021. Landry’s return could bring the edge pressure to elevate the rest of the projected starters on the defensive line. Landry led the Titans in sacks (16), and quarterback hits (12) in 2021.

The other linebacker who I project to start alongside Landry is Arden Key, who was acquired in free agency. In 2022, Key had the best season of his career for a fellow AFC South franchise, the Jacksonville Jaguars. He posted a career-high in total pressures (51) and hurries (33) and added five sacks as well.

Monty Rice and Azeez Al-Shaair are this list’s next projected starters. Ric. Al-Shaair was one of the multiple 49ers defenders who were snatched up by opposing teams this offseason. He started twelve games last season, including San Francisco’s three playoff games. He looks to play much better in limited snaps, so look for the Titans to rotate him in and out of the lineup.

Rice was a solid contributor in the second half of the season. He totaled 45 tackles on 366 snaps. Rice was an above-average run defender as well. Where he lacked was in coverage. He should be able to contribute to the defense again in the 2023 season.

Safety

SS Kevin Byard, FS Amani Hooker

This group of projected starters has an argument to be the best on the team, but safties only have a small effect on the game as a whole. Kevin Byard has been a staple of this Titans’ defense for seven seasons and should have a lot of his career ahead of him. Byard lines up all over the formation and is productive wherever he lands.

This offseason, the team approached Byard regarding a possible contract restructuring that included a pay cut, as Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reported. Byard may hold some animosity toward the team, but as a professional, I imagine he would not allow this to affect his level of play.

The second player of our two projected starters in this part of the secondary has a lot of injury history, but when healthy, he can be a difference-maker. Amani Hooker has the ability to make big plays and shut down the high side of the field. But he has to be healthy to do those things. Hooker will be 25 by the start of the season, so there is time for his career to rebound.

Cornerback

Roger McCreary, Kristian Fulton

Rodger McCreary had a solid rookie season. McCreary was tested during his first season. He defended a total of 91 passes, which tied for the fourth most defended this season. He allowed 63 receptions, with seven of them going for touchdowns. McCreary totaled six pass breakups and snagged one interception. He had a solid season in coverage and can build on it to become a shutdown corner.

McCreary also played a large part in the run defense, leading the team with 376 snaps. He only had eleven tackles, but seven stopped the runner within two yards of the line of scrimmage, resulting in what Pro Football Focus designates as a “run stop.” McCreary has the skill and athleticism to turn into a slid CB1.

Kristian Fulton allowed a reception percentage of 56.9% on 455 snaps in coverage. He broke up two passes and intercepted one. Fulton had a solid season defending passes but excelled in his limited snaps on run defense. On 195 snaps, Fulton had nine tackles, with five of them stopping the runner. He was also able to force a fumble in the season opener. These two CBs are under 25 years old and could use a veteran presence in their locker room, but the future is bright for these projected starters.

AFC South Pre-Draft Projected Starters

Pre-Draft Projected Starters: 2023 Indianapolis Colts

Pre-Draft Projected Starters: 2023 Houston Texans – Matthew Brown