Ran Carthon and Brian Callahan discuss the Tennessee Titans’ primary NFL draft requirement.
As the NFL draft looms just days away, NFL general managers adopt a cautious, secretive approach akin to poker players in the midst of a high-stakes bluff. Every word is measured, every evaluation treated like a closely guarded secret. Even the slightest hint about a team’s draft intentions can render months of preparation futile.
Amidst this atmosphere of league-wide deception and ambiguity, Tennessee Titans GM Ran Carthon acknowledges one undeniable truth: “This game is about protecting the quarterback,” Carthon conceded to the media on Tuesday. “You want guys who can protect the quarterback.”
It’s no secret that the Titans are in dire need of a tackle. Last season, they allowed the worst pressure rate and the second-worst sack rate in the NFL. Yet, apart from potentially cutting Andre Dillard and making a low-cost trade for Cleveland Browns backup Leroy Watson, the Titans have made no significant moves this offseason to address their tackle positions.
As a result, it’s widely anticipated by a majority of NFL draft analysts that the Titans will use their No. 7 pick to bolster their offensive line when they’re on the clock Thursday. While Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is the consensus favorite, prospects like Penn State’s Olu Fashanu, Alabama’s J.C. Latham, and Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga are also in the mix.
“There’s some really talented, really fantastic kids in the class,” Titans coach Brian Callahan remarked. “That part when you bring them into the building is where you garner the most information about who they are and what they stand for. We want guys that align with our values as well. I think that all these guys do.”
However, there’s a challenge ahead. This NFL draft boasts an abundance of offensive line talent. Callahan believes there are starter-caliber prospects in every round, while Carthon feels that this offensive line class particularly suits the Titans’ scheme. With 18 tackles ranked among the consensus top-200 prospects, this class is the deepest since 2020, presenting both opportunity and difficulty in distinguishing top prospects.
Callahan and Carthon speak with the conviction that the Titans need a tackle, yet they refrain from openly discussing drafting one. Carthon offers vague explanations about trusting the draft board vertically and horizontally, emphasizing the importance of finding players who align with the team’s values and contribute to immediate success while also planning for future needs.
The draft board and scouting of other teams’ needs are finalized, leaving the Titans to await Thursday’s decisions after months of speculation and strategic maneuvering among NFL franchises.
