QB was a consideration here, but the Titans did draft Malik Willis, who begins the season behind Ryan Tannehill. And if things go as expected, Willis will rarely, if ever, see the field in 2022. Instead, we have Tennessee bolstering its pass rush with Smith, who becomes the fourth Bulldog drafted in the top half of the first round.
Tennessee is suddenly hurting for some playmakers in the passing game. Gone is Jonnu Smith. Gone is AJ Brown. Gone is Julio Jones. And in their place? Well, you've got two rookies this year in TE Chig Okonkwo and WR Treylon Burks. And you've got Robert Woods, coming off a major injury. In adding Jordan Addison, the Titans get a separator in the passing game who can win one-on-ones as a route-runner. I'm not sure you can say that about either Okonkwo or Burks right now as players.
The Titans brought in Austin Hooper for one year to help fill the void of their receiving corps behind new wideouts. They should want to bump up the blocking and pass-catching big-time for either Ryan Tannehill or Malik Willis in 2023.
Mayer has led Notre Dame in receptions in each of his two seasons in South Bend. He has strong hands and body control to make contested catches, and is tough to bring down after the catch. Even though the Titans used a fourth-round pick in 2022 on Chigoziem Okonkwo, both Austin Hooper and Geoff Swaim will be free agents after the upcoming season. Mayer has plenty of experience playing in-line and is an asset as a blocker in the run game as well.
There was just not an offensive lineman here that made sense for the Titans. But the Titans love their bruisers on defense and Murphy is just the type of player who can push the pocket. He would give Tennessee another promising prospect for its front alongside Jeffery Simmons and Teair Tart, and he has the play style to complement a recently extended Harold Landry in pass-rushing situations. Drafting Murphy also would leave the Titans a one-for-one replacement should they decide to move on from Bud Dupree.
The Titans are a hard team to draft for. I feel like they'd be wise to address offensive line, but there are no players I like at this spot. They could look at linebacker, but they haven't shown to prioritize that position.
Instead, I'll give them Michael Mayer, the draft's clear-cut No. 1 tight end. Mayer is an outstanding route-runner who is a beast after the catch. Adding Mayer to an offense that consists of Derrick Henry and Treylon Burks would be a lot of fun.
Tight end is notoriously a position with a substantial learning curve in the NFL. However, I don't think that will be an issue for Michael Mayer.
Notre Dame's leading receiver over the last two seasons is ready-made for the pros. He's no Kyle Pitts, a generational receiver at the position, but Mayer can start inline from Day 1. He is a controlling blocker and a physically domineering pass catcher — there isn't much Mayer can't do.
The success of the Austin Hooper signing (one-year deal) and the development of rookie fourth-round pick Chigoziem Okonkwo could completely change the Titans' tight end outlook, but for now, Mayer would add another dimension to an offense that relies on the position. He is a willing blocker, but his greatest asset comes as a pass-catcher with plenty of run-after-catch ability. Mayer reminds me of former Ravens tight end Todd Heap.
