The 2023 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday evening, and nobody has a clue as to what will happen.
Sounds like a good time if you ask us!
And with the “where” and the “when” on each prospect so up in the air, we’ve decided to put together a comprehensive list of the “who” Tennessee should be interested in. Whether you’re a casual fan or a draft diehard, the following list of 70 players can be your rooting guide in each round as Ran Carthon and Mike Vrabel prepare to make the Titans’ next selection.
We’ve hand-picked 35 do draft and 35 don’t draft prospects at key positions of need in every round the Titans have a draft pick, explaining why or why not they should be interested in each player. If you’d rather listen to this guide, check out the episode of The Hot Read Podcast by the same title linked right here! For the most comprehensive guide, however, you’ll need to grab those reading glasses and dig into the rest of this article. Enjoy!
Quarterback
DO Draft:
C.J. Stroud | Ohio State
Freeze: C.J. Stroud is my QB2 in this class, and he’s easily the safest option among the top guys. Does he have the ceiling of Richardson or Young? Perhaps not. But is he the most likely to at least be a league-average starter? I think that he is. A safe floor paired with the upside he showed against Georgia in his final college game is enough to alleviate worries that he’ll be a disaster of a pick. If the Titans are compelled to move up in the draft to take him, I certainly won’t have a problem with it. Stroud possesses prototypical QB size, above-average athleticism, and is easily the best in his class in two important categories: he’s the most accurate, and he’s the most naturally gifted passer of the football. Hard to go wrong with that.
DON’T Draft:
Will Levis | Kentucky
Ruhnke: A player that many have written off entirely, Levis would be an incredibly unpopular selection. He would be best served sitting behind a veteran like Tannehill for a year, although his upside is vastly different than that of a prospect like Richardson. Daniel Jeremiah has compared Levis to Jay Cutler, as well as expressing concern that his build could result in injury issues much like Carson Wentz. Whether it’s a trade-up or at 11, Levis is not the guy for Tennessee.
DO Draft:
Anthony Richardson | Florida
Ruhnke: Richardson should be drafted as a project if the Titans were to move up in the first round to select him. The Titans would do well not to rush him into the league. His pocket presence and cannon arm make him a home run pick, yet his lack of experience could lower his initial ceiling. The most athletic QB the combine has ever seen, Richardson’s development under one more year of Tannehill would give him the tools and time he still needs to become a bonafide stud in the league.
DON’T Draft:
Hendon Hooker | Tennessee
Freeze: Am I surprised I’m having to say this? absolutely not. Am I disappointed? Extremely. Hooker is not just a poor choice at the 11th pick, he’s not worthy of a first-round pick anywhere for my money. Hooker deserves all the credit in the world for how he came into a Tennessee program, fought for the starting job, helped transform the culture, and would have been a Heisman candidate if not for his injury. That being said, it’s very easy to come up with a laundry list of reasons he’ll struggle to be more than a backup in the NFL: He’ll be 25 this year, is a mobile QB coming off of a recent ACL injury, played in the highest profile “fake/gimmicky/collegiate” offense in the nation, and only become a star once he was literally a man amongst boys. Sorry Volunteer fans, you shouldn’t want the Titans even considering Hooker in this draft.
Wide Receiver
DO Draft:
Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Ohio State
Ruhnke: The no-doubt WR1 in this draft, Smith-Njigba is the best route runner and has the best ball skills of the class. Despite Smith-Njigba’s injury concerns, the talent alone is worth the slight risk you’d run by drafting him at 11. When he’s fully healthy, we see performances like his record-setting Rose Bowl game in 2021. Smith-Njigba has the highest floor of all receivers in the class, and pairing him with Treylon Burks would take the Titans receiving core out from the basement of the league.
DON’T Draft:
Quentin Johnston | TCU
Freeze: There is a ton to like about Johnston on paper. He’s the only true X receiver body type in the upper tier of WRs in this class, and the measurements are enticing: 6’3″, 208lbs, and ran a 4.51 40-yard dash. On tape, Johnston’s best plays are some of the most electric you’ll find in this draft. He lacks consistency though, and regularly fails to use that big body to his advantage appropriately. His route running and ability to win at the catch point need work, and the Titans WR room already has their big fella in Treylon Burks locked down. Johnston would be a redundant and risky pick.
DO Draft:
Zay Flowers | Boston College
Freeze: The more I watch Zay Flowers, the more I think he could end up being the best receiver in this class. While his size is lacking at just 5’9″ and 182lbs, watch him play and you realize he is the type of smaller outlier who has worked in the NFL before (see: T.Y. Hilton, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Antonio Brown). Are those some borderline-irresponsible names to throw out for what Flowers could become? Probably. But they aid in helping convey just how dynamic and explosive he truly is. You won’t find a better pure separator in the class, and he’ll rival guys 4 inches taller than him when attacking the ball at the catch point (he got plenty of practice with the jump-ball factory that was the Boston College QB room…). Flowers had a borderline elite contested catch rate in 2022 (58.3%) and boasts 4.42 speed, which is wicked impressive at his size. Overall, Zay is a polished receiver that has the potential to work wonders in the slot and even as a flanker at the next level. If you’re looking to add versatile juice to your offense, he’s your guy.
DON’T Draft:
Jordan Addison | USC
Ruhnke: Jordan Addison has shown flashes….. mostly 2 years ago playing for Pitt. The receiver lacks the speed of a first-round guy, as well as having some injury concerns. The biggest red flag is on the outside, where he sported an abysmal 22.2% contested catch rate. There are most likely better options either at 11 or later in the draft for the Titans to find receiving talent.
Offensive Lineman
DO Draft:
Paris Johnson Jr. | Ohio State
Ruhnke: My #1 tackle in the draft, Paris Johnson Jr. would be the Titans’ foundational left tackle for the next 5 years and beyond. Johnson Jr. showed out at the combine, his pro day, and on tape. He gets off quicker than any lineman in the group, and has the character to become a leader instantly in this young lineman room.
DON’T Draft:
Darnell Wright | Tennessee
Freeze: This is a tough one because there has been so much to love about Wright all draft season long. From his performance at the combine, to his freaky measurables and athleticism, to how great he was on tape this past season; he’s still absolutely a round 1 tackle worthy of taking early. Two things stand out, however, that make him a poor fit for the Titans. First, Wright seems like somebody that will need to play right tackle in the NFL (but don’t tell him that online…). With the investment in RT Nicholas Petit-Frere being the only opportunity for o-line continuity from last season into next, I doubt Mike Vrabel & Co. are jonesing to take another RT highly in the draft with so much need elsewhere up front. Secondly, there have been some (anonymous!) scout reports come to light in recent weeks that indicate some football character concerns. A lot of it reads like a sore subject for this franchise, one Mr. Isaiah Wilson. Do I think Wright has Wilson-level bust potential? Not really. But if there’s a team that absolutely cannot afford to strike out on ANOTHER drafted tackle, everybody knows it’s the Titans.
DO Draft:
Peter Skoronski | Northwestern
Freeze: Skoronski is the most talented offensive lineman in the draft, and with that, very few disagree. The very large sticking point on him is where he’ll play in the NFL: Tackle or Guard. A phenomenal tackle in college, Skoronski allowed an incredible 1 sack, 2 hits, and 3 hurries all season long in 2022. over the course of his college career, he faced a number of edge rushers who are now already finding success in the NFL and dominating (see: Skoronski vs. Aidan Hutchinson). But his 32 1/4″ arms are severely below the traditional 34″ benchmark for OT length, which raises significant concerns about his ability to consistently win against insanely long NFL pass rushers on Sundays. I have maintained all year long that I believe Peter Skoronski deserves a chance on the outside in the NFL because the tape doesn’t lie, but his floor is what makes him a “DO Draft” player. Worst case, Peter is a day-1 starting guard with legitimate all-pro potential out of the gate. And for a GM looking to hit at least a double on their first-ever draft pick, Skoronski may be the best bet in the entire draft.
DON’T Draft:
Broderick Jones | Georgia
Ruhnke: I like Jones! But at 11, not so much. Broderick Jones still cements his spot in the top 5 tackles, after he allowed 0 sacks on 933 offensive snaps. He would be my ideal target if the Titans were to trade back into the later 1st round. Jones and another 2nd or 3rd round pick would be an A+ start to the draft for Tennessee in my book.
Wide Receiver
DO Draft:
Josh Downs | North Carolina
Ruhnke: This Wide Receiver class is small, but there are some very fluid route runners amongst the small guys. Enter: Josh Downs. Downs impressed at the combine and looked like a seasoned pro against air. His elite 92.1 PFF man coverage grade in 2022 and 19 touchdowns in the past 2 seasons are a good sign he’ll be able to produce right away at the next level. Downs would be a great slot guy to pair with Treylon Burks.
DON’T Draft:
Jalin Hyatt | Tennessee
Ruhnke: Hyatt is another receiver that’s small, and his route running is subpar. He brings speed to the table, ranking 2nd in the country in deep yards and found the endzone 15 times in 2022, but his usage in the gimmicky Volunteer offense was not comparable to any NFL scheme he’ll be playing in. It makes his tape hard to study, considering it’s almost all projection-based evaluation. There’s also reason to wonder if his size and build will translate to the NFL level. Overall, he’s a riskier bet to place.
DO Draft:
Cedric Tillman | Tennessee
Freeze: Tillman has one of the higher ceilings of any receiver in this draft, and in my opinion, his floor is significantly higher than his former teammate who overshadowed him in Knoxville this past fall. One of the only receivers with above-average size, Tillman’s 6’3″ 213lb frame provides a big target on intermediate routes, and his 4.54 speed is plenty fast to establish himself as an outside threat as well. How many times in recent drafts have we seen players whose penultimate college season was more reflective of their NFL ability than a disappointing or absent final college season? Many expect us to see it again at least once in this very draft with the consensus WR1 Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Well, Tillman battled injuries in 2022 and managed just 417 yards and 3 touchdowns, but in 2021 we saw him put up a 1000-yard season (1,081yds) with double-digit touchdowns (12TD) to boot. I’m willing to bet on getting that guy in the pros, and that guy can be a very high-end WR2 in the right system. He’d be a very nice complement to Treylon Burks on the outside and Kyle Philips on the inside.
DON’T Draft:
Jonathan Mingo | Ole Miss
Freeze: I Like Mingo! He’s one of the first mid-round receivers who caught my eye in the winter when Turron Davenport put me onto him. But do I like him in round 2? That’s a little too rich for my blood. While Mingo has often drawn half-hearted A.J. Brown comparisons, the similarities run thin quickly. Yes, they do look similar! Mingo comes in at nearly 6’2″ and 220lbs, and he ran a 4.46s 40-yard dash. Beyond the great size-speed combo, however, Jonathan leaves a good bit to be desired as a polished receiver. His average separation and route-running abilities, underwhelming track record against press coverage, and limited route tree make him a bit of a reach early in the 2nd.
Tight End
DO Draft:
Darnell Washington | Georgia
Ruhnke: If Washington were to be there at the 41st pick, it may be the steal of the draft. Washington has the best versatility of any Tight End not named Michael Mayer. I fear he may be gone by the end of the first round, but Washington would make the Titans’ tight end room one of the best and youngest in the league.
DON’T Draft:
Luke Musgrave | Oregon State
Freeze: Luke Musgrave is an easy pass for the Titans on injuries and role alone. When he is on the field, Musgrave is a highly-skilled receiving TE with elite route-running and sure-handedness, and he possesses adequate blocking ability to pair with it. But he’s not seen the field since Week 3 of the 2022 college season due to a pretty serious knee injury that has kept him from doing much even late into the pro day/draft season process. Tennessee needs players that can stay healthy, and they need a tight end that is a balanced blocking and receiving threat. At the end of the day, Musgrave doesn’t confidently check either box.
DO Draft:
Sam LaPorta | Iowa
Freeze: Sam LaPorta is generally considered the 5th best of the five top TE prospects in this year’s draft, but his “do it both” capabilities as both a receiver and a blocker make him well-worth 2nd-round consideration. The 2022 Big Ten TE of the Year wasn’t utilized a ton in the red zone, but don’t mistake that for limited receiving ability! Despite scoring only 5 touchdowns in his college career, LaPorta managed 1,786 yards on 153 receptions including back-to-back 600-yard receiving seasons the past two years. One of the best and most popular comparisons for him is if Austin Hooper had more blocking upside. That’s precisely what the Titans need, not to mention a particularly familiar style of play.
DON’T Draft:
Dalton Kincaid | Utah
Ruhnke: In a vacuum, the Kelce comparisons are fair. Kincaid does not show much in the run-blocking game, but who cares? He could be a stud (and discount!) receiving talent. His size at the position gives the team that drafts him the versatility to play Kincaid as a WR2 or WR3 at times. But with Chig Okonkwo on the roster, Kincaid is ultimately not a guy the Titans should pursue.
Offensive Lineman
DO Draft:
Cody Mauch | North Dakota State
Ruhnke: Mauch has maybe the most versatility of any lineman in the entire draft. He’s super athletic and would be able to play all over the line should you need him to, something the Titans could desperately use given their recent injury issues. His 91.2 PFF run block and 81.8 PFF pass block grades in 2022 would make him a great get in the 2nd.
DON’T Draft:
O’Cyrus Torrence | Florida
Freeze: I don’t actively dislike Torrence, I simply would take a number of other linemen who might be available in the 2nd round before him. On tape, he struggles at times when pulling or when faced with a stunt. Generally, his underwhelming athleticism and lack of versatility make him a lackluster option for Tennessee. His lumbering 6’5″ 330lb frame was very useful when it came to success in college, but simply getting in the way of defenders isn’t a winning recipe in the NFL. Every time I try to reevaluate him, I’m left feeling “blah”.
DO Draft:
Steve Avila | TCU
Freeze: A man who most closely resembles a bowling ball, Avila is a guard who is a whole lot to handle. at 6’3″ with a hulking 332lb build, he offers a versatile scheme fit and will be an immediate starter in the NFL. Avila didn’t give up a single sack in his 2022 season, and it wasn’t for lack of playing: He led the team in snaps with 1,020, never missing a game at TCU. His impressive anchor, particularly in the run game, makes him a great fit should the Titans choose to take him. A bonus fact I simply had to include: his given first name is actually Esteban.
DON’T Draft:
Dawand Jones | Ohio State
Ruhnke: Stoney Keeley over at the SoBros Network said it best: Dawand Jones’ comp is “Dawandre The Giant”. At 6’8’’ and 374 pounds, Jones is a mammoth of a man. He’s a powerful mover, but sometimes lacks quickness and balance because of it. Not to mention it would require a reworking of the line to let Jones truly thrive at the right tackle position.
Defender
DO Draft:
Emmanuel Forbes | Mississippi State
Freeze: The only knock of significance on Emmanuel Forbes is the unfortunate fact that he is a 2-dimensional person. At 6’0″ with a mere 166lbs of muscle on his frame, the guy looks like a freaky athletic version of Flat Stanley. Aside from the outlier weight, however, Forbes is a ball-production machine in the secondary. He set an FBS record with an eye-watering 6 of his 14 total interceptions taken back for touchdowns, with 35 passed defended and 149 career tackles to boot. Mentally, the processing speed is above average. This guy will be ready to go on day 1 competing for a starting job in the NFL as long as he can avoid being turned into Origami.
DON’T Draft:
Tuli Tuipulotu | USC
Ruhnke: The USC defensive lineman has some upside to his game. He’s a fluid rusher and is solid in both the pass rush and run-stopping game. His 31.4% missed tackle rate does cause concern for me, especially on a team that already struggles in that department.
DO Draft:
B.J. Ojulari | LSU
Ruhnke: Ojulari is an EDGE player that has an excess arsenal of moves at his disposal. The run-stopping portion of his game is a problem though, posting a 4.5% run-stop rate. His 18.9% pass rush win rate in 2022, however, would pair very nicely next to elite run stuffers like Landry, Simmons, and Tart; and could improve being around those players.
DON’T Draft:
Trenton Simpson | Clemson
Freeze: Simpson is on the negative side of the coin here less because of how he projects as a player and more because of what the Titans need. If Tennessee goes defender in the first three rounds, there is simply no excuse in my mind for it to be a linebacker. The only reason Simpson goes to a team like Tennessee this high is because of his fantastic measurables: 6’2″, 235lbs, 4.43s 40-yard dash, and great athleticism demonstrated by his high-percentile grades in the broad jump, vertical jump, short shuttle, and 3-cone drills. Simpson is a combine nut’s dream, and it’s the reason he’ll be drafted early. Some teams could even convince themselves this is a guy they could mold into their own version of Micah Parsons. That’s a gamble that makes zero sense for this Titans team.
Wide Receiver
DO Draft:
Tyler Scott | Cincinnati
Freeze: The common upside comparison for Tyler Scott is Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett, and that’s something the Titans could absolutely get behind. Unlike many who play one more season in college after losing their star QB to the NFL, Scott dramatically improved his production in 2022 after Desmond Ridder became a pro. His 899yd, 9TD season last year was his true breakout and the reason many consider him a prospect that could slip into the 2nd round. If he’s still there in the 3rd, you run that card up.
DON’T Draft:
Kayshon Boutte | LSU
Ruhnke: Boutte was a highly touted prospect going into the 2022 season. Since then, his stock has plummeted due to a very poor showing. His 59.6 PFF man coverage grade and 12.7% drop rate reflect just how often Boutte was losing a lot of battles against good SEC competition. Boutte then came to the combine and underwhelmed, continuing to drop a lot of balls. If the Titans want NFL-ready receivers, Boutte isn’t one of them.
DO Draft:
A.T. Perry | Wake Forest
Ruhnke: A.T. Perry would be a home run pick for the Titans in the 3rd round. One of the only bigger-bodied players in this draft, Perry can be an impact player from day 1 in the right situation. His 78.5 PFF man-coverage grade and 11 TDs in 2022 were among the best in the ACC. Perry’s 6’3’’ height and 4.47s 40-yard dash would make him an excellent compliment to Treylon Burks.
DON’T Draft:
Tank Dell | Houston
Freeze: Nathaniel “Tank” Dell possesses an unfortunate combination of traits: small and unathletic. His defenders will say he makes up for it with his fantastic route-running polish and separation ability, but at 5’8″ and 165lbs, betting on his success in the NFL is betting on a real outlier. While I’m willing to make that bet with some, they need to have something that wows me. Incredible testing, fantastic tape, a particular trait you can rally behind… and what Dell shows me on tape and in his testing doesn’t reach that bar. There are too many other receivers that will be available here to justify that gamble.
Tight End
DO Draft:
Luke Schoonmaker | Michigan
Freeze: Luke Schoonmaker is perhaps the closest to what I suspect the Titans are looking for at TE right now: incredibly well-rounded as a receiver and as a blocker, an impressive size-speed-strenth combo, and while not exceptional in any one area, he manages to be above average everywhere. That reads like a very steady and safe TE2 in the NFL, which is precisely who Tennessee should be looking to pair with the receiving talents of Chig Okonkwo.
DON’T Draft:
Brenton Strange | Penn State
Freeze: Strange is a… well, a strange one. On tape, he doesn’t flash as a particularly good blocker or pass catcher. His 4.70s 40-yard dash isn’t notable, and his 31 1/8″ arms present a real length problem. What makes him a top-10 TE according to many is his athletic profile and the details on tape. You can see a lot of functional athleticism and “want-to” on his film, and some high profile evaluators are anticipating a better pro career than a college one. At the end of the day, not the kind of player I’d be looking to draft this highly.
DO Draft:
Zack Kuntz | Old Dominion
Ruhnke: Kuntz is another athletic tight-end prospect. His 4.55s 40 time, 6.87s 3-cone, and 4.12s short shuttle are all in the 90th percentile for Tight Ends. Kuntz doesn’t have the route running ability of some of the top tight ends in the class, but he does have pass-catching and blocking versatility that could round out the Titans’ TE room.
DON’T Draft:
Josh Whyle | Cincinnati
Ruhnke: Whyle is a great run blocker, posting a 69.5 PFF run-blocking grade in 2022, but the pass-catching ability is suspect. Whyle had a 28.6% contested catch rate. The Titans do not need two Geoff Swaim’s.
Offensive Lineman
DO Draft:
Blake Freeland | BYU
Ruhnke: How about a Lineman that can jump higher than AJ Brown, Stefon Diggs, and Deandre Hopkins? Freeland is an athletic freak, and excels in the run game, posting an elite 87.3 PFF run-blocking grade in 2022. He struggled at the senior bowl, which the Titans have taken very seriously in the past, but Freeland could be a project that pays dividends later down the road.
DON’T Draft:
Andrew Vorhees | USC
Ruhnke: Vorhees was a very intriguing prospect before his unfortunate ACL tear at the NFL Combine. He will be a luxury pick for some team, but not worth one of the Titans’ precious-few selections.
DO Draft:
Chandler Zavala | NC State
Freeze: The only notable thing about Zavala worth listing as a “con” is his medical history. He had a knee injury entering his redshirt season (2017) and then missed the final 7 games of the 2021 season with a back injury that required surgery. Understandably, that’s more than enough to turn Titan’s fans away. But let’s assume every team in the league had their doctors check him out and gave the thumbs up (if he’s drafted where he’s expected to be, that’s a good indication the league approves of his medicals). If he stays healthy in the NFL, Zavala has everything you want in a pro-ready interior lineman: Size, strength, speed, movement skills, violent play style, and football IQ. It’s truly all there. So while it would be a risk, it’s a risk the tape is begging you to take.
DON’T Draft:
Ryan Hayes | Michigan
Freeze: Hayes transitioned from TE to OL in his redshirt 2018 season at Michigan, and of course that meant putting an extra 50 lbs onto his frame out of high school. His 6’6″, 298lb build is plenty big to be a serviceable interior blocker, but his play strength more closely resembles that of a TE than a lineman. Unless he gets a whole lot stronger, I don’t see much of an NFL future beyond a backup role.
Defender
DO Draft:
Tyrique Stevenson | Miami
Ruhnke: After transferring from Georgia, Stevenson went on to be a consistent and physical corner at the University of Miami. At 6’0’’ and 198lbs, the Titans could look to bring in a corner who won’t give up the big plays that have cost them in the past.
DON’T Draft:
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson | TCU
Freeze: This is among the easiest “DON’T Draft” players on this list to justify: Tre is just so small. at 5’7″, 178lbs, and 29″ arms, Tre Tomlinson’s size will keep him off of a number of NFL big boards altogether. His 4.41s 40-yard dash is pretty crazy considering his height. That fantastic speed and short-area quickness, as well as his processing ability, will be what ultimately gets him drafted somewhere. But when you’re that size, meaning your versatility is incredibly limited, it’s easy to see why many teams will be out on him.
DO Draft:
Darius Rush | South Carolina
Freeze: What Rush lacks in tackling and off-coverage ability he makes up for with fantastic fluidity, length, and speed. On the more developmental side of things, Rush has the traits you’re looking for in a starting man corner: 6’2″, 198lbs, and a 4.36s 40-yard dash. The college receiver-turned-corner has no serious injury history and in theory has a ceiling much higher than he ever sniffed in college, seeing as he’s so new to the position.
DON’T Draft:
ANY SAFETY
Ruhnke: This Safety class is the most shallow group in the bunch. If the Titans were to take one before the 5th round, they better be right about him. After the 5th… pass.
Wide Receiver
DO Draft:
Puka Nacua | BYU
Ruhnke: This is Zach Lyons’ boy so I better do him right…. Nacua impressed many at the Senior Bowl, and then continued to stand out in a weaker Combine class. The BYU product is a taller player at 6’2”, and had an elite 89.8 PFF grade in 2022. There’s enough there to take a flier on him in the later rounds.
DON’T Draft:
Rakim Jarrett | Maryland
Freeze: With decent size and a 4.44s 40-yard dash, Jarrett has the speed and burst to intruige a team on day 3. What makes him a no-go is just how unpolished some elements of him game are on tape; he’s a mediocre route-runner, has poor mechanics and rhythm, is not a proven contested catch winner, and had too many drops just to name a few. Whoever decides to take Rakim will have to be very patient as he develops.
DO Draft:
Andrei Iosivas | Princeton
Freeze: Iosivas is among the more polarizing players expected to go on day 3, and I suspect part of that is due to just how hard it is to evaluate him. Turns out, Princeton football tape is harder to get your hands on than most! Because of that, I think many may be box-score-scouting him out of necessity. As one of the final vestiges of WR size in this class (6’3″, 205lbs), Andrei is far from the most complete receiver from a skills standpoint. But that size paired with a 4.43s 40-yard dash makes him a vertical threat worth taking a shot with.
DON’T Draft:
Grant DuBose | Charlotte
Ruhnke: The WR out of Charlotte may have the size that this class lacks, but he doesn’t use it very effectively. Dubose’s contested catch rate was an average 44.8%, not what you want from a receiver with that frame. He’ll certainly be a big project.
Tight End
DO Draft:
Payne Durham | Purdue
Freeze: Durham has easily become the most talked-about day 3 TE in the class since he attended the Senior Bowl in February and impressed many. While he won’t be a massive receiving threat against the better defenders in coverage, his 6’5″ 253lb frame provides a big target that has proven to be a difficult tackle once he has the ball in his hands. A true “do it both” tight end in the 5th round that has serious starter upside in an NFL offense? Sign me up.
DON’T Draft:
Cameron Latu | Alabama
Ruhnke: An Alabama tight end that has Bryce Young throwing him the ball and is surrounded by sub-par receivers should excel… right? Latu didn’t manage to be a real element of the passing game for the Tide last year, only scoring 4 TDs. His below-average PFF run block grade of 50.0 seals the deal, he’s not a player for Tennessee to consider.
Offensive Lineman
DO Draft:
Braeden Daniels | Utah
Freeze: Daniels has a good interior lineman frame and really impressive athleticism on tape that makes him a no-brainer flyer you take on day 3. Frankly, I’m not sure there is a lineman with better starter upside who could be available this late than Braeden Daniels. With college experience at multiple positions, his versatility is an added plus.
DON’T Draft:
Jordan McFadden | Clemson
Ruhnke: McFadden possesses a lot of traits to like. He had an excellent 78.7 PFF pass grade in 2022. But much like the rest of this Clemson team, some of his worst games came against the (rare) better competition in the ACC. It worries me how his game may translate to the next level.
Defender
DO Draft:
Dante Stills | West Virginia
Freeze: Will Stills ever become a three-down pass rusher in the NFL? Probably not. Could he be a nasty rotational peice for a team that makes opponents wish they had that kind of juice at a depth position? Absolutely. At 286lbs with 32 3/8″ arms, he simply lacks the size, length and play-strength to be a starting interior rusher. But with 52.5 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks on his college statsheet, he’s proven he can be an invaluable part of a great defensive front rotation.
DON’T Draft:
Kei’Trel Clark | Louisville
Ruhnke: Clark was a big name at the Shrine Bowl, and he has shot up many analyst boards. But his play in 2022 is questionable, allowing career-high receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Combined with his height, I am out on Clark.
Wide Receiver
DO Draft:
Tre Tucker | Cincinnati
Ruhnke: Tucker is one of the more intriguing late-round options at receiver. What he lacks in his 5’9” size, he makes up for with his speed. Tucker had an impressive and consistent 4.4s 40 time. He also ranked 36th in the country in slot yards in 2022 to pair with his 3 TDs. He’s got the speed you’re looking to add late and could be worth a flier on day 3.
DON’T Draft:
Matt Landers | Arkansas
Freeze: Matt Landers is a trap you’d be wise to avoid. At 6’4″, 200lbs, and posessing 4.37s 40-yard dash speed, he seems like a potential diamond in the rough late in the draft. Go beyond the surface, however, and you find nothing beyond his size and speed that typically translates to NFL success. Landers will be 24 this year, lacks versatility as a blocker or special teams contributor, fails to impress on tape beyond runaway routes, and has reportedly battled confidence and maturity issues in his time at Arkansas.
Tight End
DO Draft:
Noah Gindorff | North Dakota State
Ruhnke: From the draft factory that is NDSU, Noah Gindorff has had a rough 18 months. Injuring his ankle in 2021, Gindorff attempted to come back in 2022. He played 3 games, totaling 6 catches for 74 yards and a score. His pass-catching ambiguity intrigues me and might be worth a flier. Perhaps his college injury luck kept us from seeing what he’s truly capable of as an athlete.
DON’T Draft:
Daniel Barker | Michigan State
Freeze: If you’re looking for a project TE with primarily receiving ability, Barker offers a good bit to like: route running, athleticism, and sure-handedness are all positive attributes of his. This isn’t what the Titans are in the market for, however, and his poor blocking ability makes him a bad fit.
Offensive Line
DO Draft:
Sidy Sow | Eastern Michigan
Freeze: If you’re going to hunt down tape on a late-round lineman, make it Sidy Sow. This guy has really impressive play strength and movement ability, and his measurements (6’4″, 323lbs, 33 5/8″ arms) are big and long enough to be a legitimate swing tackle in the NFL.
DON’T Draft:
Caleb Chandler | Louisville
Ruhnke: Chandler had a great 2021, but fell off during his 2022 season. As his play declined, so did his draft stock. Chandler isn’t a guy who would be ready to rotate into the mix, even at a depth position, as he posted a less-than-ideal 56.8 PFF run block grade in 2022.
Defender
DO Draft:
Yasir Abdulluh | Louisville
Freeze: Abdullah was the leading pass rusher for Louisville the past two seasons, racking up 32 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks. Despite this success, his 6’0″ 237lb frame will likely make him a better off-ball LB in the NFL. I don’t expect that anticipated shift to make him any worse, though, and I’d bet the team that drafts him will be using him as a pass-rush specialist in certain packages.
DON’T Draft:
D.J. Johnson | Oregon
Ruhnke: Johnson had an impressive year for the Ducks, totaling 5 sacks and 21 hurries in 2022. The main problem is his age: At 24 years old, he doesn’t have the elite traits or size to be considered a project. He isn’t worth a late-round swing in my opinion.
Wide Receiver
DO Draft:
Jalen Wayne | South Alabama
Ruhnke: The 6’2’’ Senior had quite the productive year at South Alabama. He racked up 57 receptions for 812 yards and 9 touchdowns, all career highs. His 4.51s 40 time paired with that production makes him worth a 7th-round pick. Being related to Reggie Wayne doesn’t hurt his intrigue factor either.
DON’T Draft:
Justin Shorter | Florida
Freeze: Justin Shorter is the round 7 version of the round 6 “trap prospect” we discussed above, Matt Landers. With very similar surface-level reasons to like him (6’4″, 229lbs, 4.55s 40-yard dash) and very similar deeper reasons to dislike him (one-trick-pony, under-developed route runner), Shorter is an easy stay-away player in my book. In 3 seasons at Florida he never managed a 600 yard season. Oh, and when people reference QB Anthony Richardson’s poor completion percentage… Shorter had a pretty significant negative impact on that number.
Tight End
DO Draft:
Johnny Lumpkin | Louisiana
Freeze: Aside from having my favorite name on this list, Lumpkin has a pair of attractive traits that warrent a last-minute draft flier on him: blocking and red-zone prowess. At 6’5″ and 264lbs with seriously impressive 35 1/4″ arms, he’s plenty long and strong enough to be a pseudo-lineman in the run blocking game in particular. Then in the redzone, that massive wingspan provides a large target that can win in short-yardage situations.
DON’T Draft:
Princeton Fant | Tennessee
Freeze: Fant lacks a lot on the strength and skills front when it comes to blocking, which makes him a poor candidate for the Titans similar to many before him on this list. His versatility in the passing game and as a special teams contributor will likely get him a spot in somebody’s camp, but he’s not for Tennessee.
Offensive Line
DO Draft:
Earl Bostick Jr. | Kansas
Ruhnke: At first glance, Bostick’s 2022 season wasn’t the most impressive. He struggled as a run blocker but held his own in the passing game as the Jayhawks enjoyed their first successful season in a long time. His size is worth the look, however, coming in at 6’6’’ and 309 pounds, Bostick stood out to me as the “best of the rest” in a lot of drills in Indianapolis. He is worth a late-round pick or being signed as a UDFA.
DON’T Draft:
Alex Palczewski | Illinois
Freeze: Alex is a fine prospect with a lot of football under his belt, having played 6 seasons in college. He has a standard-issue interior lineman frame with good length, which could mean he becomes a swing tackle as a pro if he lands in the right spot. But his age (he’ll be 24 in August), balance issues and general lack of polish make him a pass. There are too many other players worth a flier at this stage in the draft with more impressive traits to bet on.
Defender
DO Draft:
Arquon Bush | Cincinnati
Freeze: Bush flashes with some impressive performances on tape, such as how he performed against SMU’s Rashee Rice. Inconsistency was a common theme for him this past season, though, as he was adjusting to being moved to the outside. He’s rough around the edges, but his ball skills (9 interceptions in college), versatile background, and speed (4.42s 40-yard dash) make him worth a roll of the dice.
DON’T Draft:
Cameron Brown | Ohio State
Ruhnke: Hailing from Ohio State, Brown had an average 2022 season and doesn’t show much to indicate he’ll make it at the NFL level. Brown only forced 5 incompletions while appearing in 7 games in 2022. His subpar speed and inability to read routes makes him less-than enticing as a late day 3 pick.
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