The Tennessee Titans made waves Wednesday when they announced the release of veteran offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, wide receiver Robert Woods and linebacker Zach Cunningham. The decision was a move to save the Titans’ salary cap, but it left them with some significant roster gaps. However, with the 2023 NFL Draft drawing near, the Titans have an opportunity to fill those gaps with exciting young talent.
Round 1, Pick 11: Peter Skoronski | AT | Northwest
The Titans have six picks in the draft, including the 11th overall pick in the first round. With that pick, they could potentially replace Lewan with Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski.
Skoronski is a versatile offensive lineman who some teams project at guard, but others believe he has the chops to play tackle in the NFL. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Skoronski is athletic and moves exceptionally well for a man his size, and has played snaps at guard and tackle in college football. He could step in and start immediately, giving the Titans a long-term solution at tackle.
At first, but I really like what I see from Peter Skoronski pic.twitter.com/SOeAea8GE2
— Joe Blewett (@Joerb31) February 11, 2023
Round 2, Pick 41: Trenton Simpson | LB | Clemson
In the second round, with the 41st overall pick, the Titans could target Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson.
Simpson is a big, fast linebacker who is potentially a linebacker-safety hybrid, but his future probably lies at linebacker. In 2022, he totaled 73 tackles, two forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks and three batted passes. As a 5-star recruit out of high school, Simpson has the potential to be a playmaker for the Titans’ defense.
Trenton Simpson is the best linebacker in the 2023 NFL Draft. He keeps his patience, reads his keys, sees the screen, and shoots out of a cannon to secure a third stop. Freak. pic.twitter.com/bBWnBtN2rn
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) September 6, 2022
At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, he has the size and speed to make an impact in his rookie year.
Round 3, pick 72: Kayshon Boutte | WR | LSU
With the 72nd overall pick in the third round, the Titans could look to replace Woods with LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. Boutte is a late first-round talent falling down the draft boards after a poor 2022 season.
Yet in 2020, 2021 and late 2022, he displayed the speed and athleticism that would make him a success in the NFL. In 2020, he caught 45 passes for 735 yards and five touchdowns. In 2021 he had 38 receptions for 509 yards and nine touchdowns.
Due to lack of production in 2022, we will get a big discount from Kayshon Boutte.
Not only is he a deadly threat after the catch, but he also displays ball-tracking skills down the field.
Top 5 locked and loaded WRs in class of 2023. pic.twitter.com/gNYm9GXsl4
— FFSnoog (@FFSnoog) February 8, 2023
At 6-foot-tall and 190 pounds, Boutte has the potential to be a dynamic playmaker on the Titans’ offense. If Boutte isn’t available right now, the Titans could also look for Jonathan Mingo, a wide receiver from Ole Miss.
The Titans have several options in the 2023 NFL Draft to replace the veteran players they released. By targeting players like Skoronski, Simpson and Boutte, the Titans can add exciting young talent to their roster and build for the future.
The Titans have an opportunity to address their draft needs and position themselves for success next season. As the draft approaches, it will be interesting to see which players the Titans ultimately pick, but the team and its fans should be excited about the potential for a bright future.
