The 2022 NFL Draft has officially kicked off, and the Tennessee Titans have made their first selection. As the seven rounds progress and the team makes all of their picks, we will provide a live draft grade and analysis for each of the Titans’ selections. How do these new prospects fit with the roster, what kind of impact will they have on the team, and what do the team’s needs look like now that the draft is complete?
Make sure to continue to check back as the 2022 NFL Draft continues for live Tennessee Titans draft grades and analysis.
Tennessee Titans grades for 2022 NFL Draft
What are the Titans‘ grades for their selections in the 2022 NFL Draft as they look to address their main needs this offseason?
Round 1, Pick 18: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
In a surprising development, the Tennessee Titans traded A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles in an exchange that netted them the 18th overall pick. With that selection, the Titans picked up Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks. Burks is a wide receiver who’s been compared favorably to Brown at times, so the fit certainly makes sense.
From a talent perspective, one could argue that Burks is the best receiver left on the board here. And the Titans will know how to use his talent. There’s still room for Burks to refine his game. He’s not yet a natural separator, and he doesn’t have the elite contact balance his frame would suggest. But he has great burst and build-up speed, along with good lateral agility for his 6’2”, 225-pound frame. And with his 33.5” arms and high-level instincts, he can dominate in contested situations.
Grade: B+
Round 2, Pick 35: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
After an active first round, the Tennessee Titans sat at the top of the second round on Day 2 of the draft. They quickly submitted their card, selecting Auburn cornerback Roger McCreary with their second selection of the NFL Draft.
McCreary is a very good player, even if he is a little undersized with his arm length. He’s a sticky cover man with great short-area athleticism, closing speed, physicality, and instincts. That said, one can’t help but wonder if players with more upside were on the board. The Titans also have a lot of cornerbacks in their room already. Kristian Fulton was a standout last year, and they drafted Caleb Farley in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. McCreary is a great player but bolsters a saturated CB room.
Grade: B-
Round 3, Pick 69: Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
The Titans select Nicholas Petit-Frere with the 69th pick as the Ohio State offensive tackle fits in interestingly in Nashville. Despite having Taylor Lewan and last year’s second-round pick Dillon Radunz in the fold, Petit-Frere enters the fray. Where he stands in their depth chart remains to be seen as he played left tackle and right tackle at Ohio State.
Petit-Frere had his moments at OSU, but he did lose battles with top-end pass rushers in the Big Ten. He has great technique yet lacks elite balance. Petit-Frere may not be a candidate to kick to guard either – he also lacks the elite play strength needed against top-flight interior defensive linemen. It’s a puzzling move unless Petit-Frere is the long-term solution after Lewan’s contract is up in two years.
Grade: C-
Round 3, Pick 86: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The fall of Malik Willis has finally halted. After being mocked consistently in the early-to-mid stages of Round 1 this past cycle, Willis’ draft-day descent was halted at 86th overall by the Tennessee Titans, who embarked on a slight trade up to acquire Willis.
The investment in Willis, at this point, makes a lot of sense. Ryan Tannehill regressed in 2021, leaving the Titans with distant but very real questions at QB. Willis isn’t without his own questions, but in Round 3, his physical gifts are worth stashing in the QB room. He’s an elite short-area athlete with high-level creation ability – ability that could be maximized in Tennessee’s scheme. He also has the arm talent to push the ball downfield. His eyes and decision-making are both major works in progress, but he has the traits you can’t teach.
Grade: A
Round 4, Pick 131: Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan
The Titans, for better or worse, have forged an identity around a running back – Derrick Henry. When that running back went down in 2021, the team’s identity largely went down with him. Henry will be back this season, but he isn’t getting any younger, and the Titans could use insurance at the RB position.
In Round 4, Hassan Haskins makes a lot of sense. At almost 6’2”, 228 pounds, he provides the size the Titans crave. He’s a downhill, north/south back who has good patience, but he finishes with physicality and can churn his legs through contact. This may be a bit rich for him, but the Titans will know how to use his traits.
Grade: B
Round 4, Pick 143: Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Maryland
Even after adding Austin Hooper this offseason, there was still a feeling that the Titans could add more talent to their tight end room in the 2022 NFL Draft. They waited until Round 4 to do it, but the payoff could still be tremendous.
Chigoziem Okonkwo is not only a good value addition here, but he’s also a great fit for what the Titans generally look for in their tight ends. At 6’2 1/2” and 238 pounds, he’s a bit undersized, but he’s a dense “move” TE who can take reps from several different alignments. He has the speed to get up the seam, and he’s a high-level run-after-catch threat with superb contact balance and lateral agility.
Grade: A
Round 5, Pick 163: Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA
It’ll take more than a few players to fill the void left by A.J. Brown in the Titans’ offense. But Tennessee is off to a decent start with their additions so far in the 2022 NFL Draft. Treylon Burks and Robert Woods form a nice tandem up top, and Kyle Philips, the team’s selection at 163 overall, is born to play in the slot.
Philips is a smaller receiver at 5’11”, 189 pounds, with arms under 30” long. But size isn’t the driving part of his game. What drives Philips’ game is his twitchy short-area athleticism, suddenness, and attacking style as a route runner. He can be a menace up the middle of the field, and he provides a nice safety blanket for whoever’s throwing him passes.
Grade: A
Round 6, Pick 204: Theo Jackson, S, Tennessee
A Tennessee native, Theo Jackson continues his football journey at home with a sixth-round selection by the Tennessee Titans. He’s an experienced player who has seen time at multiple alignments for the Volunteers. Jackson plays the game with impressive physicality and has showcased the ability to be disruptive at the catch point. The Tennessee safety impressed in the process with a 37” vertical, 10’3” broad, and a 4.46-second 40-yard dash. He’ll likely provide some solid depth in the safety room.
Grade: C+
Round 6, Pick 219: Chance Campbell, LB, Ole Miss
More than likely, Zach Cunningham, David Long Jr., and Monty Rice are the ones in the starting equation for the Titans at linebacker next year. But this late in the draft, banking on upside is always a wise decision. Chance Campbell brings that upside here.
Campbell was an incredibly productive linebacker for the Ole Miss Rebels this past season. He needs to improve his instincts, and he’s not natural in coverage yet. However, Campbell is an elite athlete with great explosiveness for his 6’2”, 232-pound frame. He’ll be a good special-teams player early on – he has a high floor in that department.
Grade: B+
What were the Titans’ biggest needs entering the draft?
- LB, WR, TE, EDGE, CB
The Titans entered the draft in a weird situation. There were no major glaring needs, but a handful of areas required a talent infusion. David Long and Zach Cunningham could be a nice pairing at linebacker, but there is certainly room for an upgrade. There is also a lack of depth at pass rush behind Harold Landry and Bud Dupree. At cornerback, there is some intriguing talent, but there is room to add depth.
The departure of Julio Jones has left A.J. Brown looking somewhat lonely as the lead wide receiver. The acquisition of Robert Woods will help, but his health is a concern for 2022. Additional talent at receiver rarely ever hurts. The Titans never really replaced Jonnu Smith, and while Austin Hooper came in this year, there is certainly room for an upgrade at tight end.