Will Titans Have Simple Pick At 7?

For far too long, many people have made the simple connection of who the Titans will pick at seven overall. In most mock drafts, that selection has been Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt. That is a worthwhile pick for a team like Tennessee, of course. Yet, what if Alt somehow goes off the board earlier? Which blocker would the Titans pick next, if they still address the offensive line at seven overall? Or, would Tennessee even entertain the idea of trading back?

Despite a very chalky feeling towards this selection, could there be more complicated scenarios that play out for the Titans? If so, how will Tennessee go about addressing those? Plus, which blocker may they target the most, if Alt were possibly off the board before their pick? Let’s kick it off.

Choice On Alt Would Be Simple, If Given The Chance

If things do stay chalk, based on most mock drafts people have done, Joe Alt would be a simple pick at seven for the Titans. If still available, he is far and away the best offensive tackle in a pretty solid OT class. For my money, no offensive tackle is as disciplined, efficient and technically sound as Alt is in this class. Notre Dame has had a rich history of blockers becoming stars in the NFL, of course. Once again, it looks like Alt will be able to continue that tradition. His length, instincts and footwork are also traits that the Titans would not have to worry about, if they were to land him.

There is no denying that Tennessee has one of the worst offensive line units in the entire NFL. If they have the opportunity to land Alt, the Titans could see this choice as simple for a variety of reasons. For one, the blindside of Will Levis must be secure, as the young passer continues to grow. Tennessee could rely on Alt to be a leader and a potential captain upfront, leading by example. Finally, his well-rounded game would shore up the Titan offensive line quickly, while Tennessee looks to improve that spot.

Which Blocker Makes Most Sense If Alt Is Gone?

Something that not many have talked about, is what the Titans may do with their pick if Joe Alt is gone before seven. Assuming they still attack their offensive line need, which blocker may make the most sense for them? If you just stick at the top of the offensive tackle class, Taliese Fuaga, Troy Fautanu and Olu Fashanu could all make sense for this offense. The Titans may even like someone like JC Latham. However, justifying one of these blockers at seven overall may be more difficult, compared to other names from this group.

Say Alt is gone, and the Titans still want to pick an offensive tackle, Fuaga and Fautanu are likely the early lean for the selection. Fuaga is a tenacious blocker, willing to lean on his aggressive nature. He can also offer solid football IQ and elite strength, to boot. Fautanu could have positional versatility at the NFL level. His athleticism and movement skills could do wonders for a blocking unit as troubled as the Titans. In the end, one of those two may be the most likely selection, if Tennessee were forced to reverse course early with an offensive line pick.

How A Trade Down Could Benefit Titans

Another result could occur for the Titans, if they do not have the opportunity of making a simple pick like selecting Joe Alt. If he is gone, and they do not want to force another offensive lineman at seven overall, could they trade back? If they choose to do so, they could benefit greatly, even if Tennessee does not move back far.

As of now, the Titans are slated to have seven selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. They have two early picks at seven and 38 overall. But after that, there is a massive wait until they pick again at 106. Tennessee does not currently have a selection in the third round. And thinking in future years, they just moved a 2025 third-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for L’Jarius Sneed. As a result, the Titans are not necessarily full of a ton of premium draft capital. And by all accounts, this is a team that is still full of a ton of different holes.

If Alt is no longer on the board, Tennessee could still land a solid player a little later on by moving back in the first round. At the same time, the Titans could help themselves out by simply moving around the draft board for more assets. Any additional assets could give this team more swings of the bat at fixing holes quickly, as a result.