NASHVILLE – The NFL Draft is now in the books.
The Titans added eight players, including first-round pick Carnell Tate.
Later this week, the rookies will be on the field for a minicamp.
Let's jump into this Tuesday's mailbag to check the temperature.
Here we go…
Here's the link to submit questions: CLICK HERE
Billy Uselton Jr from Tullahoma, Tennessee
Question: Hey, Jim. Billy here. I was just wanting to ask to see if you possibly knew when rookie minicamp started for us Titans this year? Also, when do the rookie draft picks receive their numbers and when it is announced?
Will a high draft pick like Carnell Tate usually keep the same, jersey number that he receives/chooses right before minicamp, permanently? Thx, -Billy U.
Jim: Hey Billy. Rookies will report on Thursday, and they'll be on the field on Friday and Saturday.
As for the numbers, the hope is the numbers will be assigned by the end of this week, before minicamp. I think the league would like for the two top picks to be buttoned up with new numbers and have them not change, but we'll see. Carnell wore 17 at Ohio State, but that's Pro Bowler Chimere Dike's number here. Some other teen numbers are available. Keldric Faulk wore 15 at Auburn, and that is available.
Mike Temple from Chattanooga, Tennessee
Question: Wow, it's been a super busy off-season for the Titans. New coaching staff, popular brand release, and perhaps most importantly a massive roster reconstruction. Between an active free agency season, the draft, and a big undrafted free agent signing class it feels like Mike Borgonzi has been completely rebuilding the team. There is certainly a lot to be excited about for the future. My question is on the interior offensive line. Do you think the team will continue to selectively look for veteran free agents to play along the offensive line or do they believe their work is done here? I hope you get some time off to recharge before training camps kick-off in July. Regards, Mike
Jim: Hey Mike. It's been a crazy offseason with an incredible amount of turnover. I don't think the team is necessarily done on the offensive line. It has some contenders in Fernando Carmona and Pat Coogan, and others in Austin Schlottmann, Cordell Volson and Jackson Slater, among others. But I suspect the team will see how things go in May and June in OTAs and minicamp, and then decide where more competition is needed. I know some veterans are still out there.
Aaron Judge from Perth, Western Australia
Question: Hi Jim. Big couple of weeks for you no doubt. Thanks for the job you do to keep us all informed, especially those of us who don't live in the state or like me are born and live overseas.
Anyway, from the draft the pick that I really like the look of is Pat Coogan. He seems like a real solid pick and should perform well for us when he slots in. I really hope he does do well.
Were you impressed by the draft results? What other moves to make or positions to fill do you think may transpire in the near future? Cheers Jim.
Jim: G'day Aaron. I like Coogan, too. He was incredibly durable and successful at both Notre Dame and Indiana, where he proved to be a leader and culture builder at both places. I watched some of his pre-game motivational talk videos over the weekend, and man, he gets guys fired up. Google them if you haven't seen. I liked the draft results. Everyone knows I wanted Jeremiyah Love, but I thought the Titans pivoted and got a really good player in Carnell Tate. Across the board I thought the team got some really good players. As I mentioned to Mike, I think the team will evaluate when they have in May and June and then decide where to add additional help. They'll get their biggest evaluation period when the pads come on in July and August, and after roster cuts you could see more guys added. We're still over four months away from the start of the season, so nothing is set in stone.
Dan DeGrandis from Lakeland, Florida
Question: Hi Jim. Love CT as our WR1 pick! Do you think he will be #17, or do you think that will stay on Dike?
Or do you think will there be some good ole-fashioned horse-trading going on?
Jim: Hey Dan. If I'm Chim, I wouldn't even consider giving that number up. The guy went to the Pro Bowl and set records in his first NFL season. He deserves to keep it, no questions asked.
Eli Decko from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Question: I was so irked off seeing the Cardinals take Love. The Titans could have traded up to get the best player in the NFL Draft. But to say that I'm happy about the Tate pick, as you well know, is an understatement! Huge hands, great arm length, great playing speed, incredible route runner and a contested catch MACHINE. EXCELLENT PICK! Here is my issue though Jim, cuz you know I'm a realist. We traded back in the first round to select a defensive end who is only 20 years old, mid level at best production and gave up our rd 2 pick 3 for Buffalos much later pick? That does not make sense at all, along with the fact this kid was not even a projected 1st round pick. He is also coming from a 3-4 team where he played defensive end to a 4-3 team. Sure we want multiple fronts vis rotation, but what is this kid actually bringing to the table other than "potential"? He has good character which is nice. But good character does not equal impact. This was a horrible reach and a trade the Titans flat out lost. If you're going to make a trade in the first round do it to acquire a player who is PROVEN, cuz 1/7/2 sacks does not translate into success in the NFL. We should have moved up with AZ to get Love, OR moved up waaaaaay earlier and acquired Ruben Bain who slid to 15. I'm not seeing the reason or the intelligence behind that trade and pick. Please explain it to me/us as fans cuz it took the wind right out of the sails of the Titans having a good first round. I know you know how excited I was when we drafted Tate. Sure this kid has really good size, so does almost every player. We could have used round 2 pick 3 to get a good offensive lineman like we desperately need. Considering Center and Left Tackle are open pathways to our QB we whiffed man. Just sad after how solid of a pick we got at 4. We can finally begin to recover from the loss of AJ Brown after 4 years though so there is that. Thanks again Jim.
Jim: You called it with Tate, Eli! I actually like Faulk, and think he's going to be a player. We'll see. I don't get the suggestions the Titans should have traded with the Cardinals to get Love. The Cardinals wanted Love. Sorry I missed you in Pittsburgh. Maybe next time…
Eli Patnesky from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Question: Hey Jim, the 1st round of the draft did not go as I thought it would. The Cardinals just snagged Love right before us which I did not like. But, I was very excited to see Carnell Tate's face when his name was announced for the Titans. He looked very happy to be a Titan. And when a player is excited to play for the team that selects them, they do their best to perform to their potential for that team. I also have a friend who said he thinks that Tate will not be good because he has no one to throw the ball. He also said Cam Ward sucks. I told him that he is blind when it comes to football. I think Cam Ward could be a real franchise QB. And I think Tate will be a franchise WR. I don't understand how anyone could say that Ward is not good. He may have been off at the beginning of the season, but he was a rookie and when the season went on he played better. Anyways, it was nice being at the draft in person for the first time and hope the Titans have a good season and rest of the draft. Luv Ya Blue and TITAN UP!!!
Jim: Back-to-back Elis from Pittsburgh! I thought the Steel City did a great job with the draft. I enjoyed my time in the city, including and a stroll down to the Strip District to eat at DiAnoia's and a great run on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail! And the draft experience was cool, too. Enjoyed talking to a lot of Titans fans up there. Sorry I missed you.
Samir Cursi from Miami, Florida
Hi Jim: First, a comment about the CRAZINESS of life. While we may never know, think about how many lives have changed all because the Cardinals running back chose to drop the football last year a split second before he crossed the goal line. Had he not done so, or had Cam's interception, turned fumble, turned touchdown nuttiness not happened, the Titans would have been picking third, the Cardinals fourth, and Jeremiah Love would likely be a Titan and not a Cardinal. Countless lives were affected and the future completely changed! This is some Back To The Future stuff! Do you believe in alternative or parallel universes? Because that is some mind bending thought provoking stuff usually reserved for time spent after consuming psychedelics. Now, back to our reality, I love the picks the Titans made in round 1, both guys have awesome potential and while I feel this way every year recently, I truly believe the Titans have the chance to be the surprise team of the NFL this coming year!
Jim: Hey Samir. Had all that stuff not happened, the Titans actually would have been picking 1st overall in the draft…
Chris Malone from Indianapolis, Indiana
Question: I hope you're doing well. I've sat back and noticed some of the comments from fans over the last few weeks. I know it seems easy to say that now, but I was genuinely confused by all of the people thinking we would get Jeremiah Love. I love him as a football player as well. However, with as talented as he is, I was surprised that so many thought that he would be available by the time we picked. It's like someone being mad that someone else had on the same outfit. If you loved it then the chances are someone else did too when they bought it. With that being said, I genuinely thought that we would either draft Tate to help out Cam or maybe Styles if the mindset was to focus on Saleh's defense. I don't know if we've hit any home runs, but I feel really good that we've added some quality pics so far. Tate should help the offense. Faulk is full of potential and I think Hill is a real deal old school linebacker who will make plays. Looking forward to the upcoming season already.
Jim: I'm with ya, Chris.
Cosme Belmonte from Mexico City, Mexico
Question: Wow! Those Cardinals got their revenge for last season's game and landed Love. In the predictions, only Chris Johnson got the first pick right. Disappointed, yes.
Jim: Hey Cosme. You're referring to the final mock draft roundup, of course. And, you're right – of the roughly 160 folks I got predictions from, only former Titans running back Chris Johnson correctly mocked receiver Carnell Tate to the Titans.
Tony Abel from Madison, Tennessee
Question: Am I the only Titans fan to question the logic of the organization's draft choices. I am amazed with the picks of a wide receiver and two defensive players when, obviously, the greatest need is (and for many years has been) offensive linemen to protect the quarterback. This dates back to even the Super Bowl loss when McNair was running for his life almost the whole game. Had he been under less duress, the last play may not have come up short of the goal line! The problems which plagued virtually every quarterback since the Super Bowl loss can be attributed to lack of protection, including the numerous turnovers and injuries when Will Levis joined the team. Without good offensive line play, the losses will continue to exceed the wins!
Jim: I admit I still have questions on the o-line myself. I'm going to need to see how things play out here over the next few months. But I do think there are some capable contenders on this roster. You're being dramatic in saying the problems date back to McNair in the Super Bowl, when he was sacked just once. The 1999 Titans o-line was solid. Heck, McNair was sacked just 16 times that year. A lot of o-lines in this team's history have been elite. It has been more of a struggle in recent years, but let's keep it real in here.
Dennis Utterback from Louisville, Tennessee
Question: What a stupid draft for Tennessee. I thought defense win games. How could Tennessee pass on these elite grade A players, such as Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Rueben Bain Jr. I think there were other elite wide receivers in the draft besides Tate. This pick surprised a lot of people. The GM and the coaching staff could have a done better job in this draft.
Jim: Time will tell, Dennis. Clearly the GM thinks differently than you. We'll find out in time who is right.
Bill Holmes from Fairport, New York
Question: When the rumors started flying about us not targeting Love, I hoped he would be gone by pick 4 so I wouldn't dread the decision to pass on him. Got my wish. But when I saw Reese and Styles available, I was as stunned as anyone that we went for Tate. Cam is way happier than Josh Allen right now.
Overall I think we did pretty well. Love the choice of Hill at 60 and Kanak's versatility gives me serious Frank Wycheck vibes. I'll bet we strike gold with a couple of UFAs also. No question this time - I'm just energized by the new leadership and the roster changes, and cant wait for the season to start. Titan Up!
Jim: Hey Bill. I have to admit, and perhaps I missed it, but I didn't see those rumors about the Titans not targeting Love. As for Reese and Styles, clearly others on the media liked them better than the Titans.
Dan Baird from Nashville, Tennessee
Question: Hey Jim, I'm sure you're getting swamped with "Why didn't they pick X?" "Never watching them again."
It seems Coach Saleh has a prototype he's searching for.
I do like they got Cam a really nice wideout to grow with.
And the brass in general isn't afraid to trade up for the player Saleh wants.
Excited to see what big, fast and violent translates into.
Oh, and BTW, you hear of any teams trying to hire Mel K as their GM? What do you know, me neither.
Thanks for what you do.
Jim: Hey Dan. I know some folks, like Dennis, didn't like certain picks. For the most part, based on my Twitter feed, most of the reaction to Tennessee's draft class has been positive.
Jeremy Rodriguez from Winchester, California
Question: I was a little worried about how the Titans started. Picking a WR in the top 5 was a little scary… but Borgonzi, I feel had a great draft! He drafted every position that was a weakness on the team. I absolutely love the Anthony Hill pick! I think he was a steal that will be a game one starter and soon to be game wrecker! Hope all is well, safe travels back to Tennessee and I hope Coach Mac was celebrating in Heaven with Draft Class! As always TITAN UP!!
Jim: Have a good one, Jeremy.
Joe Allen from Gainesboro, Tennessee
Question: Well, the draft is over and I was a little bummed we missed on Love, but felt we did well with the rest of the picks. Tate will help Cam and we got a center whom we needed and an edge rusher and some really beefy DL and OL guys! Should be fun to watch this year as the coach's will work their magic and bring in fans for the new stadium! I'm excited to see how this all plays out and that we will be a really exciting team in our division and maybe a wild card. Who knows! Ready for this season to get going! I'm not sure why we did not move up for Love! He would have really given us and Cam some real good highlights! Not sure if you could comment on this Jim, but if so, would be good to hear! Anyway, our best to you and your family and appreciate all you do for keeping us informed!
Jim: Appreciate it, Joe. Not sure why the Titans didn't move up for Love? The Raiders wanted Fernando Mendoza at 1, and took him. The Jets wanted David Bailey at 2, and took him. Not sure the Cardinals would have traded 3 to the Titans so they could steal their guy. Just don't subscribe to this logic.
Have a great week everyone!
