Poor Drafting Has Destroyed Titans’ Championship Aspirations
The Tennessee Titans’ decline in recent years has been both sudden and devastating, with their poor draft picks being a key factor in derailing any championship hopes they once had.
From 2019 to 2021, the Titans were a strong force in the AFC, posting a 32-17 record. They made it to the AFC Championship Game in 2019 and earned the top seed in the conference in 2021. Although they were never considered true Super Bowl contenders, head coach Mike Vrabel managed to get solid results.
However, after a promising 7-3 start to the 2022 season, the Titans’ fortunes took a sharp dive. They lost their final seven games that year, missing the playoffs, and have since posted a dismal 9-32 record.
The main culprit behind the rapid fall of the franchise is their disastrous drafting between 2020 and 2022. All three of their first-round picks during this stretch turned out to be colossal failures.
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Isaiah Wilson (2020, No. 29 overall): The offensive tackle played just three snaps in his lone season with the Titans, and his off-field issues, including multiple arrests, added to his disappointing tenure.
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Caleb Farley (2021, No. 22 overall): The cornerback’s career was marred by injuries, and after just 12 games in three years, he was released before the start of last season.
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Treylon Burks (2022, No. 18 overall): The wide receiver, acquired by trading away A.J. Brown, has struggled with injuries and totaled only 699 receiving yards and one touchdown over three seasons. Burks was released after breaking his collarbone.
The team’s later draft picks have also failed to make a significant impact. While there are a few bright spots like tight end Chig Okonkwo and cornerback Kristian Fulton, most of the players from this period have not lived up to expectations.
In addition to these draft blunders, the trade of A.J. Brown has only deepened the Titans’ troubles. With all these missteps, it’s no surprise that general manager Jon Robinson was fired in December 2022.
While there’s no reversing the damage done by these poor decisions, a new era could be on the horizon, especially with the potential of Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, leading the way.
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