Final grades for the Tennessee Titans' 2024 draft class

The 2024 NFL Draft has finally come and gone, and the Tennessee Titans' draft class is complete.

The Titans addressed a number of needs in the draft, particularly in the trenches and on the defensive side of the football. But the Titans failed to properly address one key position, which could come back to bite the team in 2024

Here are the grades for each pick, along with a final overall grade for the entire class. 

1. JC Latham, Offensive Tackle, Alabama (No. 7 overall)

Latham is a day one starter at the left tackle position for the Titans. He was an unanimous first-team All-SEC selection in 2023 and brings an aggressive mentality to Tennessee. He was a two-year starter at right tackle, but his strength and athleticism should make the transition to the left side seamless. 

Tennessee allowed 29 sacks at the left tackle position in 2023. Latham's skillset is to die for, but one can only fantasize about his ceiling under the tutelage of offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who ranked Latham as his number one offensive tackle prospect in this draft class.

Grade: A-

2. T'Vondre Sweat, Defensive Tackle, Texas (No. 38 overall)

Sweat is without question the riskiest pick in the Titans' draft class. His talent is undeniable, but there are a couple of read flags that make this selection a boom or bust pick.

Sweat's weight, along with his off the field issues, will be something the Titans must monitor. Though he has his fair share of red flags, Sweat was awarded the Outland Trophy, which goes to the best interior lineman in college football. If he can keep his weight in check the sky is the ceiling. With that being said, the Titans reached for a player with a handful of question marks, which could come back to bite them.

Grade: C

3. Cedric Gray, Linebacker, North Carolina (No. 106 overall)

This is one of my favorite picks in the Titans' draft class. Tennessee entered the draft in search of a linebacker capable of handling the green dot responsibilities and they found a player that checks all of the boxes.

With sideline-to-sideline range and intelligence to match, Gray figures to start alongside Kenneth Murray in the middle of the Titans defense. He is a three-down linebacker who can drop back in coverage and heat up opposing quarterbacks with the blitz. Nabbing Gray in the fourth round is arguably the best value Tennessee found in its class.

Grade: A

4. Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Cornerback, Louisville (No. 146 overall)

Tennessee is making a conscious effort to become more physical in the secondary. Brownlee possesses the tools necessary to slot in right behind the trio of L'Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie and Roger McCreary.

Though he prefers to play the nickel position, Brownlee has the versatility that the Titans have been lacking at the cornerback position over the last few seasons. He is a willing tackler and thrives in press coverage. He was on the Titans' radar in the pre-draft process as he met with the team on a 30 visit. 

Grade: B

5. Jha'Quan Jackson, Wide Receiver, Tulane (No. 182 overall)

There's a lot to unpack with this pick. The Titans clearly needed to bolster the depth at the wide receiver position, but it took until the sixth round for the team to address the need at all.

Jackson brings speed and shiftiness to the wide receiver room. His abilities in the return game make him an asset, but it's hard to imagine how he fits in the Titans offense. With Virginia WR Malik Washington on the board when Tennessee was on the clock, Jackson will have to prove he was worth the gamble.

Grade: D

6. James Williams, Linebacker, Miami (No. 242 overall)

The Titans found a key contributor in the seventh round in Williams. After spending time at safety in college, Williams is ready to make the transition to the linebacker position in the NFL.

His coverage abilities combined with his hard-nosed approach to tackling make Williams a high-ceiling selection. The Titans have had trouble covering tight ends in recent years, but Williams has all of the traits necessary to turn into the next tight end eraser in Nashville. 

Grade: A

7. Jaylen Harrell, Defensive Line, Michigan (No. 252 overall)

When in doubt draft the best pass rusher from the 2023 national champions. You can't argue with productivity, and all Harrell did at Michigan was produce. 

He led the Wolverines in pressures (31), sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (10) en route to a national title. If the Titans can turn him into a rotational pass rusher, which feels possible given his skillset, then Tennessee should feel comfortable with its final pick in the draft.

Grade: B+

Final Grade: B