NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The 2024 NFL draft kicked off Thursday night from Detroit, and the Tennessee Titans took offensive tackle J.C. Latham with the No. 7 pick.
ESPN will provide pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Titans' selections as they are made.
A look at each of Tennessee's scheduled selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 7 overall: J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
My take: Latham played mostly right tackle at Alabama but will switch sides in the NFL. He was a highly-rated left tackle coming out of IMG Academy but switched to right tackle because Evan Neal was already entrenched on the left side. Latham's mix of size, heavy hands and footwork should allow him to fit in there. But it's a risk to use a top-10 pick on a player and switch his position. The Titans have used three picks within the first three rounds on offensive linemen since 2020. Could Latham be the one that finally pays dividends?
Will he start as a rookie?: Latham instantly becomes the starting left tackle next to Peter Skoronski, who was last year's first-round pick. The Titans are confident in Latham's ability to flip sides and hit the ground running. Latham said he is looking forward to getting the opportunity to silencing any doubts that he'll successfully make the switch to left tackle. Having top-level offensive line guru Bill Callahan as his position coach should help him do so. Callahan was a critical part of Jedrick Wills Jr. smoothly making the transition to left tackle with the Cleveland Browns after playing on the right side for Alabama in 2020.
What we're hearing about Latham: "We're going to start him at left tackle," general manager Ran Carthon said Thursday night. "He's played right tackle at Bama. I know he's practiced at left tackle, he's taken reps there so it's not foreign to him."
"There's not many people that walk the earth that are at his height and weight and can move at his fluidity," coach Brian Callahan said. "He's a really unique player that makes us physically imposing."
What's next: The Titans' second-round pick is their only one Friday. If Tennessee doesn't trade back, they'll only wait five picks to make their next choice. They still need to add to the trenches on defense and should have some of the top interior lineman options available to them when they pick. Inside linebacker and safety are also areas they need to address at some point. Carthon said their plan is "to play the board" and likes their opportunity to land one of the targeted guys they like.
Round 2, No. 38: T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
My take: Sweat is another move for the Titans to address the trenches. At 6-foot-5, 366 pounds, Sweat will pair with Jeffery Simmons along the defensive line giving the Titans a formidable duo to attack the quarterback and stop the run. Sweat consistently made plays behind the line of scrimmage as shown by his eight tackles for a loss and two sacks. Sweat was booked into jail after an arrest for driving while intoxicated earlier this month, but the Titans are confident he will be fine with Simmons and former Texas teammate Keondre Coburn as leaders in the locker room.
Will he start as a rookie? Sweat should immediately push for playing time at defensive tackle. He'll compete with Coburn, TK McLendon Jr., and free-agent addition Sebastian Joseph-Day for one of the starting defensive tackle spots. Having Sweat in the middle of the line will make it difficult for teams to run because he occupies two gaps. It will also allow the Titans to better move Simmons around to get favorable matchups. The linebackers will also benefit from Sweat occupying blockers, allowing them to get clean shots on running backs.
What's next: As of now, the Titans don't have another pick on Day 2 after trading their third-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals so they can move up to pick Will Levis at No. 33 overall last year. They still need to add an inside linebacker who can wear the green dot communicator helmet to relay the plays to the defensive huddle from the sideline. Tennessee will also need to add safety and wide receiver depth.
Remaining picks
Round 4: No. 106
Round 5: No. 146 (from Minnesota through Philadelphia)
Round 6: No. 182 (reaquired from Philadelphia)
Round 7: No. 242 (from Philadelphia)
Round 7: No. 252 (from Kansas City)