Who should Tennessee Titans take in 2024 NFL Draft? 12 combine WRs make cases for themselves
INDIANAPOLIS — It's a good year to need a wide receiver.
But which one?
Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan and GM Ran Carthon made it clear at the scouting combine this week: The Titans are in the market for receiver help. Holding picks Nos. 7 and 38 in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Titans are in position to find a Day 1 starter in a draft loaded with talent. Fourteen of the consensus top-60 prospects in the class are wideouts, including top-10 talents Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze.
With so much talent available, it'll be no small feat whittling the list down to find the right receiver. So let's allow the receivers to make the cases for themselves.
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Here is what 12 of the draft's top receivers say separate them from their peers.
Malik Nabers (LSU, consensus No. 2 WR)
"I’m able to go outside and win. I’m able to go in the slot, go inside, create space on a linebacker. I know I carry the ball pretty good. A different offense can move me around and still get that dog mentality.
"I would say I’m a dog. When that ball is in the air, it’s mine. When I get the ball in my hands, I’m able to do tremendous things with it, create space on different DBs and I’m able to make explosive plays downfield, take an 8-yard route and turn it into a touchdown."
Rome Odunze (Washington, No. 3 WR)
"I just think my versatility on the field. I’ve shown all the skills that can translate to the NFL at a high level in different facets of the game. And I think who I am as a person, who I will be to a locker room, who I’ll be in the community, are all A-plus.
"I would just say how much of a student I am of the game. I’m always willing to learn. I’m always willing to understand that there’s room for improvement regardless of where I am in my career."
Brian Thomas (LSU, No. 4 WR)
"Everybody’s good in their own way on the field. For me, being able to pick up on the little things gives me an advantage. … Just being able to read coverages, catching on to plays. Just being able to go through a playbook, visualizing and remembering."
Keon Coleman (Florida State, No. 5 WR)
"I think my football IQ. I’m willing to work hard. My confidence in the work I’ve put in. My ability to make the plays that I make. When I get into that right system that allows me to go all out and do everything as a receiver, you’re going to see."
Troy Franklin (Oregon, No. 6 WR)
"Just the impression that I know what I’m talking about. I can help the team in whatever way. I’m just a trustworthy guy and player too. ... My speed, yeah. But I just think I know football as a whole. I know coverages. How DBs are going to play technique-wise and things like that. I also think I have a pretty good release game."
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Adonai Mitchell (Texas, No. 7 WR)
"I’d say just versatility. Being able to play outside receiver and slot receiver. Different things like that. ... Just who I am. Just living. Speaking with them. Every time I get a chance to speak with them. The work on the field, that’s going to show. A lot of things go without being said. But just the extra work that I’m willing to put in, the extra studying I’m willing to put in. How I learn plays. Just who I am every day."
Ladd McConkey (Georgia, No. 8 WR)
"I really think that when it comes to competing, I'm going to outcompete you. I'm going to outwork you. I think I can run routes. I can run them outside, inside, play special teams. I think I'm very versatile and can do a little bit of everything. I don't know, obviously the guys in this draft class are ridiculous. We've got some great receivers. But when it comes to doing a little bit of everything, I think I stand up there with all of them."
Xavier Worthy (Texas, No. 9 WR)
"A lot of teams I talk to, I feel like I can fit into either one of their offenses. I feel like I prefer intermediate, down-the-field routes. ... I feel like being a speed guy is cool, but nobody kind of looks at the route-running aspects of my game. I feel like I have really good routes, if not the best in the class. So I feel like I have really good routes."
Xavier Legette (South Carolina, No. 10 WR)
"Just my yards after the catch, man.
"(Special teams) are important to me because it’s any way to help the team win. I don’t have any problem playing special teams. If I’m playing every rep on offense, I’m still going to go out there and play special teams, man. I did that this season as well."
Ja'Lynn Polk (Washington, No. 11 WR)
"I’m different. That’s how I carry myself. Everybody’s always doing the same thing. Not me. I always try to find ways that I can separate myself from the best. Trying to do that each and every day. Crafting every day and trying to be different. For example, before the Oregon game in the PAC-12 championship, I’m out there on the field catching JUGS and trying to make sure I’m ready for when that moment comes. I’m still out there catching JUGS. Small things like that. I’m in there early. I’m trying to make sure I’m dialed in, locked in and ready to go."
Jermaine Burton (Alabama, No. 17 WR)
"I really feel like my energy and passion for the game of football really carries me a long way. I’m a physical player. Coming with loving the game of football, there’s a lot that comes in with that. There’s a lot of different aspects that you do if you love it that much. I feel like I’m just worried about improving myself as a player and maturing in any kind of way.
"(I show the energy and passion) through film. When I meet them. I have a lot of energy when I meet them, just being myself."
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Jalen McMillan (Washington, No. 19 WR)
"My route running. Just me being able to catch the football. I feel like I’m the best route runner in this class and I feel like the way I set up routes and the way I beat one-on-one coverage is unlike any other.
"I’m quick, I’m fast, I’m high-energy, I make the contested grabs, I bring swag to the receiver room. I’m going to live and die as a wideout. I love playing wide receiver and I can’t wait to do that at the next level."
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Who should Tennessee Titans pick in 2024 NFL Draft? 12 WRs make cases