All Eyes on Ran: Titans’ GM needs more than offseason fan equity ahead of crucial 2024 NFL Draft

Not if you're an organization like Tennessee, one that has struggled significantly to hit on picks under the previous regime of Jon Robinson and Mike Vrabel. Neither party remains as a result of draft flubs, among other things. All the goodwill that Carthon has been able to accumulate this Spring since the coaching change will mean nothing if he and his staff do not get the selection process right. 

Early dividends of Carthon's tenure look promising, to the GM's credit.

In his first draft, offensive lineman Peter Skoronski, quarterback Will Levis and running back Tyjae Spears were all selected in the first three rounds, building a much-needed foundation to try and stop the roster rot. The Titans are scheduled to have the seventh overall selection and seven total picks in this 89th NFL Draft. Four of their seven original selections remain and three additional picks were acquired in trades. 

Carthon traded the team's 2024 third-round choice to the Arizona Cardinals in the 2023 draft-day deal that allowed them to select quarterback Will Levis. 

While the jury is still out on the University of Kentucky passer and his fellow second-year classmates, Carthon and Callahan have worked tirelessly in the months since last season ended to supplement the roster around their young core. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day, center Lloyd Cushenberry III, running back Tony Pollard, quarterback Mason Rudolph and wide receiver Calvin Ridley were all acquired in the pre-draft free agency process.

Tennessee acquired former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, via trade, in order to add another blue-chip caliber player to a roster that has precious few.

Not a single player from the Titans' 2020 rookie class remains on the current roster. 2021's group has been almost equally disastrous, with first and second-round busts like cornerback Caleb Farley and Dillon Radunz failing to carve out meaningful roles to date. It is also crunch time for the 2022 picks like receivers Treylon Burks and Kyle Philips, tight end Chig Okonkwo, and tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere.

Robinson's last three drafts before Carthon took over in 2023 had 11 total selections in the Top 100 of their respective classes, and only corner Roger McCreary (No. 35 overall), has become a viable starter in that span. 

Carthon's course correction for this franchise starts in earnest on Thursday night when the first round gets underway in Detroit. Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk has made it clear that her patience for a turnaround will extend only so far. Her new stadium is under construction, her team has been a sneaky offseason darling and morale from the fan base seems high after her decision to shift directions with the coaching staff.

Nailing the draft process this week is essential for Carthon in his effort to be the person that continues to oversee this franchise for years to come.