The Titans go for positions of need in NFL draft, rebuilding roster for new coach

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Talking about drafting the best player available sounds good. Trying to snap a skid of four straight losing seasons requires players that fit a team's needs. The Tennessee Titans tried their best to do just that for new coach Robert Saleh. “Obviously you want to take the best player, but you’re trying to marry up value with need," general manager Mike Borgonzi said Saturday night. "But I do think we did fill some needs.” The Titans made Carnell Tate of Ohio State the first wide receiver drafted at No. 4 overall, giving offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and quarterback Cam Ward another playmaker. Veteran Calvin Ridley is coming off a season-ending injury and will turn 32 late in the year. They traded up twice, adding defenders to a unit revamped heavily in free agency around All-Pro tackle Jeffery Simmons. The Titans took lineman Keldric Faulk of Auburn at No. 31 and then moved up into the second for Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. at No. 60. The Titans wrapped up the draft Saturday with five selections, including a pair of offensive linemen who will have a chance to compete for playing time immediately in Fernando Carmona of Arkansas and Indiana center Pat Coogan (No. 194). They took Penn State running back Nick Singleton (No. 165) in the fifth round, Baylor defensive lineman Jackie Marshall (No. 184) in the sixth and converted tight end Jaren Kanak of Oklahoma (No. 225) in the seventh.

Receiving help

The Titans signed Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency. But their top two receivers in catches, yards and touchdowns last season both were rookies in Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike. Tate will compete to start for a team that had six rookies start five or more games last season.

Defensive line depth

The Titans' free agency haul added and along with ends , Earnest Brown IV and . They also traded tackle T’Vondre Sweat to the , who will be calling the defense this season, plans to use eight to nine linemen in games so that nobody plays more than 60% of snaps in keeping them fresh. Faulk brings some versatility that will help him bounce around as needed. “We see him outside on early downs and kick him inside on pass downs,” Saleh said. “And we think he’s got an elite trait to rush the passer on the inside, and combination between him, Jeffery, John Franklin-Myers I mean, that’s a pretty lethal combination between the three of them.”