Where Titans’ recent draft picks rank in terms of WAR

After having a stellar 2019 NFL draft that saw several selections become key starters for the team, the Tennessee Titans have stubbed their toe (and that’s putting it nicely) in each of the last two drafts.

Despite that, Titans draft picks since 2019 have fared well in the advanced metric, WAR (wins above replacement), over the past two seasons when compared to the rest of the NFL.

For reference, WAR measures a player’s value in all aspects of the game by figuring out how many more wins said player is worth than a replacement-level player at his same position.

According to Pro Football Focus’ Timo Riske, players the Titans have drafted since 2019 have compiled the sixth-best WAR in the NFL when quarterbacks aren’t included. When quarterbacks are factored in, Tennessee falls to 12th.

Of course, the 2019 class is mostly responsible for that ranking, as the Titans haven’t gotten much out of their last two draft classes outside of cornerbacks Kristian Fulton (2020) and Elijah Molden (2021).

Five of the six members of the 2019 draft class — defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, wide receiver A.J. Brown, right guard Nate Davis, safety Amani Hooker and linebacker David Long — not only remain with the team, but each have become important pieces.

Simmons and Brown in particular have been two of the better players at their positions in the NFL, and Hooker and Long are both knocking on the door.

So, as bad as the last two draft classes have been thus far for general manager Jon Robinson, the 2019 group will go down as one of the very best in franchise history.