NASHVILLE – Roughly 10 months ago, the Titans started the process of preparing for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Since, members of the team's scouting department visited at least 566 schools, while compiling over 1,400 scouting reports.
Over 400 players were interviewed at all-star games, the NFL Combine and Pro Days, along with in-house 30 visits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.
Chad Brinker, President of Football Operations, said it's been a group effort to identify the right players for the franchise.
In just two days, the long-awaited draft will finally begin. Round one kicks off Thursday night in Detroit, and the three-day draft will conclude on Saturday.
General Manager Ran Carthon said during a pre-draft press conference on Tuesday the team's draft board is pretty much set, and the group is ready, other than fine-tuning a thing or two. A few ties on certain players still need to be broken, he said.
The Titans are currently scheduled to make seven picks in the draft, including the 7th overall pick in the first round.
Still, Carthon said the team is listening to all calls, and exploring all possibilities, as it relates to a potential trade.
"It will be an "us" decision," Carthon said of the team's mindset. "Everything we do is "us", and that is why we spend the time that we spend together and understand where we are. … It's an "us" thing. And it's our job to find what (Coach Brian Callahan and his staff) want."
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Brinker started off Tuesday's presser with a statement, and Carthon and Callahan then answered draft-related questions for over 30 minutes.
Carthon didn't reveal any secrets on Tuesday while talking about the strengths of the NFL Draft, and the team's current needs. He was asked about offensive linemen, receivers, and a specific tight end, Georgia's Brock Bowers.
"Where we feel we have needs," Carthon said, "I think there are going to be good players available for us, all throughout (the draft), for us to address those needs. And I feel good about our ability to be able to get players that are going to be able to help us and contribute on Sundays."
Carthon said things feel different this year, as the team embarks on 2024, with a new head coach, and already plenty of new players acquired in free agency. Brinker reminded the player acquisition process never stops, and will continue even after the draft.
"To me, this year is new," said Carthon, in his second season an the team's GM. "Different system, different head coach. … This is a new way of doing things, how we're going to do it. … But I am excited about the challenge, and excited to help bring Brian's vision to light."
Callahan, who replaced Mike Vrabel earlier this offseason, said he's enjoyed being a part of the process in Tennessee.
Earlier this week, the Titans kicked off a three-day veteran minicamp, when Callahan and his coaching staff worked on the field with the team's players for the first time.
By the end of the week, more players will be added to the fold.
Right now, it's just a matter of who, and how many.
"It's an exciting week for us," Callahan said. "We get a chance to coach for three days, and then go right into the draft weekend. I would say this is probably one of the better weeks of the year of the offseason for me. It's been great."
