Titans Draft Recap

Good afternoon, everyone.

The Predators lost a 3-1 lead to the Canucks with under three minutes left in the game yesterday, and ended up losing in overtime 4-3. That gives the Canucks a 3-1 series lead as they had back to Vancouver.

Yesterday, during the Cubs vs. Red Sox game, former general manager of both teams and famed curse buster Theo Epstein sat for an interview about his experience with both times and described the difference between the fans at Wrigley Field and Fenway Park.

He noted that Red Sox fans at Fenway were always expecting disappointment. That a first pitch ball from a pitcher late in the game caused unease and the crowd seemed primed to watch a lead slip away. Cubs fans at Wrigley, on the other hand, never seemed to mind how successful the team was as long as the sun was out and the beer was cold.

Had me thinking about Nashville fans' relationship to their franchises. We are a younger city than both Chicago and Boston, just achieving national and international prominence.

There does seem to be some reticence to stick the dagger in, break the glass ceiling, and catapult a sports franchise to the top of its respective league. Fans seem to be wondering whether Nashville is worthy of such heights. It may seem superficial, but stewarding a professional franchise to a championship says something about a city.

Onward.

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It’s your Mondays with Miles and it’s the end of April which only means one thing… The NFL Draft is a wrap and football fans everywhere are overreacting to who their team selected, didn’t select, and what could have been this past weekend. Today, we will take a peak at who the Titans drafted and what to expect from these seven sizzling prospects.

Going into draft weekend, General Manager Ran Carthon and newly minted Head Coach Brian Callahan made it no secret that Tennessee needed to add size. The matter was addressed immediately as their first two picks equated to more than 720 pounds of brute force.

The Titans opened with selecting Alabama Right Tackle JC Latham seventh overall. Dubbed the “Trench King”, Latham blots out the sun at a staggering 6’6”, 360 lbs. The First-Team All-SEC lineman is incredibly strong with monstrous length. However, some concerns arise with his blocking technique, especially in the Rose Bowl loss to Michigan.

Additionally, Tennessee has a major gap to fill at left tackle, but Latham is a RT and transitioning to LT is not as easy at it might seem. His growth will come down to Callahan’s developmental ability. Known as an OL whisperer, the new head man sees no issue with Latham’s future in Nashville.

Texas Defensive Lineman T’Vondre Sweat was initially projected as a late first round pick but was arrested for DWI in early April. Tennessee appeared willing to look past the incident and is now focusing on his potential. His massive 360+ pound frame wreaked havoc in the Big 12, but his weight could become an issue at the next level as well. Can he stay on the field? Will he be available on 3rd down plays? These questions may linger for seasons to come along with the legal issue. It’s a bold pick, but time will tell if the risk was worth it.

On day three of the draft, the front office hit a home run. North Carolina Linebacker Cedric Gray may end up being the Titans' steal of the draft. Gray led the ACC in tackles and somehow dropped to the good guys in round 4. His strength and tenacity will make him a problem in the AFC South. Many in Titans Nation believe Gray was the organization’s best pick of the draft and I have a difficult time arguing their sentiment.

Jha’Quan Jackson out of Tulane was snagged in the 6th round at WR. Some feel this selection was a reach, but Ran Carthon demanded Special Teams help and Jackson has an opportunity to make the squad as a kick returner. The 5’11” receiver has a jitterbug twitch similar to former Green Wave teammate and current Titans’ Running Back Tyjae Spears. His agility caught the front office’s attention and hope he generates some late fall fireworks this season.

Jarvis Brownlee (Louisville), James Williams (Miami FL), and Jaylen Harrell (Michigan) were late round pick ups that have the ability to help out Tennessee defensively in 2024. Each player slid down draft boards to the Titans’ advantage. Brownlee is a feisty corner who brings a mix of physicality and athleticism. Williams and Harrell provide tremendous 7th round value. I expect all three of these players to be on the 53-man roster come late August.

As the draft went on the draft got better for the two-toned blue. In three years we will know if Latham and Sweat were grand slams or complete strikeouts. I don’t see there being much gray area with these two mammoths who will need to contribute immediately if the Titans wish to contend for an AFC South crown in 2024. MILES HARRINGTON

🧻 Transit Stat Napkin Math During April 19th’s transit unveiling, the mayor and his speakers dropped interesting statistics about Nashville— some about the new transit plan, some about the city’s makeup and demographics, and some that were a bit more questionable than others. For instance… 

• More than 140 languages are spoken in Metro Nashville Public Schools.
• 13 percent of the city's population is foreign born.
• Metro Nashville is home to “hundreds of thousands” of immigrants, including Afghan parolees, Venezuelan asylum seekers, and Ukrainian refugees.
• 80 percent of WeGo’s riders are picked up along 10 of the city’s busiest roadways.
• According to the federal Department of Transportation, those who ride Tennessee public transit extend their commute time by 67 percent.
• And, according to AAA, the average Nashvillian pays $12,000 a year to own and maintain a vehicle.

According to O’Connell, here's how things will change under the Choose How You Move Plan. 

• The half-cent sales tax increase cost most Nashvillians about $70 per year.
• About 60 percent of our sales tax is paid by people who live somewhere else.
• One out of three Nashvillians will have direct, walkable access to a transit site.
• 12 monitored transit centers in key locations throughout the city, adding routes that link neighborhoods without going through downtown.
• 17 park and ride facilities will be added near high-capacity transit routes.
• WeGo Star commuter rail services will be added for travel to special events.
• 285 bus stops will be upgraded with weather covers and real time location tracking.
• Up to 26 acres of land will be acquired by Metro to build affordable housing and parks near transit hubs.

And looking into the future...

• Within five years, a traffic management center will be added and over 150 signals will be upgraded or modernized.
• Within 10 years, 60 miles of sidewalks will be built or upgraded.
• Within 15 years, 600 traffic signals will be upgraded, 86 miles of sidewalks will be completed, roadway safety projects will be completed within the 76-mile Vision Zero high injury network, and high-capacity transit will be established in all of Nashville's busiest corridors. MEGAN PODSIEDLIK

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🏗️ East Bank Development Authority The General Assembly closed up shop on Friday, but not before approving the creation of an East Bank Development Authority. Though the bill was passed by the state, it still requires approval by the Metro Council—and it may not be an easy sell. One obstacle might be the change made by Senator Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville), which added both state speakers as ex officio voting board members.

However, other changes might prove more enticing to the council, including another adjustment to the language which gave local legislators more control over the powers of the Authority. If the state’s version of the bill passes through Metro, it would also prevent the East Bank from establishing its own law enforcement, ensure a yearly audit, and would strip the Authority’s power to exercise eminent domain.

“The state of Tennessee has made, and will make, investments in the East Bank that I think deserve protection,” said Sen. Campbell of her bill during last week’s Senate floor meeting, before commending her Republican colleagues for the bipartisan cooperation in the Senate. MEGAN PODSIEDLIK

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🥊 Jones On the Ropes It appears the accusations of partisan favoritism have gotten to Footman Phil Williams’ head:  last week, he released a famous “revealed” report examining how little support Justin Jones has within the Democratic caucus. Jones’ inability to make friends within the legislature has been known by every person who has even a passing interest in state politics since he was ousted last year, but Williams couldn’t afford to let that information sully the power and influence of the representative’s brand of activism. A buzzer beater report.

Concurrently, the validity of Jones’ qualifying signatures is being brought into question by Republican challenger Laura Nelson. All candidates are required to secure twenty-five signatures to qualify for each party’s respective primary ballot. Jones only secured twenty-six, ten of which are being examined for authenticity. Moreover, Jones’ campaign treasurer resigned and he has yet to appoint a new one, meaning he cannot currently accept campaign donations. All this was written up well by Stephen Elliott at the Nashville Banner. DAVIS HUNT

DEVELOPMENT

• Beaman Automotive Builds New Express Center In The Nations, Nashville (Now Next)
• Canadian developer reveals new renderings, updates for triple-tower Midtown project (NBJ)
• Local investors pay $5.57M for portion of Kroger-anchored retail strip (NBJ)
• Greenberg Gibbons enters Nashville market with $34.5M deal (NBJ)
• Local investor buys modernist building on city's south side (Post)
• NYC restaurateurs buy historic East Nashville residence (Post)
• Waldo’s set to open near west side highway split (Post)

THINGS TO DO

View our calendar for the week here and our weekly film rundown here.

📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.

🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.

👨🏻‍🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.

TONIGHT

🪕 Sam Grisman and Lindsay Lou Present: Bobcat's Birthday Bash @ Dee's Lounge, 6p, $20, Info
+ feat. Kyle Tuttle, Dom Leslie & Phoebe Hunt, WSG & The Bronwyn Keith-Hines Band

🎸 The Postal Service & Death Cab for Cutie @ Bridgestone Arena, 7:30p, $72+, Info

🎻 Tennessee Youth Symphony Spring Concert @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 7:30p, Choose What You Pay, Info

🪕 Val Storey, Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle & New Monday @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info

💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 8p, Free, Info

🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, Info