The Tennessee Titans have quickly become one of the more relevant teams in the AFC after years of losing and falling far short of expectations. Despite the team's interesting history as the Titans were of course formerly known as both the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Oilers, it has mostly been a rollercoaster ride of seemingly never ending and rapid ups and downs for the surging AFC South franchise.
With the majority of these repeated highs and lows coming since the team originally made the transition from Texas to Tennessee more than 20 years ago, it comes as no surprise that the best NFL Draft picks that this franchise has ever made are scattered across about 25 years. With the Titans regularly making solid choices in regards to the NFL Draft throughout the years, it is not that easy to narrow down the list of the franchise's all time selections.
However, there is definitely a handful of players that stand out more than the rest in terms of having both an unexpected and tremendous impact on this franchise.
Although the likes of Eddie George, Derrick Henry and Jevon Kearse — among others — just barely missed the cut here despite their obviously impressive legacies in Tennessee, this trio broke into the professional ranks of the NFL with some seriously high expectations en route to actually living up to the hype. On the other hand, there are some other Titans players that weren't expected to become franchise cornerstones but almost immediately became staples of the organization while leaving behind some great memories.
1. QB Steve McNair: Round 1, 1995 NFL Draft (Pick No. 3)
It is certainly not every day that a player from a small conference comes off the NFL Draft board inside the top three picks. Former Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was one of a kind.
Although “Air McNair” came into the league as a top three NFL Draft pick, he was not thrown into the fire right off the bat. The Titans asked him to be patient at the very beginning. Even so, it didn't take long for McNair to become one of the best — if not the best — players in franchise history.
The heralded quarterback led the Titans to the Super Bowl in the 1999 regular season.
2. Safety Kevin Byard: Round 3, 2016 NFL Draft (Pick No. 64)
Since originally being selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Middle Tennessee State, All-Pro safety Kevin Byard has simply not stopped producing.
Making an All-Pro team, leading the league in interceptions, being selected to a Pro Bowl, reaching the postseason on more than one occasion and becoming one of the league's most infamous ball hawks, Byard thrived for the Titans.
Now one of the most important players on the Titans' roster, Byard has helped head coach Mike Vrabel field one of the top defenses in the entire NFL.
3. Defensive Tackle Jurrell Casey: Round 3, 2011 NFL Draft (Pick No. 77)
Veteran defensive tackle Jurrell Casey ultimately became one of the most beloved Tennessee Titans players of all time.
Even though Casey entered the NFL as a third round pick out of USC, he has always held himself to the highest of standards on a very talented Titans defense.
4. Linebacker Stephen Tulloch: Round 4, 2006 NFL Draft (Pick No. 116)
Former Tennessee Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch created an illustrious NFL career.
Spending the first five seasons of his NFL career in Tennessee, Tulloch notably appeared in all 16 regular season games for the Titans in each of those five seasons. It is also worth noting that Tulloch helped the Titans go 13-3 in the 2008 regular season.
5. Running back Chris Johnson: Round 1, 2008 NFL Draft (Pick No. 24)
Yet another first round pick that worked out for the Tennessee Titans, former East Carolina running back Chris Johnson wasn't initially expected to be an every down back as the AFC South franchise first paired the speedy rusher with a bigger, more powerful player in fellow running back LenDale White.
Johnson rushed for over 2,000 yards in just his second professional season in 2009 with the Titans. Not only that, but “CJ2K” produced a whopping 2,509 yards from scrimmage that same season. It remains a NFL single-season record to this day.
Johnson spent a total of six seasons in Tennessee and managed to rush for more than 1,000 yards in each of those six seasons with the Titans.
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