The Titans add size, speed as they use 5 of 7 NFL draft picks to boost their defense

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ran Carthon went all offense in his first draft as the Tennessee Titans general manager a year ago.

This time around, five of the Titans' seven NFL draft picks came on defense with Carthon letting the draft board dictate the selections.

“We kind of figured the front end of the draft would probably be heavy offense, and then the back half will be heavy defense and that’s kind of how it went for us,” Carthon said Saturday night.

The Titans had only three selections in the first 106 picks. But they saw six of the seven players drafted in action at the Senior Bowl.

They took a big step in shoring up the offensive line at No. 7 overall with JC Latham of Alabama, who will work at left tackle under line guru Bill Callahan. The Titans later took wide receiver and returner Jha'Quan Jackson out of Tulane in the sixth round at No. 182.

Tennessee then turned to defense, taking defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat of Texas at No. 38 overall, North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray at No. 106, Louisville cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Miami linebacker James Williams and Michigan edge rusher Jaylen Harrell at No. 252.

Carthon said he joked with first-year head coach Brian Callahan that now it's time for him to get busy. The Titans are working to rebound from back-to-back losing seasons after consecutive AFC South titles.

"It’s time for the ball to take place, and so we’re really excited about that part,” Carthon said.

Fixing a line that gave up 64 sacks in 2023 has been a major priority for Tennessee. The Titans' biggest move came by getting Bill Callahan from Cleveland to coach the offensive line for his son. They also signed center Lloyd Cushenberry III and a couple of others in free agency.

Getting bigger was a priority, and the Titans did just that. Latham is a big man at 6-foot-6 and 342 pounds with 11-inch hands. The Titans might have the biggest first two picks for any team with defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat of Texas at 6-4 and 366 pounds.

Callahan said they added possibly 700 pounds' worth of players in two picks.

“It’s a big man’s league, and you need big people to move the line of scrimmage,” Callahan said.

Linebacker Cedric Gray, the 106th pick overall in the fourth round, said he's looking forward to roaming to tackle with Sweat taking up so much space in front of him.

Sweat's first visit with an NFL team after his arrest for driving while intoxicated was with Tennessee. The Titans did extra work to learn about the 38th pick overall — their only selection on the draft's second night.

Carthon, Callahan, defensive line coach Tracy Rocker and assistant GM Anthony Robinson went to Sweat's home in Huntsville, Texas. They met with Sweat, his mother, brother and grandfather and having tough conversations.

“Taking that trip to spend time with him and his family is what made us comfortable making this pick,” Carthon said.

The newest Titans have some interesting connections. Latham's cousins include Kevon Looney of the NBA's Golden State Warriors and former NBA player Nick Young, and Pro Football Hall of Fame pass rusher Deacon Jones is a relative on Latham's mother's side of the family.

A couple of others will find familiar faces in the Titans' locker room. Sweat comes in with a former Texas Longhorns teammate on the roster after the Titans signed defensive lineman Keondre Coburn late last season.

Running back Tyjae Spears, a third-round pick out of Tulane last year, was with wide receiver and punt returner Jha-Quan Jackson when the Titans drafted his former roommate in the sixth round at No. 182 overall.

Jackson also is a nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed who left the watch party before the Titans called. Or as Jackson said, “He had to go because he’s a Hall of Famer. So he’s got to be in a lot of places at the right time.”

Harrell's father, James, also played eight seasons in the NFL.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Alabama offensive lineman JC Latham embraces NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, right, after being chosen by the Tennessee Titans with the seventh overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Tennessee Titans first round draft pick JC Latham speaks at an NFL football news conference Friday, April 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Former player Warren Moon walks on stage to announce a pick for the Tennessee Titans during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Tennessee Titans first-round draft pick JC Latham speaks during an NFL football news conference Friday, April 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans first-round draft pick JC Latham speaks during a news conference held by the NFL football team Friday, April 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans first round draft pick JC Latham speaks at an NFL football news conference Friday, April 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans first round draft pick JC Latham arrives for an NFL football new conference Friday, April 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans first round draft pick JC Latham, center, poses with general manager Ran Carthon, left, and head coach Brian Callahan, right, at an NFL football news conference Friday, April 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Randy Arozarena homered and drove in four runs, Yandy Díaz hit a leadoff shot, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 7-2 on Saturday.

Arozarena put the Rays ahead 4-2 with a three-run homer in the third inning off Nestor Cortes (1-4). The 2023 All-Star has struggled this season — he went 2 for 3 to raise his average to just .154 — but has gone deep four times in his last eight games.

Díaz homered on Cortes’ first pitch of the game. Díaz and Arozarena had RBI doubles in a three-run seventh.

Zack Littell (2-2) allowed two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings as the Rays returned to .500 at 20-20.

Rays closer Pete Fairbanks returned after missing 19 games with nerve-related hand issues and struck out one in a 1-2-3 ninth.

Anthony Volpe had a two-run single in the second for the Yankees, who lost for the second time in eight games.

New York slugger Juan Soto failed to reach base for the second straight day and just the sixth time this season. He came close to putting the Yankees ahead in the seventh when his 404-foot, 107.5 mph drive with two on and two out was caught at the wall in center.

Cortes gave up four runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Cortes and Littell were teammates at High-A and Double-A in the Yankees’ organization in 2017.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: Ace Gerrit Cole (right elbow inflammation) threw 29 pitches in his third bullpen session. ... INF DJ LeMahieu (right foot) took live batting practice and is nearing a rehab assignment. ... OF Jasson Domínguez (Tommy John surgery) will start a rehab assignment with Class A Tampa Tuesday or Wednesday.

Rays: 2B Brandon Lowe (right oblique strain) was removed from Friday night’s game with Triple-A Durham for precautionary reasons. "I think what was expressed is that he wasn’t trusting it,” manager Kevin Cash said. This is Lowe’s third straight injury-marred season since hitting 39 homers in 2021. ... LHP Brendan McKay (elbow) has been placed on the 60-day injured list by Triple-A Durham. The one-time two-way player taken fourth overall in the 2017 draft has battled injuries and pitched in just 19 games since the start of the 2020 season.

UP NEXT

Yankees RHP Luis Gil (3-1, 2.92 ERA) gets the start Sunday. Rays LHP Tyler Alexander (1-1, 4.96 ERA) will start or follow an opener.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Yankees' Austin Wells, center, celebrates with Anthony Rizzo, left, after scoring on a two-run single by Anthony Volpe off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Looking on is Juan Soto, right. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe lines a two-run single off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe singles off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, left, talks to home plate umpire Ramon De Jesus during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Saturday, May 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Zack Littell pitches to the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Yankees second baseman Oswaldo Cabrera tags out Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena (56) at second base after trying to advance on a fly out by Isaac Paredes during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Looking on is umpire Quinn Wolcott. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Diaz reacts after his solo home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena, right, celebrates with teammates, including Yandy Diaz, left, after hitting a three-run home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena connects for a three-run home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)