In looking back through Robinson's first round picks, its miracle and testament to the talent the team does have that the Titans have had any success at all. I would guess that no other NFL team has had as many first round misses or high draft picks they've let walk during that same window. While he had better luck in the second round, even there he was reluctant to pay to keep the talent the Titans developed.
2016 - Jack Conklin - very good OT; allowed to walk in free agency.
2017 - Corey Davis - decent receiver; allowed to walk in free agency.
2017 - Adoree' Jackson - decent cornerback; allowed to walk in free agency.
2018 - Rashaan Evans - decent LB; allowed to walk in free agency.
2019 - Jeffery Simmons - Elite DT; resigned to a deal.
2020 - Isaiah Wilson - bust OT; was cut, out of NFL.
2021 - Caleb Farley - CB; played in less than half of the games, starting training camp 2023 on
the PUP-P list (a bust until proven otherwise).
2022 - Treylon Burks - Receiver; tremendous upside in 2nd year.
Of his 8 first round picks, only Simmons, Farley and Burks remain on the team. It seems Robinson was content operating this team like a farm team for other franchises. Though I agree that some of those needed to be gone based on performance, that acknowledgment calls into question the judgement of Robinson and his staff at evaluating elite level talent. That says nothing about finding creative ways of keeping the elite talent you do develop (AJ Brown should have never been available to trade, period. In doing so without an adequate replacement, and combined with injuries they killed the 2022 season).
The fact that he did hit on the 2nd round (Henry and Byard) and brought in Tannehill as a backup QB I think bought Robinson some time, but you can't let that much talent walk just to be replaced by players who are projects that need time to develop or heal.
My hope is that Carhon, Vrabel, and Titans' ownership will do a better job moving forward when it comes to players that are chosen at or near the top of the draft: on selection, development, AND finding ways to them around.
2016 - Jack Conklin - very good OT; allowed to walk in free agency.
2017 - Corey Davis - decent receiver; allowed to walk in free agency.
2017 - Adoree' Jackson - decent cornerback; allowed to walk in free agency.
2018 - Rashaan Evans - decent LB; allowed to walk in free agency.
2019 - Jeffery Simmons - Elite DT; resigned to a deal.
2020 - Isaiah Wilson - bust OT; was cut, out of NFL.
2021 - Caleb Farley - CB; played in less than half of the games, starting training camp 2023 on
the PUP-P list (a bust until proven otherwise).
2022 - Treylon Burks - Receiver; tremendous upside in 2nd year.
Of his 8 first round picks, only Simmons, Farley and Burks remain on the team. It seems Robinson was content operating this team like a farm team for other franchises. Though I agree that some of those needed to be gone based on performance, that acknowledgment calls into question the judgement of Robinson and his staff at evaluating elite level talent. That says nothing about finding creative ways of keeping the elite talent you do develop (AJ Brown should have never been available to trade, period. In doing so without an adequate replacement, and combined with injuries they killed the 2022 season).
The fact that he did hit on the 2nd round (Henry and Byard) and brought in Tannehill as a backup QB I think bought Robinson some time, but you can't let that much talent walk just to be replaced by players who are projects that need time to develop or heal.
My hope is that Carhon, Vrabel, and Titans' ownership will do a better job moving forward when it comes to players that are chosen at or near the top of the draft: on selection, development, AND finding ways to them around.